A Quaint Retreat in Derbyshire: The Ashford Arms Balances Charm and Comfort
The Ashford Arms in Derbyshire offers charming accommodations and excellent service, featuring a delightful breakfast. While cozy, the pricing may not reflect the amenities provided for a boutique stay.
If you’re looking for an idyllic, serene, small-town getaway as a break from bustling city life, Derbyshire provides the ideal backdrop. Its collection of small, scenic villages is full of stone cottages, rolling green hills, and babbling brooks, perfect for perusing shops, café hopping, hiking, or just taking a beautiful drive. And when you need a place to stay, The Ashford Arms is at the heart of it all.
The Ashford Arms features a busy pub and restaurant downstairs, highlighting locally brewed beers, gins distilled in Derbyshire, and food grown just down the road. Upstairs, you’ll find nine boutique hotel rooms within their restored 17th-century coaching inn.
While their upstairs hallways could definitely use some love—as they feel quite old and have a bit of a musty smell—their bedrooms feel incredibly clean and homely. Rooms are tastefully decorated and provide everything you need for a calm weekend away, nothing more. Some rooms include both a gorgeous claw-foot tub and a standing shower with a pop of aqua tiling against the shiny gold hardware, balancing the quaint, comfy feel with refurbished modern touches. The bed was not the most comfortable, but it definitely sufficed for one night. And due to the nature of staying in such an old building, you can hear all the movement of the people above and around you. We stayed in the junior suite; while a bit small, it had a queen bed, two nightstands, a cable TV, a desk, a complimentary tea/coffee station, a closet, and a very large bathroom with both a tub and a standing shower. We didn’t need anything more!
Highlights:
- Charming Setting: Nestled in scenic Derbyshire, surrounded by picturesque villages and rolling hills.
- Historic Accommodations: Boutique hotel rooms in a restored 17th-century coaching inn.
- Delicious Dining: On-site pub featuring locally brewed beers and a made-to-order breakfast menu.
- Impeccable Service: Attentive staff providing exceptional hospitality and personal touches.
- Room Features: Tastefully decorated rooms with modern amenities and cozy decor.
- Pricing Transparency: Junior suite rates ranging from £190 to £445, with noted considerations for value.
- Room for Improvement: Suggestions for enhanced amenities and soundproofing in a historic setting.
The service you’ll receive downstairs is nothing short of five-star hospitality, with employees ready and willing to answer all your questions, meet all your needs, or simply just have a chat about your day.
Included with your stay is a delicious made-to-order breakfast alongside juice, tea, and/or coffee. You can choose any dish from their breakfast menu—no measly continental breakfasts or stale buffets here. My friend ordered the English breakfast, which comes with the works: Derbyshire sausages, bacon, black pudding, eggs any style, toasted sourdough, roasted tomatoes, baked beans, and mushrooms. I opted for the poached egg breakfast muffin with smoked salmon and hollandaise, and we were each brought our own stunning teapot to keep our cups fresh. The food arrived quickly and piping hot, tasted delicious, and was all included with our room. While we sadly did not have any time to stay for lunch or dinner, I spotted some of the plates being delivered and the food looked incredible. Something to look forward to next time!
Now down to brass tacks: for the junior suite we stayed in, you’re looking at anywhere from around £190 all the way up to £445 on a Saturday in summertime. Personally, I believe even £190 is a bit excessive for the small room and all amenities limited to shampoo and body gel, coffee and tea in the room, and breakfast—but for that, take it up with the going market rate for the area and not with The Ashford Arms. But I’m sorry, £445 is simply astronomical. For that kind of money, I would expect a pool, spa, gym, a much larger room and more comfortable bed, better soundproofing, more toiletries to use in the room, a stand for my suitcase, or at least updated hallways—to name a few ideas.
All that to say, if you can choose a time to visit Derbyshire when you can find lower prices, The Ashford Arms is wholeheartedly worth a stay. But is it worth hundreds of pounds per night? Sadly not.
