Sunday Lunch At The Robin Hood Near Baslow
Published On Sunday 29 Jun 2025 by Sticky Beak
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Before you all jump on me, I’m just going to clarify that I do like the warmer weather. But…. Come on, 30 degrees+ is just too much for a pasty English Rose; I can’t function: I’m sweaty, lethargic, irritable, and generally a moaning minnie! Thankfully, the weather broke and it was much more bearable – perfect timing to go and have a roast Sunday dinner. Thank you, weather gods.
On this particular day, The Man and I were booked in to The Robin Hood Inn, a rather charming pub on the outskirts of Baslow. There’s ample parking in the tree-lined car park on-site, and more on a grassy area over the way; next door, there’s also a paying car park run by the council: keep your ticket and take it into the pub and they will refund you the cost when you spend £20 or more.
Hikers, bikers and dog-walkers will all find somewhere to perch, thanks to there being an abundance of indoor and outdoor seating areas. The bar area is located at the front of the venue, with a snug area (complete with log burner for cooler days) and the restaurant to the rear. We were shown over to our table; a pleasant spot by the window that afforded us views of both the bar and over the back to a lawned garden with benches (perfect for energetic kids and/or pooches).
As you would expect from a country Inn, there was a great selection of beverages on offer, both alcoholic and soft, and I ordered a large glass of Rioja for myself and The Man chose a pint of [draught] Madri. We were in a raised area that had a relaxed conservatory feel to it, and adjacent to us was a couple with a beautifully groomed, pale spun-gold coloured dog; further down was a family with young child in a high-chair, so I think it safe to say that The Robin Hood team are welcoming to everyone. Those with younger family members will be pleased to hear that children under 8 years eat free, and ‘pawrents’ will take cheer that there is a bowl of fresh water easily accessible on the floor for furry friends.
I’d love to claim that some ancient instinct informed the decision for His Nibs and I to share a starter, but I’d be lying; the truth is that we really wanted pudding but weren’t sure if we’d manage a whole 3 courses each, so erred on the side of caution. Our starter choice was Pork Belly Bites with Sesame sauce, Nigella Seeds and Pickled Vegetables (£8.95) and, whilst we waited for them, I had my usual gleg-around at the décor. The restaurant is a lovely light, airy space with Dove Grey and Sunny Yellow providing the base of the colour palate, and checked and patterned upholstery on the chairs added pops of complementary hues. Tweed curtains were at the windows near us, held back with tasselled tie-backs, and more country charm came via the dried ears of corn and flowers that adorned each table. I also loved the poster of local walks that was displayed on one wall; with so many scenic routes available, why not shout it from, well, the walls?
Food at The Robin Hood Inn is freshly prepared and cooked, so do expect a little wait for your food, especially at peak times. I’ve said it before, but I would much rather wait an extra 5-10 minutes for fresh food, than get ‘ping’ stuff instantly. As it was, though, we really weren’t waiting long at all for our starter, which was a sizeable beast. Six large cubes of Belly Pork all had nicely crisped tops and you could see the strata of the meat and its fat, which was what gave the meat its lusciousness and melt-in-the-mouth character. A liberal scattering of pungent, earthy Nigella/Black Onion Seeds paired nicely with the Sesame sauce that had been ramped up with a smidge of Chilli to impart a pleasant kick. Pickled Radishes were a delightful pink colour and I would’ve loved to know what was in the pickling juice; a curious umami flavour washed over my tongue, but I couldn’t quite pin down the combination of elements in it. Whatever, it was absolutely marvellous.
Tempted though he had been by the Steak and Ale ‘pie of the day’, His Nibs followed my lead and opted for a roast: Beef Striploin was his choice (£20), and I fancied the Leg of Lamb (£22). All the roasts at The Robin Hood Inn come with duck fat-Roasties, Mash, stuffing, Yorkshire Pudding, and Seasonal Veggies, as well as rich meat gravy. As is our habit, we ordered a side of Cauliflower Cheese for £3.95. Having seen a pair of roast dinners go to a neighbouring table, we already knew that Chef is a feeder and took comfort in the fact that we’d shared a starter! Our lovely server gently placed the plates before us (having brought out fresh cutlery and thick napkins for us) and warned us of the hot bowl that housed the Cauli Cheese, and then brought over the Horseradish and Mint sauces that we’d asked for.
Both meats are served pink, which suits His Nibs and I just fine, and we both had a pair of huge (and I do mean HUGE!) slices of our respective meats. My Lamb was exquisitely soft and juicy, with a beautifully sweet, earthy hint to its taste, and I smiled happily as I savoured each bite. The Man was equally chuffed with his Beef Striploin, commenting on its deliciousness and how tender it was. Wherever you looked on the plate, there was more to discover: cubes of fragrant roast Parsnip and halved, honey-roast Carrots, oodles of moreishly jammy, spiced Red Cabbage, and a slab of meat-pimped Stuffing. The mash was perfectly seasoned and smoother than glass, and the duck-fat roasties were delicious: crisp, roughed-up outers and soft inners. Baby Leeks and Savoy Cabbage were gently crunchy and the Yorkshire Pudding was awesome – granted, it wasn’t large enough to have its own postcode – but the sides were thin and crisply puffed with a rich batter taste to the softer ‘body’. The surprise ‘star of the show’ was the gravy! Honestly, this was unbelievably deep and meaty; you could see the flecks of meat within it and the flavour was bonkers – granny couldn’t have made better!! For me to say this when there was Cauliflower Cheese on the table should give you some indication on how fab it was.
Ah yes, the Cauliflower Cheese… a mesmerising, silky sauce bathed plentiful florets of still gently-firm Cauliflower, the rich cheese taste pairing beautifully with the sweet, nutty vegetable. For a texture contrast, crispy Onion bits had been liberally scattered over the top and the classic partnership of Cheese and Onion was appreciated by my palate. What a fab Sunday roast this had been. Our server was looking mighty happy as we heaped praise on the meal, and took back a pair of clean plates back to the kitchen. Top job, Chef!
There was absolutely no way that we weren’t having pudding after two courses of splendidness, so I ordered the Apple and Rhubarb Crumble with Vanilla Custard (£6), and The Man liked the sound of the Oreo Eton Mess: Oreos, Meringue, Cream, and Berry Compote (£7). My individual Crumble was piping hot – I mean hotter than Satan’s armpit, as they say! Vast plumes of steam escaped as I pierced the rich-as-shortbread crumble top, and underneath lay pieces of subtly spiced Apple and crunchy Rhubarb. Both fruits waltzed seamlessly together as the orchestra of warm Custard (served in a beautifully decorated pinch-pot) and buttery Crumble played a soothing harmony on my palate. Every last little scrap was scooped out with my spoon; no way was I leaving any, no sirree!
Berries and Chocolate have long been a favourite match, and here they worked brilliantly. Served in a tactile, rounded glass, the several layers were showcased excellently, making for a very attractive spectacle. This seemingly quite straight-forward dessert provided a vast landscape of tastes and textures, cantering smoothly between soft, whipped Cream, chewy Meringue, sweet, crunchy Oreo Cookies, and tart, tangy forest fruits. His Nibs had the same idea as me, studiously garnering every last bit of scrumminess from the side and bottom of the glass.
Nothing had been too much trouble for the serving team during our time at The Robin Hood Inn at Baslow, making this a marvellous experience from the moment we stepped over the threshold to the second the jalopy left the car park. Hot Wings very happily given here.
To book a table, ring 01629 700888 or visit the website www.robinhoodbaslow.co.uk and book online. The pub is open Mon-Fri 11am-9pm, Saturday 9am-9pm, and Sunday 9am-9.30pm; kitchen times are slightly different: Mon-Thurs Noon-8pm, Friday and Saturday 9am-11.30am, then Noon-8pm, and Sunday 9am-11.30am, then Noon-7pm.
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