Derbyshire is based in the centre of England, to the west of the county is the Peak District.  The Peak District is an area of great beauty with hills and moors.  I always marvel over how rugged and beautiful the Peaks are when I visit them.  I love the way that the sheep are allowed to roam free, and the colours of the vegetation covering the ground and rocks like a carpet.

The area is also home to a number of grand houses such as Chatsworth House, where Pride and Prejudice was filmed in 2005,  Renishaw Hall, and Bolsover Castle, to name a few.

There are many pretty villages in Derbyshire and some boast some really good restaurants.  My favorite ones are:

1. Bella Blu

31 Market Place Bolsover S44 6PN  tel. + 44 (0) 1246 828230        
http://www.bellablu.co.uk/Home.aspx

This is a great Italian restaurant which even my mum thinks is good, and she is pretty hard to impress. The dishes are not too expensive and they are just about the right proportions.  It has a very friendly, stylish atmosphere with the tables well spaced so you do not feel on top of each other.  The restaurant is based in an old building near to Bolsover Castle. I love a  starter called Bruchetta Classica , cherry tomatoes, fresh basil and red onion served on toasted ciabatta bread.

2. Elm Tree Inn & Barn Owl Restaurant

Elmton, Worksop, Nottinghamshire S80 4LS  tel: +44 (0) 1909 721261

This is a pub and restaurant in a very small, charming village.  They serve snacks to full meals.  As well as having a meal you can also enjoy the bar and the gardens as well.

3. Old School House Restaurant
 
43, Church St, South Normanton, Alfreton, Derbyshire DE55 2BT 
tel: +44 (0) 1773 819000        

This is an extremely busy restaurant so you need to book in plenty of time to get a table.  They have quite a twist to the decor, it is all based on a school class room. The food might be a bit expensive but it is very tasty.

4. La Tasca

3a The Oasis, Meadowhall, Sheffield S9 1EP  tel: +44 (0) 114 256 9986

This is not quite in Derbyshire but it only a little bit outside.  It has a nice relaxing atmosphere even though it is based in a shopping centre, and you can also include a visit to the cinema as well, if you want.  This is a Spanish Tapas restaurant bringing a little bit of Spain to the Sheffield.  I like the tapas for a tenner menu, where you can have as much to eat as you want.

This is just a small sample of the many restaurants in the Derbyshire area in the centre of England. Do you have any favorites here?

List of more Best Places To Eat

Gill Webster is the Publisher of
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