Slayleigh

We came to Matlock for our 29th anniversary in the Peaks, and Yvonne made us feel at home. We arrived with cold quiche for a quick supper, and she warmed it up with extra salad and two glasses of red wine. Once she heard it was our anniversary, she returned with a lovely liqueur for a toast. The room was nicely decorated and very clean, and the Christmas atmosphere in the dining room was uplifting. I highly recommend Slayleigh B&B.

We booked ahead for a one-night stop while passing through. The breakfast, cooked by Graham, was lovely, and the bedding was good quality with a comfortable mattress. Yvonne put water and fresh milk in the small fridge for making a cuppa. The secondary glazing cut some of the noise from the very busy road, though the Indian curry Yvonne was cooking when we arrived sent its smell upstairs into the bedrooms, which was pretty off-putting. The stairs are very steep, and the bannister felt sticky. Be aware that Slayleigh is only the left-hand side of the full building shown in the website photos. Getting a car in and out of the steepish, tight driveway onto the busy road is awkward. Bedroom 1, listed as superior, has a private bathroom across the shared landing. Room 3, the double, has a very small sink, toilet and shower room. For an evening meal, Barringtons is a few miles up the road. The food is nice, though it feels like eating in someone’s lounge and there isn’t much room between tables.

The windows and extra soundproofing did a good job with the busy road outside. We’re light sleepers, but weren’t disturbed. The hosts were welcoming and accommodating, and the tastefully decorated room had a sumptuous bed that seemed to hug you to sleep. Breakfast was the best I’ve had at any B&B or hotel: thick bacon, large mushrooms, fried bread with egg cooked just right, and a farm shop quality sausage. A great choice for a visit to the area.

Yvonne made our holiday more enjoyable with her entertaining stories, local tips and friendly manner. She and Graham are a lovely, welcoming couple who clearly take pride in the B&B, its cleanliness and the service. Graham’s full English breakfast was fresh, hot and well presented, the best we’ve tasted in a long time, if not ever. The quaint house is luxuriously furnished, spotless and immaculately kept. Although it’s on the main road just outside Matlock, there’s free parking and the soundproofing kept traffic noise out. We were lucky to find this place, and would definitely return and recommend it to everyone.