Lunch At The Old Smithy At Beeley
Published On Tuesday 3 Dec 2024 by Sticky Beak
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Normally when His Nibs books a days’ annual leave, you can pretty much guarantee that it’ll tip it down with rain! For once, though, it seemed that the weather gods were smiling down on us because the sun was out on a Monday morning. Turns out it was the calm before the proverbial [snow] storm, but we’ll take it for the win. Our next pressing task was to sort somewhere for lunch, as we’d decided to make the most of the favourable weather and head out for a bit of a walk, then go into Bakewell.
One thing about our blog is that we have incredible followers (you wonderful bunch, you) who always give us lots of suggestions when we ask for last-minute inspo, so we posted out on Facebook asking for help. Turns out that the new owners of The Old Smithy in Beeley village, Izzy and Casper, happened to be scrolling at the same time and very kindly offered to host us for lunch – how marvellous was that?!
We managed to grab a parking spot in Beeley village that wasn’t too far away from The Old Smithy, and sauntered slowly back to the venue. If you haven’t been here before, it is quite easy to miss as it isn’t a huge building from the front, so keep your eyes peeled. You go through the outdoor courtyard, and the seating there, to get to the door, which opens into the ‘counter area’ and all its cake, muffin, traybake and savouries temptations. Needless to say, we grabbed something to have back at the nest for a supper-time treat; but I’ll tell you about that later.
The Old Smithy is the epitome of the phrase ‘small but mighty’ and really is quintessentially quaint. Muted tones of green and cream are paired to create a calm feel and they are partnered with terracotta-toned floor tiles that bring a comforting warmth to the décor. Dark ceiling eaves and the stone build of the venue let you know that you’re firmly in the country, as if the Pheasants on the curtains at the window, and painted daisies on the bottom panes of the window didn’t clue you in! Personally, my favourite decorative touch was the pair of hand-painted Pheasants at ground level on the wall between the counter and café area.
With it being the run-up to the Festive season, there were reindeer, sleighs and snowmen dotted around on tables, as well as cosy candles and baubles. Increasing the warm, fuzzy feel-good vibe in my tummy was the appearance of a familiar face; I’m not fab with names (though I really should have known this one as it’s the same as mine…blooming meno-brain!), but I knew the face. Thankfully, Angela took pity on me and said that she’d been our server at The Hunloke Arms when it had first opened. I may not have instantly remembered your name, Angela, but I certainly recalled the super-friendly, excellent customer service you gave us.
For a lunch menu, there was certainly plenty of choice: in addition to the Sandwiches, oven-baked Baguettes and Derbyshire Oatcakes, there were Soups, Loaded Potato Skins and a Camembert to share. That days special was a festive-inspired Yorkshire Pudding Wrap, which I was very sorely tempted by! In the end, I opted for the ‘Beeley Belter’ (£9), a rather splendid sounding, warm, baked Baguette filled with Cured Meats, Fresh Pesto and Mozzarella that is served with Homemade ‘Slaw, Side Salad and Crisps. If you’re ravenous, why not add a bowl of Soup for £3 extra? The Man does love Potato – as you all know – so he went for the scrummy Loaded Potato Skins (£9.50) which come with Homemade ‘Slaw and Salad.
Whilst we waited for our food (The Old Smithy team make food fresh-to-order) we sipped at our beverages: Tea for me, and a McVitie’s Gold Bar Hot Chocolate for His Nibs. Now, those of you of a certain age will remember Gold Bars, but for all the young whipper-snappers out there let me describe these treasures to you. Gold Bars are a snack biscuit comprised of a gold toned, Caramel outer layer with crumbly biscuit in the centre; again, those of ‘that age’ will know that the taste isn’t dissimilar to Caramac: creamy and caramelly. The Man Bird was certainly enjoying his trip down memory lane, and really liked the liquid form of the Gold Bar.
It wasn’t long before Angela was bringing over two laden plates to our table – safe to say that you get generous portions at The Old Smithy. My Baguette was beautifully warmed through but hadn’t gone hard or overly crunchy in the mouth (other than its very outer crust), and it was absolutely stuffed with a trio of Cured Meats, marvellously oozy Mozzarella and the most gloriously herby Pesto that pinged on the palate. The combination of tastes was superb and I loved the contrast between the warm bread and the coolness of the fresh, crisp Salad and lightly salted crisps. Homemade Coleslaws tend to be chunkier and tastier and this was certainly the case here – it was blooming fab. I would definitely have this minx again for lunch, any day of the week!
Across the table, The Man was getting stuck in to his piping hot Potato Skins, and I vicariously ate them as I inhaled their aroma from the tendrils of steam that drifted over to me. The double-baked spuds are delightfully soft and really are comfort food in its finest guise. Whilst mashing the potato ‘body’, a mixture of Soured Cream and Chives is swirled in and then the whole is popped back in its skin before being topped with Cheddar Cheese and grilled to utter mouth-watering perfection. Clearly, the ethos is ‘go hard or go home’ because on top of the melted Cheddar was more of the Soured Cream and Chive concoction! A garnish of verdant Pea Shoots completed the ensemble; I mean, be extra or just don’t bother, what??!! His Nibs was happy to report that this morsel tasted every bit as good as it looked.
Angela had checked that we were enjoying our meals and, as she cleared our empty plates away, Izzy had come out to serve another table of diners, so she came over to have a chat. It was only a few months previous, June 2024 to be exact, that her and her partner, Casper, had taken over The Old Smithy, but in the short time behind the anvil (see what I did there?) they have really made an impact. They were about to have an impact on my poor waistline as we moved from our table and out to the counters and their alluring contents!
His Nibs instantly homed in on the luscious Carrot Cake and its creamy frosting, he just adores this type of cake; I do, too, but he really, really likes it so I let him have first dibs. I’m a good wifey, aren’t I? I’m also a blooming fab Mummy, if I say so myself, so I chose a large slab of Lemon Drizzle cake for Fledge to savour later that day. With those two sorted, it was my turn and with a Bakewell Slice on offer, I was about to order that…but then I spied the Cranberry, Clementine and Pistachio Tray Bake hiding in the far end of the cabinet. Glazed to glossy perfection (and scattered with crunchy nut pieces) it looked delicious, so that got popped into the cake box to bring home.
Sitting down at home with a brew, Fledge, The Man and I began to eat our sweet treats - Oh my word, they were superb! Without fail, all were beautifully moist and soft in the mouth and bursting with their respective flavours. The Lemon Drizzle cake was sharp and bouncy, its bright tang instantly hitting the taste buds and best of all, in Fledge’s opinion, it didn’t have icing on top! My tray bake was everything I had hoped it would be; the Clementine and Cranberry gave me the festive whisper I wanted and the Pistachio provided a bit of crunch. I loved how the sponge had been lightly spiced; this just added a bit ‘more’ in the mouth and my senses thoroughly appreciated the extra layer of flavour. For those of you who love a Carrot Cake, all you need to know is that The Old Smithy in Beeley is the place you need to visit from now on! Deep, moist and brimming with spice and carrot shreds, this cake had got it all going on. Even better, the ratio of frosting to cake was spot-on, so that you got the perfect bite each and every time.
Hot Wings definitely awarded to this fab little venue. We loved it so much that we’ve already booked a breakfast slot for a few weeks’ time when we’ve got a get-together with BB and TBW!! Given the limited tables (especially this time of year when the weather is unpredictable), I would definitely recommend booking a table. Ring 01629 380098 or email theoldsmithyatbeeley@gmail.com. To view current menus, visit the website www.theoldsmithyatbeeley.com.
Dogs are welcome throughout The Old Smithy and they even have treats for your canine companion. The Old Smithy is open 7-days-a-week: Mon-Fri 9am-4.30pm, Saturday 9am-5pm, and Sunday 9am-4pm – kitchen closes 90 minutes before the café doors do.
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