Duke of Wellington

We had an amazing roast for Mother’s Day yesterday, generous, delicious and competitively priced. Then came dessert, homemade tiramisu and cheesecake, both were just wow! The mums also got a sweet little primrose in a decorative teacup and saucer, which was a lovely extra. Roasts are only offered for special occasions, so if you see one advertised, go for it. Highly recommend.

The pub felt really cosy in the evening, and the staff and locals were friendly. We had a lovely Valentine’s stay. Our room was basic, but warm and comfortable, and I can highly recommend the food for both quality and value. Dinner was delicious. Matlock Bath is about a 35-minute walk and Matlock town about 20 minutes on foot, or 5 to 10 minutes by car. It’s quite hilly around here, but that suited us perfectly.

The food was excellent, but the service and advertised deal left us disappointed. We went with friends for dinner on Thursday, and it was steaming hot inside, so we found a table by a window. At the drinks queue, it felt like locals were being served first, so the queue didn’t seem to matter. Then we were told the advertised 2 for £18 offer wasn’t available, even though all the menu items were still on offer. If it’s advertised, it should be honoured. I wondered again if this was a locals-only thing and will check with Greene King. If we’d been served in order and given the advertised deal, it would have been a 5, but this experience warrants only 2 stars.

We were very disappointed with our one-night stay in room 9. The pub was packed when we arrived, with what I can only describe as people shouting and screaming. For £90 a night, the room didn’t come close to being worth the price, and breakfast cost extra. What arrived was practically nonexistent: two sliced mushrooms, one burnt sausage, one egg, two slices of greasy bacon, a grease-filled hash brown and a pot of tasteless baked beans. Then the chair I sat on in the “dining” area immediately collapsed, leaving me on the floor. The staff gave no apology at all. Disgusting place and service. I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone and definitely won’t stay there again. Absolutely dire.