Dinner At The Barley Mow In Wingerworth Near Chesterfield
Published On Sunday 30 Mar 2025 by Sticky Beak
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It’s a shame that Mummy Bird wasn’t with His Nibs and I for our latest foray; it would’ve taken her [literally] just about home! The Barley Mow Inn is located in Wingerworth, a stones’ throw from where Mummy was born and raised, and has always been at the heart of its community. Over the years, the pub has changed hands several times and the current owners have been in-situ for about 2 years. They offer food, and wanted to see what we thought about their efforts; okey-dokey then, let the tummy see the food, so to speak.
There’s a surprisingly large car park, and we got a spot with no hassle at all. Heading inside, we were greeted really warmly, which put us straight at ease. We confirmed that we’d got a table reservation and were escorted over to a lovely, tucked away spot; one of the things I loved about The Barley Mow Inn was its many little nooks-and-crannies for dining, it makes for a much more intimate experience. The bar area was busy with folks supping, and there were a couple of well-behaved pooches sat under the tables. If you have a particularly good dog, why not treat them to a [Marshfield Farm] ‘Scoops’ doggie Ice Cream whilst you’re there? Children are also more than welcomed at The Barley Mow Inn, and there is a dedicated menu for them too.
Having got drinks sorted (large Shiraz for me, £8, and pint of Cruz Campo for The Man, £5.70), we turned our attention to the menu and the Specials Board that our server, Bev, brought over for us to look at. I chose the starter from the specials (Calamari with Garlic Mayo, Mixed Leaves and Lemon Wedge, £8.95) followed by pan-fried Salmon with New Potatoes, Green Beans and a White Wine Sauce (£17.95); The Man went for the Halloumi Fries with Hot Honey drizzle and Mixed Leaves (£6.95) to start, and the Steak Burger with hand-cut Chips and Coleslaw (£16.95) for his main.
Whilst waiting for our food, we took in our immediate area in a bit more detail. The floor was a gorgeously intricate tiled affair, though other areas had carpet or wood flooring, and one wall was covered in an old map of the locale. A faded Grey/Green shade of paint covered the bottom half of the walls, lending a calm feel to the space. Free-standing chairs were upholstered in a cream, grey and green checked fabric, and the distressed brown leather banquette I sat on was strewn with cushions in varying shades and patterns of green. The tables were robust, wood types in a dark shade; proper rural/country kitchen ones, if you know what I mean. A lively ripple of chatter filled the pub, but was never rowdy, and the Barley Mow has still got that wonderful ‘heart of the village’ feel to it.
A short while later, Bev was placing our starters down before us, and asked if we needed any additional sauces etc.; we replied that we wouldn’t mind a jug of water for the table, and one quickly appeared. My Calamari portion wouldn’t have been embarrassed to be described as a main course, it was that plentiful and, oh, it was delicious! The diamond-pattern scored Squid was beautifully crisp on the outside, its light batter that irresistible shade of gold, and Chef had cooked the Seafood perfectly to preserve its softness and gently fragrant flavour. A separate pot housed the brilliantly garlicky Mayo, and the [now] citrus-pimped Calamari was soon getting dunked in it. Even the side salad wasn’t shabby; the cool, crisp leaves were dressed in tangy Balsamic and tasted marvellous. This was a carefully presented dish, and one that I derived much joy from eating!
Just as fabulous was The Man’s choice of Halloumi Fries. Arranged in a tower, Jenga fashion, these golden beauties squeaked characteristically when bitten into. Size-wise, each slice of Halloumi was impressive, to say the least; one thing’s for sure – Chef is a feeder. The Man had the same salad garnish as came with my starter, and he chowed down on it like a good ‘un – I am getting seriously impressed by how his palate is expanding. Bev had checked we were happy with our meals and cleared away the clean plates with a smile, when we’d finished.
Up next were our mains and, as with the starters, they were both perfectly presented and garnished with pea shoots to pretty them up further. Chef cooks main courses as generously as the starters; best pull our shoulders back and crack on with scoffing, then! I’d also ordered a side salad (£4) to come with my fish.
The fillet of Salmon was that eye-catching, catwalk-worthy shade of rose pink, and lay on a bed of Green Beans and Samphire fronds. I was surprised that the skin wasn’t on, but not disappointed as I rarely eat it. The Salmon was moreishly sweet to taste, though [for me] I did think that it could’ve been cooked for a minute less to maximise its juiciness. I soon forgot my criticism though as my palate was bathed in the silky White Wine Sauce – ooh, this was tremendous. The crunchy Beans and Samphire were marvellous, both for adding texture and for their clean, bouncy flavour. Now, you all know that I’m not a massive spudophile but, crikey, the baby New Potatoes here were just glorious! They had been kept in their skins and roasted to resemble tiny jacket spuds, but with a much more intense nutty taste to them. I kid you not, I ate every.single.one.
By now you might have gathered that food at The Barley Mow Inn is something a bit extra for ‘pub grub’, and the side salad is no exception. Golden croutons, Cucumber half-moons, halved Cherry Tomatoes, sliced Red Onion, chopped Red- and Green- Peppers, Sweetcorn kernels and Mixed Leaves all sat together in a bowl and were glossed with sticky, intense Balsamic. No word of exaggeration when I say that if ‘Carlsberg did Salads’!
His Nibs has a hearty appetite and, boy, was he going to need it to eat the pair of 4oz Beef patties, slices of Bacon, and melted Cheese (along with Lettuce, Tomato, Pickle and Relish) that were housed between a toasted bun. The patties were still just-pink in their centres (as they should be), and had an amazing taste and texture to them – they were the real deal. Equally great were the crisp Chips that came in a separate bowl and if you like Coleslaw, then the amount you get will have you jumping for joy. To say it was ‘just a pub burger’ would be the greatest insult to this marvellous morsel; this would stand up along side some fancy-pants gourmet offerings, make no mistake. Chef, you did blooming good, here: props to you.
Our tummies were fit-to-bust at this point so, when Bev came over with the dessert menu, we said that we’d need a bit of a rest. I opted for the Crumble of the Day (£7.95) - Apple and Berry on this evening – cheekily asking Bev if I could have Custard AND Cream (she said yes). The Man Bird went for the Cheesecake of the Day (the tantalising sounding Chocolate Swirl, £7.95), choosing to have Ice cream with it.
My crumble was served in its own oval bowl, with jugs of custard and cream adjacent to it on the larger serving platter. The first thing I need to tell you about is the ultra-fine, biscuity crumble topping – it was rich and buttery, melting instantly on the tongue’s warmth. Underneath this blanket was a jewel-toned, cooked fruit medley of Apple, Berries and Currants that had an exquisitely tart edge to its flavour profile; my mouth was dancing with sharp and buttery notes, the pair balancing harmoniously together. You might all think I was being greedy by having both Cream and Custard, and you wouldn’t be entirely wrong, but it is actually a genius move [if I say so myself!] because the chilled cream helps cool the piping hot pud enough for you to wolf it down without spending five minutes blowing on your spoon each time you want a bit!
If desserts were edible art, His Nibs’ Cheesecake would be it. On a simple, white square platter there was a mesh of different toned Chocolate Sauces, all intertwined and criss-crossing, and in the centre was possibly the most stunning, swirled Cheesecake in the world. Perched on a base that was that perfect texture [and with a buttery taste to die for] was a huge slice of the multi-toned Chocolate and Cream Cheese confection that, His Nibs was thrilled to discover, tasted every bit as good as it looked. If you’re one of those folks that can’t bear the thought of food elements touching, fret not; the Ice Cream was in its own little pot, so no chance of it ‘contaminating’ the Cheesecake!
What a tremendous evening it had been; in truth, more than we had thought it would be. Don’t get me wrong, we thought it would be a lovely pub (and it definitely is), but the food was way better than most pub grub. The menu isn’t the most extensive or adventurous, but, as my Nana used to say “better to do fewer things well, than many mediocre”, and by heck that’s just what The Barley Mow Inn team have done. Hot Wings happily given here.
To book a table call 01246 586473 or visit the website www.barleymowinnwingerworth.co.uk and hit the ‘book a table’ button. You can also view the menus, see offers, and check out current events here, too. The Barley Mow Inn opens Sunday-Thurs Noon-11pm, and Fri-Sat Noon-1am. Food service times are slightly different: Mon-Weds Noon-2.30pm and 5-8pm, Thurs Noon-3pm and 5-8pm, Friday and Saturday Noon-9pm, and Sunday Noon-5.30pm for traditional Sunday Roasts.
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