Address: Holly Bush Ln, Makeney, Belper DE56 0RX, United Kingdom
Phone: +441332841729
Rating: 4.7
based on 144 reviews.
Ambience & Decor
Pros:
"Fabulous ambience in a 'traditional pub'; period furniture and fittings make for a cosy experience."
"The design and atmosphere was amazing."
"Always busy with a convivial welcoming atmosphere. Wonderful high backed settles and quirky furniture."
"Open log fires and the interior decor is probably unchanged since the day it was built."
"Beautiful traditional decor - which shows it is definitely a pub (not gastro nonsense)."
"A proper Derbyshire local this. Cosy, dark rooms with fires in the bad weather."
"It's an olde world Inn extremely quirky and full of characters."
Cons:
"I like quaint old country pubs. Just thought this one was dark, dirty and cold despite the log fire."
"It was so busy we sat in the shed in the garden. It felt so cold and damp."
"Interesting mix, so it's a little cramped and looks a little run down on the inside (where we were placed for our reservation)."
"The pub gets cramped and overcrowded quickly on popular days!"
"The conservatory also stunk of piss, something we've noticed the last few times."
Staff & Service
Pros:
"Just a perfect pub. Good beers - open fires - knowledgeable, enthusiastic landlord - great staff."
"Lovely staff."
"Helpful staff and Dog friendly."
"Staff nice and polite and efficient."
"Super friendly and helpful barmaid."
"Friendly staff, great atmosphere."
"Staff are really friendly and welcoming."
Cons:
"The woman behind the bar was just rude when I asked what the gin options were."
"Returned to the bar after mopping up to be ignored and 2 other people served while I waited."
"All good apart from one local called John who could not string a sentence together without using the F word and then introduced us to new uses for the C word."
"A bit disappointed, a mix up of orders and an hour wait for food."
Food & Drink
Pros:
"In keeping with its traditional background it does banging old school home made snacks like scotch eggs, cobs, picked onions, cheese boards and a famous array of different giant pork pies."
"Really tasty food, good service and friendly staff."
"The food was all fresh and really tasty."
"They stock a range of real ales which are well worth trying."
"Incredible home cooked food packed full of flavour."
"The food menu and food quality are both great."
"The food is excellent pub grub at very reasonable prices, all served with a smile."
Cons:
"We called for food and was very disappointed that they only serve food at lunch time and not the evening."
"A very disappointing Burns Night on Thursday. The food had absolutely no taste or flavour,no atmosphere and we had to go up to the bar during the meal to get drinks as there was no table service."
"We had a platter after reading a great comment but we thought it was rubbish.....pork pie and two little pots, one being relish and one a sliced gherkin and one onion No bread, cheese or salad/grapes."
"We were a disappointed with the food. I ordered a large meal and my wife a small but there didn’t appear to be any difference."
Location & Accessibility
Pros:
"The Holly Bush Inn is an ancient coaching inn on what would have been the old London to Manchester coach road before the turnpike (A6) opened early in the 19th century."
"The Inn is conveniently located only a 5 minute walk from the hotel."
"Easy to get to from A6 Milford bridge side."
"Off the beaten track, popular with walkers and riders (horse and cycle!) this place holds a special place in my heart."
Cons:
"Parking can be a pain, but deal with and go anyway."
"Parking can be a bit fraught."
"Only drawback is the limited parking as the old car park is now used for outside seating."
"Parking can be very tricky."
"You have to find a space on a very narrow road which isn’t ideal."
"One word of warning- there is only space for about 6 cars on the road outside the pub so get there early or not with a car."
"Parking is free but a nightmare. Not helped by 3 people stood in the small car park with horses."