This is such a charming pub. Well worth the trek I had to…read morefind it. It looks fantastic, a real gem and had such friendly people on both sides of the bar. I've got a smile on my face just writing about it! The selection of ales was a relatively familiar one, with a tasty exception in Golden Pippen, delicious. They had 5 others, including a couple that have to be brought up from the cellar in a jug (a few places locally do this and boast of doing this..not quite sure why it is such a big deal). Was surprised and happy to see Dark Star Hophead so far from home too. Quite a bit of food choice, including a selection of pies. I braved the game pie as it contained venison and pheasant, neither of which I had previously sampled. This was nice too. The pub really can do no wrong! It was seriously difficult tearing myself away from the Hollybush, to try some other local pubs.

The Holly Bush Inn is a rustic traditional pub in Makeney/Milford/Belper that is one of the…read moremainstays of any pub crawl between Derby and Belper (Belper has an alarmingly high number of good and great pubs for such a small town). The fairly cluttered layout identifies it as a historic pub, there are several designated areas so it won't get *too* loud even when busy [which it mostly is in the evenings]. Good food, wide variety of real ales and ciders on tap (large rather than particularly distinguished on my visit), good atmosphere. It's a 10 minute walk from the nearest bus station in Milford, a little remote and easy to miss (God bless Google Maps!). Very popular with the locals. There are several good pubs within a short radius (this one, the Strutt-on-Arms & the King Williams IV). Get a zig-zag ticket on the Sixes buses from Derby so you can hop on and off at the various stops of your crawl.

Excellent service and food. The smash burger is delicious. Lovely atmosphere. Will come back.read more

Really cool atmosphere with great food and service…read more I was worried because this place is a chain, but after walking in and seeing the vibe, I was put at ease. I ordered the breakfast sandwich and it was really amazing. Bacon and sausage and a hash brown and an egg, honestly you can't beat that. My only complaint is the coffee was a little too bitter. Otherwise I'll definitely be back.

We stopped into the Strutt Arms for Indian food at the Elephant & Peacock now located there and…read morewere very pleased with the quality of the food and welcoming staff. We would highly recommend stopping in to enjoy a meal there. We certainly did twice and we'll do so again when we are in the area.

Sadly this whole experience was very disappointing in terms of food and service…read more First the good: The outdoor seating is very nice and welcoming There is Plenty of parking Once you overcome the challenges of ordering anything (see below) they cook your burger or steak as you request The black peppercorn sauce was fairly good Then the disappointing: And I will start with the terrible - even though you are sitting at a table, steps from the entrance and with frequent staff walking back and forth delivering food and cleaning off tables - you must order (even a single drink) by logging in to get internet access, reading the QR code and then seeing the menu (more on this later) and then you can struggle to view what is available and then place your order and pay before anything happens. You have to wrestle with signaling how you want the steak or burger prepared. For steaks the options come up. For the burger you have to add in the "notes" section after all your selections (I was fearful it would come medium and Mrs G only eats well done - so I was nervous as hell until I saw the "notes" option right at the end. It is a joke and pain in the butt Mrs G has never met a pickle she did not like - she did yesterday (presumably old?) after taking one bite and spitting it out Her burger was dry and tasteless. 80% of the meal returned untouched (the staff never asked why) The steak was a 10oz sirloin but tough, chewy and seemed to have fat or gristle in every bite (even after doing the best surgery I could to remove it before putting in my mouth) Another major failing of the "menu" system is that you never get to see or read exactly what you are getting - nor can you ask a waiter any questions. So I ordered chips (fries) as a side (there are only 3-4 sides offered as I recall) to my steak for an additional £2.95 to my £18.95 sirloin steak. When it came I see for the first time that the steak comes with chips - so now I had a sea of chips!! I mentioned this to a server - who said - "oh yes, people complain about that all the time". A nice way to squeeze another £2.95 out of your customers - huh?! Will we ever go back, no.

Fantastic food, great specials board a really great British pub, sadly too few about nowread more

AMAZING!!! As far as I remember this place has won pub food…read moreof the year ever year since Ive lived in the area. Super tasty quality food, I noticed that on the menu it even tells you which farm the meat came from, or where the ice cream was made etc. The Greek Lamb and the Gammon are both brilliant. The portions are huge and I'm always left with enough food for another meal but save room for the Holly Bush sundae because you wont ever have a such a selection of tasty locally made ice cream :) The prices are great too, last time I went it was around 30quid for the 2 of us.

The Hollies is an old Oak woodland in Meanwood Park and is a gem in the city of Leeds. I heard a…read morerumour, and like to fully believe, that Tolkien, author of the Lord of the Rings trilogy, was inspired by this forest, the ancient and gnarled trees that, if you close your eyes, could imagine coming alive. A river runs through it creating a deafening waterfall at one point. It is so magical, that when visiting it is hard to believe you are still in Leeds. There are rhododendron bushes that flower under the trees in bursts of colour, bluebells and snow drops further down still. My favorite feature is a large rock in the shape of a whale that looks like it has jumped out of the tiny stream it sits next to. This is a great place to go for an amble with the kids, your dog or friends,

Hidden, secluded, and secret…read more.. Almost. Filled with curiosity, I sniffed it out. Imagine being transported into the 'fairy' pictures that famously captivated people's minds for years. It's the sort of spot you might go pixie hunting, amongst foreign blooms, lush colours, and dappled light. It's a most magical, gorgeous place. Stop by, bring a pen and paper, and let the words spill out.

We stayed at the Bloomsbury for the second leg of our honeymoon, and we really couldn't have asked…read morefor a better experience. The owners are incredibly kind and considerate, and Steve is especially is fun to talk to. He was helpful when we were planning our trip, and had great recommendations of places to go while we were there. The rooms are decorated nicely, and feel traditiional without being dated. The bed was comfortable and the bathroom was very nice-- it had recently been remodeled and even had a rain shower. Most of the rooms have a pretty view of gardens or the town. The location is an easy fifteen minute walk from the city walls and the Minster. The two breakfasts we had here were the best we had in the UK: made to order, all locally sourced, and without a doubt the best breakfast sausage I've ever had. Other perks: very affordable rates, free tea and cookies in your room, access to guide books, free WiFi, and an adorable Yorkie who acts as a greeter in the afternoon (much to Steve's dismay). I would love to go back to York, and I'd love to stay at the Bloomsbury again.

I stayed here for two nights on a recent trip to York and I give my unabashed thumbs up…read more First off, the place is really beautiful. They have put a lot of money into making it a lovely place to stay. More importantly, the owners, Tricia and Steve were super welcoming. They made me feel right at home and were helpful without being pesty. The breakfast is really amazing. When they say "full Scottish" they are not exaggerating. I mostly enjoyed the Continental but they had ALL sorts of cooked options. I am (more than) a bit of a beer geek. I asked Steve for some pub recommendations and he was super knowledgeable... and even took time to draw me maps (I also get lost easily.)

This place was a really nice time. I'm very late posting this, but better late than never…read more.. because this spot deserves a shoutout. A group of us stopped here around Halloween while making a drive from London to Scotland. One of my friends loves anything spooky, so I sought out what's rumored to be one of the most haunted pubs in the area (I think we were in York... forgive me if I'm off, travel brain ). From the moment you walk in, the place is dark, moody, and mysterious with a very cool vibe. You seat yourself, and we had a table reserved. The atmosphere was lively and social, almost speakeasy-like. There's no traditional table service, you scan a QR code, order food on your phone, and it magically appears at your table. Drinks are ordered directly at the bar, which we learned is pretty common here. Fun surprise: the bartender was actually from California, so it was great chatting with someone from the States while abroad. The crowd overall was lovely, mostly locals, and everyone was super friendly and chatty with us Americans, which really added to the experience. Halfway through our meal, a live band set up right in front of us and absolutely killed it. Think Rolling Stones meets a gritty Seattle grunge band. They were phenomenal. They even invited me up to sing... but sadly, I hadn't had enough shots yet, so I declined. Maybe next time Food-wise, we ordered butternut squash, a few burgers, chicken wings, and a few appetizers. The food was just okay, not bad by any means, but not the highlight. For a pub in the middle of York, it was perfectly acceptable and hit the spot. Did we feel a spooky, haunted vibe? Honestly... not really, which was a bit of a letdown. But hanging out next to the little skeleton sitting at the bar (which I think someone has already posted photos of) was still fun. The memorabilia and décor throughout the pub are great and give you plenty to look at. Overall, The Golden Fleece is a very cool stop for a quick bite, drinks, and fantastic live music. The atmosphere and camaraderie made the night, and I'd absolutely recommend popping in if you're nearby, especially if there's a band playing.

The Golden Fleece is such a fun spot to check out in York! It's got that perfect blend of…read moreold-school English pub charm and a slightly spooky vibe (it's supposed to be haunted, after all!). Even if you're not into ghost stories, the place just oozes character with its low beams, creaky floors, and dark cozy corners. The drinks were exactly what were we're looking for and expected...classic pints and spirits to choose from. Honestly, it's the kind of pub you want to spend a couple of hours in, just soaking up the atmosphere and imagining all the stories those old walls could tell. If you're in York and want a pint somewhere with a bit of history (and maybe a ghost sighting or two), The Golden Fleece is definitely worth popping into.