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The George at Alstonefield

The George is an unspoilt, historic, family run pub in the Peak District village of Alstonefield, above Dovedale. 

The pub is small, with a bar, snug to the side of the bar and dining room.  The bar is and always will be the same with portraits of locals, historic artefacts and a homely fire.  The dining room and snug have been restored to their original simplicity with lime plastered walls and farmhouse furniture.  Candlelight and fresh flowers add a touch of elegance.

The pub is the perfect base to explore some of Staffordshire's and Derbyshire's breathtaking countryside, with a selection of walks from a gentle evening stroll to a marathon challenge.  We also host fly fishermen fishing on the Rivers Dove and Manifold in the footsteps of Isaak Walton and Charles Cotton.

We do not have any accommodation but you can follow this link to recommended local accommodation. 

We are close to local towns and historic houses.  Ashbourne is seven miles to the South and the historic spa town of Buxton is ten miles to the North. Tissington Hall, as well as Chatsworth and Haddon Hall are a short distance away.

We hope that you can join us soon to enjoy our well kept real ales, carefully selected wine list and real pub food.

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Alastair Sawday, writing in The Times

"Greensward ripples endlessly in this remote limestone village with its old church, perched on a plateau between the remarkable gorges of the rivers Dove and Manifold.  Set amidst this verdant Eden, the handsome George is an ultra-reliable local, in the family for four decades and lovingly managed by Emily.

As you walk into the small, timeless rooms of old beams, gleaming quarry tiles and crackling log fire, you know you're in safe hands.  It's an unhurried place, where everyone knows everyone else (or soon will), ramblers cram the benches and tables out front, and time passes slowly.

The welcome is warm, the beer's on song and the food is fab.  Young chefs are creative with seasonal produce, so there's potted smoked mackerel, rack of lamb with herb crust, and pear tarte tatin.  Perfect."

Good Food Guide 2010

(Recommended for the Readers' Restaurant of the Year Award 2009) 

Good Pub Guide 2010

(Recommended, Wine Award)

"Nice old pub with decent food; a Peak District classic

Readers thoroughly enjoy the welcoming Peak District atmosphere at this stone-built pub. It's run by a very friendly landlady, who clearly puts her customers first. Set in a peaceful farming hamlet, and you can sit out by the green, beneath its old inn-sign, and watch the world go by, or out in the big sheltered stableyard behind the pub. A good variety of customers, including plenty of walkers, enjoy soaking up the charming atmosphere in the unchanging straightforward low-beamed bar with its collection of old peak district photographs and pictures, warming coal fire, and copper-topped counter with well kept Marstons Burtons Bitter and Pedigree and a guest such as Jennings Golden Hop on handpump and a dozen wines by the glass; dominoes. The neatened up dining room has a woodburning stove.

The menu is fairly short but well balanced and fairly priced. As well as lunchtime sandwiches there might be ham hock and parsley terrine, whole baked camembert with oven roast tomatoes, fried mackerel with beetroot and chutney, pea and mint risotto, sausage and mash, shepherd's pie, roast duck breast with lentils and chicory, and puddings such as trifle and sticky toffee pudding. They grow some of their own vegetables and have a little farm shop."

Readers of The Good Pub Guide have commented:

"A very friendly local welcoming pub. Scrumptious food (highly recommend the fillet of beef), really good selection of wine and beers, real log fire and dog friendly. Couldn't have asked for anything else. Do book a table in advance if you want to eat to save disappointment, it is very popular! We will definitely be returning."

"On a beautiful September day, the village and countryside looked magnificent, and the George was bustling with lunchtime diners - especially outside. From the short menu we had sausage and mash, treacle tart with clotted cream and lemon posset, with a pint of Burton bitter and half of Guinness. All were excellent, served by pleasant staff who coped well with the rush of customers. What's not to like?"

The Times, 2009

One of the 12 Best Pubs in England and Wales.

The Guardian, 2009

"Why it makes the grade

Run by three generations of the same family since the 1960s, this 18th-century stone pub is perched on the green in this peaceful farming hamlet. There are two outdoor seating areas: either sit beneath the inn-sign and watch the world go by, or in the sheltered stable yard behind the pub. Inside, you'll find a low-beamed bar with a copper-top counter and a recently discovered Georgian fireplace.

Signature fare

Marstons Pedigree, Burton Bitter and Oxford Gold organic bitter are available from £2.50 a pint, plus eight wines by the glass. Food is, of course, homemade. Try the popular lemon and beer-battered haddock and chips (£9) or welsh rarebit with pickle and mixed leaves (£5).

We love the landlady because …

Emily Hammond is a third-generation publican who realises the importance of moving with the times and refurbishing.

Meet the locals

Aristocracy, walkers and villagers (the real locals are hanging in frames on the walls).

Pub trivia

The dilapidated Grade ll-listed building out back was referred to as "the shed" until Emily converted it into a farm shop. Buy homemade jams, chutneys and breads, veg grown in the garden or meat from local farms, and don't forget to treat yourself to some delicious George ice-cream."

The Observer, 2009

The Observer's 100 Summer Pubs 2009.