Hope & Anchor — Restaurant in Derbyshire Dales

Came in this evening for a quiet drink and a catch up with a friend and had probably one of the most horrible experiences. And i’m from london so this is ridiculous! Came in at 8pm and sat in the bar area. There was a group of young lads sitting opposite the bar. We sat away from them on the other side. Most the people in the room had gone to join a pub quiz somewhere else in the restaurant so we were alone in the bar area and most of the group of lads had gone also. While my friend ( male ) had gone to the bathroom, two of the lads that were left came over to me and started asking me questions. They were polite enough until my friend came back and i asked if we could be left alone as we were discussing a bereavement. The barmaid came over and asked them to leave us alone. I smiled at my friend- because i was nervous and this made one of the guys turn ( high viz jacket ) and started shouting at us about me smiling! We were then subsequently barricaded into the room as this guy was getting quite volatile. And shouting at us behind the door on the other side of the room. I asked the barmaid if he could be asked to leave and she said this happens every week as they are on coke. A few members of staff came in to check on us and all said the came thing! A supervisor came in and asked us what happened to which we told her and were absolutely baffled to why he was just not asked to leave. She said would have to check the CCTV….. and I couldn’t understand why she wasn’t taking the word of the barmaid that had dealt with it!!!

When we were about to leave - not out of choice, and the door was opened, the same guy was standing on the other side of the door still gunning for me ( female ) because of this smile that had apparently caused all of this.

We had been there a total of an hour and 45mins- and half an hour of that was being kept in this bar alone with a barmaid to stop these guys getting to us.

We are a couple nearly in our 40’s and i felt incredibly threatened by some lads in their early 20’s.. We were told they wouldn’t be asked to leave because he knew the owner. The poor barmaid, visibly shaken put her coat on and walked out of her shift.

We have never been into this place before and as a female, being made to feel uncomfortable and threatened by young, ‘coked up’ lad and not supported by the management is ridiculous.

Avoid if...

We went here for food on a Tuesday night in August. When we entered the eating area, there were 4 other people in there. We then sat for 10 minutes before anyone even took our drinks order, and this was only after we prompted them to do so. In the meantime, another group of 6 people had entered the bar to eat. We then waited for 20 minutes for someone to take our food order, the aforementioned group of 6 had their order taken at the same time as us and the other 4 people who were there before us had their order taken last, but all 3 orders were placed within a few minutes of each other. We then waited for our food. It seems they only have 1 person working in the kitchen, and this person is only able to deal with one meal at a time. After approximately 20 minutes, the table of 6 had 3 of their meals brought out to them, the other 3 followed appropriately 5 minutes later. 15 minutes later, the other table of 4 had 2 of their meals brought out and the other 2 followed 5 minutes later. We then sat and waited for another 15 minutes. By this point we were amazed at how long it was taking and we approached a member of staff to ask what the delay was, she informed us that my steak (medium rare) had just gone on and the food would be with us soon. 10 minutes later my steak came out (although I didn't even get a steak knife with it and had to use a normal knife) along with a curry for my daughter. The woman serving us then asked my wife if she wanted any sauce on her burger as they were just finishing it off, surely this is the kind of question a normal establishment would ask when the order is made? Another few minutes followed before we had all of our meals, 1 1/2 hours after entering the pub. The quality of the food was good, but the experience was ruined by slow service. I would say if you go in there, and there are more than 4 people waiting for food, don't bother waiting and...

Here we have a tale of two servers. Came in for a meal on a Friday evening. The room was really pleasant, log burner going, subdued lighting etc. Ordered a couple of burgers from a friendly waitress, burgers arrived promptly and were very tasty, the waitress was efficient, knew her trade and was an absolute credit to you. Fast forward a few weeks. Arrange to meet a friend for a couple of beers on a tuesday evening. As is typical for a tuesday evening early December it was quiet, consequently the bar wasn't attended to all the time, not a problem I knew the server was only in the back room, easy enough to let her know when another beer was required. Pint two required. Stick head around corner catch their eye and make the universal, drinking pint, gesture. This prompted the response of a finger being held up because I was interrupting. Oh well never mind when they came down I politely said 'two more Staropramens please'. Beer poured, paid for and drunk. Thought no more of it. Two pints later the server with the face like a slapped arse, behaving like a sulky teenager tells me she didn't appreciate the way I asked for a beer. I said my piece and left. Shame because it's a lovely pub marred by someone with zero customer skills. Edit. Got a call from a couple of friends to meet for a pre-christmas drink and they said it was to be in the Hope. Oh well, I met them and would like to say the pub had a lovely atmosphere and the two lads behind the bar were great, they were totally on top of a busy bar, were friendly and knew how to react to customers. A most...