Sunday Carvery at The Fishpond, Matlock Bath - A Proper Roast Done Right

Thursday 8 Jan 2026 by Sticky Beak
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We’ve pretty much completed another turn around the sun, which means two things: 1) it’s the annual trip to Darwin Forest with the Bestie and her tribe, and 2) that means Sunday Carvery all together (Fledge and The Beau join us) at The Fishpond in Matlock Bath. Happy Days, and happier tummies.

I make no secret of the fact that I bloody hate parking in Matlock Bath, but the saving grace was that it wasn’t tourist season…though it was the Victorian Christmas Market in nearby Matlock, which meant that it was a bit bonkers! Anyhow, we did manage to get a spot in the car park across the road from The Fishpond and headed inside to grab our table. We had arrived a little early so we went back to the downstairs bar, found a seat, and grabbed some drinks and our carvery tickets (£18.50 per adult, £9 per child, and £3 for baby bowls which you get at the bar).

When we ventured back upstairs, the ladies had shoved together two tables to accommodate us all and we waited for the queue to get to a manageable size before going up. When there were only 4 people at the counter, we all got up and headed over, with His Nibs giving the carvery tickets to Chef Elmer. The Man and I headed up our group and Fledge, The Beau, Bestie Bird, Ginge, and The Bolton Wanderer were side-by-side, catching up on all the years missed news. This drew a few snarky comments from a couple of ladies coming up the stairs, as my group then set them back a bit as they went single file. All I have to say to you is “Pipe down. And next time you’re going to mutter about a ‘lack of manners’, maybe look in the mirror?”. You could clearly see we were a group together and yet still insisted on trying to muscle your way into our midst; when YOUR ill manners are rebuffed, snarkiness won’t cut it with us, I’m afraid. Right, rant over, back to business…

As usual, Elmer had lovingly roasted Beef three ways: Rare, Medium and Well-done; done Garlic and Rosemary Lamb both Medium and Well-done; Turkey Breast, Shoulder of Pork (crackling popped in a separate dish for fans to help themselves to), and Honey-glazed Gammon. Large Yorkshire Puds and balls of Sage, Onion and Cranberry Stuffing are also popped onto your plate if you so desire, along with your chosen meats, by Elmer, and then he puts the plate directly onto your tray so that you don’t risk hurting yourself on the hot crockery.

Ginger Ninja just adores the Carvery at The Fishpond; like her Uncle Man Bird, she’s a proper veg-dodger at the moment – especially if it’s green! Needless to say, her plate was piled high with meats and Elmer’s beautifully fluffy Mashed Potato, all smothered in rich, meat-juice gravy. This young lady can’t half plough her way through a food mountain! I have to say, though, that all our party looked like we were in the ‘man V food’ challenge!! I made the conscious decision to forego any type of Spuds (AND the Yorkie!) as I knew that I would be piling on the Cauliflower Cheese, spiced Red Cabbage and enough of the irresistible White Onion Sauce to re-fill the Dead Sea to its original level. I don’t know how he makes but, but I’d bloody marry Elmer just for this morsel if I wasn’t already madly in love (and married to) His Nibs!

You may love them or hate them, but the Brussels Sprouts at The Fishpond are superb; nicely firm to the bite, their natural exuberance is preserved and a clean, bright flavour bursts over your tongue. Sprout haters, don’t come for me, ok?! Elmer does his roasties with fresh herb sprigs to impart an extra, gentle hint of taste to the beautifully floury, sweet spuds that await you underneath the golden, crispy outers. I’m a sucker for the sweetness that comes with roasted Parsnips and Carrots, so plenty of these found their way onto several of our groups’ plates.

Chunks of roasted Swede were marvellously sweet and perfumed, contrasted by the clear taste of the trimmed Green Beans and Garden Peas. Another crowd-pleasing dish that Elmer serves up is the utterly wonderful Cheesy Leek concoction; this minx is just as described: sliced Leeks bathed in the most irresistibly thick Cheese Sauce this side of France. The Man Bird certainly couldn’t be described as restrained in the amount of this dish he piled onto his plate – it all got polished off, though!

The only things left on our plates were the peripheral layers of fat hat had preserved all the juiciness of the meat joints, and a smattering of gravy and sauces (Mint, Horseradish etc.) that were surplus. Not a bad effort, we concluded! I should just say that we do go without breakfast on the day we are visiting The Fishpond for their astounding Sunday Carvery, so that we waste minimal amounts of food. Don’t be one of those plonkers that load up your plate cos you’ve got to have a bit of everything, and then leave half of it; it’s not big and it’s not clever. It’s just greedy, disrespectful and downright unnecessary – The Fishpond team put it more subtly than that, but you know me: I say it as I see it!

The final thing for me to say is ‘Hot Wings’ to this blooming fabulous Matlock Bath Pub and Restaurant…see you next December (or maybe sooner!). To book a table - which you DEFINITELY need to do! – call 01629 55006 or visit www.thefishpondmatlockbath.co.uk. The Fishpond is open Mon-Weds Noon-10.30pm, Thurs Noon-11pm, Fri Noon-Midnight, Sat Noon-Midnight, and Sun Noon-11pm. Food service times are slightly different: main menu Noon-8.45pm, Sunday menu Noon-7.45pm, and the Sunday Carvery Noon-5pm.