Bring together Arkwright history, the Peak district, specialist wine, real ale, an award winning chef, the restoration of a 300 year old Grade I listed coaching house and there can’t be a pub lover or historian in the land who isn’t excited!
That’s exactly what new landlord, Paul Waddingham and wife Tina have achieved at the Greyhound Hotel, dominating Cromford’s market square since 1778. After four months of restoration, they are ready to show off the premium offer, which has created twelve jobs.
Pub lovers can experience the magic from Friday 10th February: a ground floor, with four individually themed rooms reflecting the area’s history and a befittingly cosy hotel, Now rated as a star hotel by Agoda.com, with five bedrooms being renovated.
“As a man passionate about hospitality for longer than I can remember, it was a dream come true to stumble on the Greyhound with all its grandeur, character, and charming potential,” said Paul, well travelled hospitality expert and wines and spirits professional.
“It’s been amazing to discover original features - 150 year-old wine racks to original 18th century wooden beams. We’ve also added to the charm – family friend and talented art teacher Zena Ellis painted a portrait of Arkwright in the room we named after him. We completely love that!”
The food is certainly set to impress too. Gourmet dishes created by top chef Gary Auld, winner of two rosettes, such as Confit of Pork Belly; Gary’s own Fish Pie, and Classic Ploughmans. True to Gary’s own guilty passion for deserts, homemade Sticky Toffee Pudding with butterscotch sauce; and Lemon Posset with blackberry sorbet, caramelised white chocolate and meringue, just two of the delights on the menu.
In the true spirit of the Great British pub, a premium Sunday lunch with locally sourced meats: Roast Beef Sirloin, Roast Shoulder of Lamb, Roast Loin of Pork or Grilled Plaice with seasonal trimmings, destined to be a hit in the prime of the Peak District.
It’s also premium rounds on the drinks menu. Five locally brewed cask ales include Peak Ales’ ‘Chatsworth Gold’, and Derbyshire Brewery’s ‘Triple Hop’ and ‘Business as usual’. Paul’s wine expertise has created an extensive list of 80 wines, the pick from all corners of the grape world, sourced only from places Paul has himself visited in his quest for the best. There are also plans for wine tasting, food matching and spirit and beer events.
Paul added: “We’re ready to put our roots down having found such a unique venue with so much heritage. We can’t wait to finally launch and put the Greyhound back on the map.”
So from Whole Roasted Plaice and Rib-eye Steak with hand cut chips, to log fire nights with Beer Battered Haddock, a new life has definitely been leased into the Greyhound ready to create another era of intrigue and history of which Cromford can be proud.
