The Kedleston Country House

Our waitress was welcoming and friendly, and went above and beyond with my dairy allergy. She found safe options with some variety and even arranged to have dairy-free custard made specially. She was very apologetic when we asked about the situation, though there wasn't anything she could do about it. We visited on Boxing Day, and the food was alright, an okay roast, but nothing special for the price. The lack of heating made lunch uncomfortable and affected the atmosphere. We understand the boiler had broken, but it was extremely cold sitting in an older building in winter. They kindly offered complimentary hot drinks halfway through the meal, though that didn't make up for the temperature. There was no hot water either, so washing our hands meant using very cold water. That raised concerns about comfort and possibly safety, especially for kitchen staff without hot water too. We weren't told about the heating problem in advance or when we arrived, and only found out partway through the meal. If we'd known, we could have brought extra layers or made a different choice. The food was good and our waitress's service outstanding, but the cold and lack of hot water took away from what might have been a very enjoyable Boxing Day lunch. I'm not sure we'd return.

The tapas were a real hit, and our guests kept telling us how good the food was. The whole place had such a welcoming atmosphere, too. Our wedding at The Kedleston Country House on 4th October 2025 went perfectly from beginning to end. The house looked elegant and was beautifully kept, making a lovely setting for the day. Helen was wonderful throughout, so friendly and organised, and put us completely at ease. We couldn't recommend it more for a wedding.

The house is lovely, and the staff were kind. Lunch was delicious, especially the pink beef and excellent vegetables. We did have to ask for the dining room heating to be turned on, though. The bar and snug were very cold too. With the fires lit and the heating on, it would have been five stars.

We parked here before taking the Markeaton Stones footpath over to Markeaton Park and back with the dogs. It was a bracing winter walk over snow and ice, and this made a handy base. The country house is a cracking spot on the outskirts of Kedleston, with hearty meals and a lovely setting for a summer pint in the sun. Lovely jubbly.