The Peak District's Best Last-Minute Festive Dining at The Red Lion Restaurant, Peak Edge Hotel
Featuring many ingredients, including ethically raised turkey, beef, pheasant and fresh produce from the restaurant’s very own Red Tractor certified farm, just minutes down the road
With Christmas fast approaching, diners looking for last-minute seasonal celebrations in the Peak District will find one of the region’s most inviting options at Peak Edge Hotel’s 2 AA Rosette Red Lion Restaurant. The hotel is offering a full line-up of festive experiences throughout December, including Christmas Party Nights, Christmas Day Lunch, Boxing Day Lunch, and relaxed festive lunches in the run-up to Christmas.
For those wishing to extend the celebration, overnight stays are available, transforming a festive meal into a countryside escape - and for guests travelling in style, Peak Edge even offers helicopter access via designated landing areas on the grounds, which has recently been extended. The location can be found on the flight planning and in-flight navigation app, SkyDemon.
Christmas Party Nights
Peak Edge’s Christmas Party Nights take place every Friday and Saturday until 20 December, running from 7pm to midnight with a DJ providing music throughout the evening. Priced at £60 per person for a three-course dinner, these nights are ideal for teams, friends or families wanting a fun, effortless festive celebration with great food and a lively atmosphere.
Christmas Day
Peak Edge also offers two different Christmas Day Lunch experiences, giving guests the choice between an intimate, restaurant-style celebration or a more traditional banqueting occasion.
In the Red Lion Restaurant, Christmas Day Lunch is served between 12pm and 3pm, with guests free to book a time that suits them. The menu features three refined courses priced at £180 per adult, £70 for under-12s, and complimentary dining for under-3s.
On arrival, guests are welcomed with Champagne and canapés before choosing from elegant starters such as parsnip, celeriac & apple soup; a handpicked crab, lobster & crayfish tart; confit duck rillette; or whipped truffled goat’s cheese with winter squash.
Mains include Walton Lodge turkey with all the trimmings, Walton Lodge Beef Wellington, pan-roasted wild halibut, or a goat’s cheese, beetroot & wild mushroom Wellington. Dessert options include traditional Christmas pudding, dark chocolate & cherry gâteau, salted caramel cheesecake, or a selection of Derbyshire cheeses. Coffee and mince pies complete the experience, and a children’s menu is available on request.
For those seeking a more atmospheric, family-style celebration, Peak Edge also serves Christmas Day Lunch in the Oak Room and Walton Suite, priced at £140 per adult, £50 for under-12s, and complimentary for under-3s. Guests arrive at 12pm, with lunch served from 12.45pm in true banqueting style, accompanied by live music and a children’s entertainer.
The menu mirrors the Red Lion offering - Champagne and canapés on arrival, followed by the same selection of starters, mains and desserts - but with the added charm of shared celebration in one of the hotel’s elegant private spaces. This option is particularly popular with larger groups and multi-generational families.
Boxing Day
Boxing Day is equally appealing, with a three-course lunch from 12pm–7.30pm (£75 per adult; £35 per child), and many guests opting to stay overnight - particularly convenient for those already staying on Christmas Day.
Festive Lunches
In the lead-up to Christmas, the Red Lion’s popular festive lunch menu is available Monday to Saturday, 12–5pm, from 1–20 December. Priced at £28 for two courses or £34 for three, the menu celebrates seasonal Peak District produce and Peak Edge’s farm-to-table ethos, with many ingredients sourced from the hotel’s own Red Tractor certified Walton Lodge Farm Estate, known for its exceptional provenance and high-welfare livestock.
Inside, the hotel feels made for December: historic beams, glowing fires, flagstone floors and elegant Christmas décor curated by owner, Steve Perez’s wife, Angie Perez, create an atmosphere of warmth, luxury and festive charm.
The menu includes maple roasted root vegetable soup, terrine with apricot and plum chutney, classic prawn and crayfish cocktail, and a butternut, brie & chestnut filo tart; followed by Walton Lodge turkey with all the trimmings, braised blade of Walton Lodge beef, Walton Lodge pheasant, fillet of cod with crayfish Nantua, and a vegetarian Wellington; ending with Christmas pudding, mulled berry trifle, chocolate orange cheesecake or Derbyshire cheeses with Walton Lodge chutney.
Guests can also explore the hotel’s new temperature-controlled wine cellar, designed by Sorrells, which houses everything from rare vintages including a 2006 Pétrus to approachable favourites, all guided by sommelier Adrian Tinis. Alcohol-free options such as Athletic Brewing Co. on draught and Bolle sparkling ensure everyone can join the celebration.
“Christmas at Peak Edge is about warmth, generosity and relaxed indulgence,” said Managing Director Mark Thurman. “Our festive menus and celebrations offer the perfect opportunity to enjoy exceptional food in a beautiful setting with the people who matter most.”
Bookings for all festive dining - including party nights, Christmas Day, Boxing Day and overnight stays - can be made at peakedgehotel.co.uk/christmas.
This article was supplied by a third party and was not written by the Sticky Beak Blog.
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