Blue Bell Inn — Restaurant in North East Derbyshire

On arrival got drinks from bar and was shown to our table in the restaurant, ( we was 10 mins early ), so 20 mins later our orders were taken and after 25 more mins I had to go to the bar to enquire where our food was, so at 8-30 our starters came which is 45 mins after official reservation time. Mains arrived promptly after first course and I had asked for my mixed grill medium, the chicken was done brilliantly ( juicy ) and the sausages were nice and tasty, but both the gammon and steak were over cooked probably due to being on the thin side, we all had the renowned hand made chips but they seemed more like possibly frozen but certainly not like we have experienced on a couple of lunch time visits, and this has happened once before when at a large birthday party, so maybe it is what they do when busy ?. The other meals were at best ok, but due to how late it got we didn't bother with desserts, now here goes further issues, we looking for a waitress but nobody around so I went to the bar got my bill and went back to table where my wife checked and found there was four desserts on it, so I went to complain and was given a revised bill but as I had said to the lady how I was unhappy at the level of service and the bill issue I wasn't even given an apology. Won't be going again and would say if anyone is considering going if it is at a busy time,...

5 of us came for carvery a few weeks ago and it was lovely.Nice food and staff. Husband and I called yesterday for late lunch and couldn't be more different. Bar surrounded by drinkers who had been served and joking with staff who took over 5 mins to acknowledge us.Once noticed the small older woman with blonde hair grudgingly gave us menus and took our food and drink orders. We both ordered cheese and onion pie and two desserts.Desserts were nice but the cheese and onion pie was a puff pastry lid stuck on cheese on onion mush which there wasnt much of and the lid when cut just crumbled to dust. We have lived in the village 30 years and used to visit when we first moved here but we stopped goin over 20 years ago because of hygiene and clickiness with regulars. Thought would come again as looked nice after refurb and on recommendations from our son and friends. Although now clean and fresh the clickiness still remains with drinking regulars. Think the staffing on front of house needs addressing as you will be losing a lot of custom.Those regulars won't be there for ever.Think will be a while before we visit again if we ever do but you probably won't...

Gorgeous traditional pub with nice views from the restaurant extension. Ample easy parking, outdoor picnic benches and small play frame.

Really lovely staff, service with a smile and helpful. Heineken 0% on draught which was fab.

Varied menu with a good choice including a veggie/vegan option and kids menu (these are smaller menus)

Most of the food we had was lovely with generous portions and reasonable wait times. Chicken fajita sizzler, Italian chicken, lamb chop, lamb shank, salmon all great. Chips are SO nice could have happily had a big bowl of them on their own! Baileys cheesecake was to die for and the coffee was really good. Lovely presentation all round too.

Only things we weren't keen on was the mash which I'd describe as sticky, gloopy and tasted more like smash (my son said it was like glue). The pizza was nice but there was too much cheese (if there is such a thing) that it pooled off, and the sauce tasted like basic tomato puree. Carrots were a tad dry. Topping of apple crumble was very sticky and' wet' with no crunch at all. Hopefully all easy things to tweak and improve.

Would return though and try...