Castle — Restaurant in Derbyshire Dales

We visited the Castle Inn in Bakewell on 30th May, drawn in by its reputation as a dog-friendly pub — perfect for a midday break after exploring the stunning Peak District with our dog. The website shows a lovely photo of a couple and their dog standing beside the bar in a cosy, carpeted area, which really appealed to us.

On arrival via the side entrance, we found two available tables — one by the fireplace and another closer to the kitchen. I also had a look around the back section of the pub, which had a more traditional, non-carpeted bar area, but it was already full. There were no clear signs indicating where dogs were or weren’t allowed, so we chose the table beside the stone fireplace, assuming it would be a cool and quiet spot for our dog to rest after a long morning walk around Dovedale. She settled immediately.

We ordered our food and drinks via the Greene King app, which was very convenient and allowed us to avoid queueing at the bar. While my son went to register the car’s number plate on the ANPR system, a woman I assumed to be the landlady called over to me, stating that "dogs are not allowed on the stone floor" — then correcting herself, "I mean dogs are not allowed on the carpet area. Have you ordered food?" I explained we had and that my son was entering our number plate details at the bar. She then loudly told me we’d have to move “up the steps onto the stone floor area” and said she would look for a table. I pointed out that our dog was actually lying on the stone hearth rather than the carpet, but she dismissed this with: “It doesn’t matter, there may be people down here that have allergies.” (One assumes the same concern doesn’t apply in the bar area, then!)

We relocated to the bar section, where the food arrived promptly and was served piping hot. One of the male staff members came back to check that everything was okay — he was friendly, calm, and clearly attentive to the needs of those eating and drinking in his area.

Unfortunately, the atmosphere in the pub felt tense and uncomfortable. While we were eating, we overheard the landlady loudly reprimanding the same male staff member for inputting a Blue light card discount incorrectly, stating that “he should know better” and that it had happened before. She then loudly expressed a general frustration about customers using Blue Light Card discounts. When another customer approached the bar with a QR code for her discount, the landlady — seated at the bar — asked her to return with identification to prove she was the named cardholder.

Later, when the bar had emptied a little, the same staff member explained he would ask for assistance next time a customer wanted a discount, the landlady continued to berate him at the bar in front of customers. It was uncomfortable to witness and created a fractured, unwelcoming atmosphere.

Although the food was well cooked, and the two male staff members were professional and polite throughout, the way the landlady managed her staff was, in my opinion, degrading for them and embarrassing for customers to witness.

The Castle Inn is in a great location and has the potential to be a welcoming, dog-friendly stop for walkers and visitors — but the poor attitude and loud criticisms from management significantly impacted the experience. Based on this visit, I’m not sure I...

Called ahead of time to book a large group including a baby and a well behaved dog as requested. And was assured we'd be accommodated.

Upon arrival we were positioned next to a busy walkway. Which seemingly made no sense with a pram and a dog in tow. We were then told quite rudely that the pram was "in the way" but we had been offered any choice in seating and so were trying the best we could to not disrupt the service staff/other guests. We were then eventually forced to wake the baby, fold and move the pram after being treated quite passively aggressive by the female manager.

We were then informed we were taking "too much space" by stopping the cramped table in the corner from being accessed as it was sandwhiched between our group and another larger group. However this was their seating decision. Not ours. And we'd given ample warning that we were a large group with baby and a dog. Upon looking st the rest of the restaurant as it was quite quiet, we couldn't understand why we were situated in a corner away from major walkways like.youd typically expect from a pub. Despite this we left enough room For other customers and service staff to use the walkway.

After being made to feel unwelcomed. Our food arrived which was quite average, no complaints really. Thankfully the lovely girls were completely different to their manager, and were brilliant at accommodating our group, serving us our orders, and generally looking after us. Shame the female manager or bar manager?? Wasn't a reflection of her staff.

Finally upon coming to pay, they had not taken our deposit off the final bill before asking us to pay. Once discovered we'd let them know about the mistake. To which we were informed that this was "our fault for not informing the staff" and a general unhelpful attitude once again from the female manager/bar manager.

We were then offered to put the excess change of 55 pounds onto a "gift card" which was also not helpful since we had travelled to bakewell from a distance. This was then met with a huff from the manager who then reluctantly refunded the order, then put it through again minus the 55 pounds.

In summary. We were made to feel very unwelcome from the manager who had a terrible attitude, wasnt able to plan the seating of a group in her own restaraunt with ample notice, and generally unhelpful and passive aggressive.. But the bar staff and the service staff were lovely in contrast. Food was fine but not amazing. judging By other reviews and mentions of the terrible customer Service skills. This is a running theme for this place.

Take my advice, go somewhere else. The Woodyard round the corner is similar price and they were fantastic all round including the food on...

It's a pity to give this place 2 stars but with the staff running the place and the cost I can't make it 3 which would push it over average, which it isn't. We paid £305 for 2 nights in a family room in mid July on a Friday and Saturday. 2 adults and 2 children. We thought it was a little bit steep, but wouldn't have minded if the quality was better. The room was boiling hot at night and did have a fan, but this wasn't sufficient to prevent a sweaty night sleep. The beds were way too soft, but that's not a major bug bear if other things are good . The bathroom had an extractor fan that sounded like a small generator was running, so not idea when someone needed the loo in the middle of the night.

The breakfast on day one had no croissants left. We were there at 8:30. We were told oh, the gas went out so the boiler hasn't heated up and the hot water is an issue so no poached eggs. I was keen on eggs Benedict and said that I wasn't very happy about that situation. So suddenly the water problem was only going to take 5 minutes to sort out and the hostess could make us the poached eggs we all preferred tot he fried option. The poached eggs came out like hard boiled eggs, rather than cooked nicely with a runny yoke, but that could be forgiven if it wasn't for everything else above, and more...

The hostess told us that our children (well behaved 8 and 10 year olds) are not to help themselves to the breakfast items the following morning because there would be more guest, and often the guests don't like children touching all the breakfast things. Umm, what? We just politely obliged but I couldn't wait to write this review as how ridiculous. We have traveled around the world and stayed in some fancy hotels and some very average ones. Never have we been told this in any hotel that provides a help-yourself situation to a continental breakfast.

We had an evening meal at the Castle Inn on the Saturday night as we thought the meals looked quite nice. They were ok actually. Only, for goodness sakes can't anyone in a pub kitchen cook steak RARE? Rare means blood and juices not cooked thorugh. Well, we didn't expect much at this stage, but we were hopeful if nothing more.

I'd probably look for another place to stay in Bakewell if at all possible. Which is a shame because the location is great the pub is quaint and lovely other than the service and lack of...