Yet again, you lovely lot came through when we were asking for suggestions for a venue to savour the beloved British Sunday Roast at. There were some great suggestions (many of which got popped on our ‘to visit’ list), but we chose to try The Bridge Inn at Curbar/Calver – mainly due to their lure of a table by the fire for Mummy Bird.
We have previously visited this lovely place, in pre-covid times, but the latest owners (a group of friends, which I think is fab) only took it over a few months ago in July 2025. The Bridge Inn has its own decently-sized car park, but there is also plenty of parking adjacent to it…which will no doubt come in very handy in peak tourist season! Walking inside, we received the warmest of welcomes and were shown to our fireside table in the corner; the angled banquette had lots of scatter cushions that proved very handy for getting Mummy settled and supported comfortably.
The bar is well-stocked to say the least: Cask Ales, Premium World Lagers, spirits of every type, softs, and a superb wine list. Mummy had her usual large glass of Pinot Grigio (£7.95), I had a large glass of Pinot Noir (£9.50), and His Nibs opted for a pint of Moretti (£5.95). Whilst we’re on the subject of the bar, I should just mention its rather natty decoration; the hand-painted wooden boards are reclaimed from the renovation that the team did when they moved in. I love a bit of ‘reno re-use’ action.
As well as the Sunday Roast menu, there is also the Pub Classics selection, and younger guests also have their own menu to choose from. The Bridge Inn welcome everyone through their doors; two-leggers of all ages, and furry friends - who will think they’ve entered paradise! There are blankets for dogs to lie on and dry off after walks, a water dispenser and bowls for their refreshment, and their humans can even treat them to their own slap-up lunch or dinner: prices range from £3.45-£4.45. All-natural chews are available to purchase for furries to chomp on – we took a Rabbit one and a Boar one home for our handsome lad. As if that wasn’t enough, a Kilner jar holds biscuit-type treats for good boys and girls, for an immediate reward – told you it was doggy heaven.
I suppose I may as well confess that our flock had had a sneak peek of the menu before we arrived at The Bridge Inn, so we’d got our meal strategy well worked out: skip starters, and go for mains and pudding – the puds sounded awesome. Before we got there though, we had to scoff our way through our roasts!
Mummy Bird made a total liar of us and went for the Roast Turkey (£17.95) - we would’ve betted our house on her choosing the Fish n Chips: good job we aren’t gamblers, eh?! I went for the duo of meats (£18.95), Pork Loin and Beef Topside, and The Man opted for all three meats (£19.95); Beef Topside, Pork Loin and Turkey Breast. All the roasts at The Bridge Inn come with Creamy Mash, Roasties, Seasonal Veg, Yorkies, and Gravy, as well as respective trimmings such as Stuffing, Crackling and Pig-in-Blanket. When our server took our order, she also confirmed which (if any) sauces we’d like; His Nibs and I had Horseradish, Mummy Bird had Cranberry.
Watching the gorgeous looking roasts pass us on their way to other tables nearly killed us; they looked so incredibly good…and the aromas were tormenting us (in the nicest way, obvs). Thankfully, we weren’t waiting too long before our properly laden plates were being placed carefully down, and a double-check was done to make sure we had everything we wanted before we tucked in.
Even just cutting through Mummy’s Turkey, I could tell it was going to be wonderfully moist and succulent and, after taking her first bite, Mummy Bird happily confirmed this was indeed the case. Given the size of the slice, I wouldn’t want to get into a fight with the Turkey it had come from; I think this bird could possibly have been a throwback from the Jurassic days! The Topside of Beef was beautifully tender and flavoursome (again, the slices were massive), and the Roast Pork Loin was at least 1/2cm thick (!) with a marvellously mild, creamy taste and melt-in-the-mouth texture. His Nibs was still feeling a bit sensitive from dental work, and he managed to chomp through his trio with no trouble at all, thanks to its tenderness. All props to you, Chef, for producing such delicious meats, and for the accompanying, plentiful Gravy.
Now, you all know what an incredibly fussy/awkward cow I am when it comes to Sausage – any vague whiff of ‘repeat factor’ and I’m outta there! I tentatively tried a tiny bit of the Pig-in-Blanket and was pleasantly surprised to discover that there was no hint at all of this befalling me, so I munched on. I tell you what, if The Bridge Inn do breakfasts, I am claiming the Full English for myself, His Maj can choose something else for a change. Across the table, The Man and Mummy were looking at me, their eyes on stalks with surprise at seeing me eat the whole thing.
Shredded Savoy Cabbage was nicely crunchy and its bright, grassy flavour contrasted perfectly against the sweetness of the roasted Carrot and Parsnips, and the nutty hints from the herb-zhuzhed Roasties. The stuffing slice was beautifully rich, and just that gentle softness remained when you bit into it; not soggy, just comforting. If you love your Mashed Potatoes creamy and smoother than a mill-pond’s surface, then you need to get yourselves down to The Bridge Inn at Curbar/Calver – their offering is the real deal. Mummy Bird scoffed her way through the postcode-sized, homemade Yorkshire Pudding, and it was my turn to stare; as the proclaimed Queen of the Yorkie in our Flock, Mummy is one picky critter when it comes to eating other folks’ ones. There she was, though, [daintily] troughing merrily away, savouring every bit of the crisp outer and pillowy centre!
It had taken some time, but we managed to leave a trio of clean plates when we eventually put our cutlery down and, as planned, ordered pudding (all of which are priced at £5.95). I fancied the Black Cherry Pie, pairing it with Custard; The Man opted for Trillionaires Tort with Vanilla Ice Cream, and Mummy chose the White Chocolate and Whiskey Bread-and-Butter Pudding with Custard. I was quite surprised that none of us had gone for pouring Cream, but there you go.
Whilst we waited for our sweet treats, I had a closer gander at the interior décor that the new team had chosen. The area where we were seated had been opened out to create a more spacious feel, though none of the cosy charm had been lost. Both fires in the ‘bar side’ were lit, warming everyone’s bones on what was a grim, grey day, and the natural stone, wood, and brickwork all created a welcoming, relaxed ambience to the space. Dogs, children and adults alike made the most of the cosiness, appreciating the feeling that time slowed down, and that catching up was the order of the day.
Soon enough, three platters were winging their way to us, each looking a bit magnificent, it has to be said. No sooner had I cut the large slab of Bread-and-Butter Pudding up than Mummy Bird was tucking in as though she’d not eaten in a month of Sundays!! I assume it’s delicious then, Mummy?! “Oh yes”, came the answer, “it most certainly is”. Music to my ears, that was. Mind you, my Black Cherry Pie was a bit extra, serving up main character energy with its abundance of fruit filling that engulfed my mouth with its deep flavour. I loved the whole fruits that were mingled within the unctuous sauce, and the pastry case was utterly amazing; rich and buttery, it didn’t disintegrate into a thousand pieces when cut into, but melted on my tongue. You can’t beat creamy, Vanilla-pimped Custard with a sweet Pie or Crumble (I don’t think) and this was glorious to savour.
By his own admission, the Man Bird has an incredibly sweet tooth (hence the dental issues!) and the Trillionaires Tort was ticking all his boxes: indulgent, Chocolatey, Caramel comfort and buttery biscuit crunch. If you feast with your eyes, this minx will reel you in immediately! A good quality Ice Cream was the perfect partner to the Tort temptress, its chill pairing fabulously with the soft, comfort factor-heavy elements of this dessert.
What a blooming great way to while away a couple of hours as a family on a Sunday. The Bridge Inn is now a firm family favourite, not least because we journey through the stunning Chatsworth House Estate on our way to and from the venue. As a perfect final touch, one of the herds of Deer greeted us at the roadside as we wound our way home.
Hot Wings very happily awarded to the group of friends that own The Bridge Inn – your passion and warmth shines through in everything you do. We will certainly return for a midweek dinner once the evenings are a bit longer and lighter; if the temperature permits, we might even venture out into your remarkable beer garden and outdoor space to appreciate the scenery a little more.
To book a table call 01433 630600. The Bridge Inn is open Mon-Thurs 11am-10pm, Fri 11am-11pm, Sat 10am-11pm, and Sun 10am-10pm, though food service will differ (obviously) so do check with the team. You can follow The Bridge Inn on Facebook: The Bridge Inn (the stone bridge logo is a clear clue), or visit www.refinedpubgroup.com
