Dining Out – The Boat Inn, Pinxton
The Boat Inn at Pinxton demonstrates the importance of legacy, why rebirth doesn’t have to mean revolution, and how the perfect setting is best served water-side. The quaint village of Pinxton, running alongside the two Derbyshire mammoths, the M1 and A38, is used to its fair share of travellers and passersby. Housing its own Pinxton United Football Club and Parish Council Offices, it’s in the margins, down by the River Erewash and at the head of the Pinxton Wharf where The Boat Inn lies, snug and quietly buzzing with revellers and families looking for the affable equality of taproom ambience and rustic eatery. The Boat Inn is a reflection of their past, and they make no bones about flaunting it, as proudly boasted by the staircase mural. Reading through it uncovers a starting date in the 1790s and how it was created to coincide with the development of the Pinxton Arm Mill on the newly built Cromford Canal. Designed to give collieries access to the River Trent, the methods of transport were updated again in 1819 with the Mansfield & Pinxton Railway, allowing goods to be efficiently convoyed across the region. Interestingly, this permitted the evolution of The Boat Inn to become the first railway waiting room and ticket office, allegedly. But the start of the 21st Century looked bleak for The Boat Inn. 2008 called for the closure of the building due to repeated flooding, making it in dire need of restoration. Then, the folks at Lowe Leisure Ltd stepped up with a last-ditch purchase and thus began an unprecedented transformation over 10 years. Re-opening in 2018, The Boat Inn has been dressed up with a fresh bar, lounge area and dining room. Ensuring the classic canalside pub vibe was maintained, The Boat Inn today continues to present an attractive and hospitable spot for every type of customer and, considering the pub’s history spans over 200 years and they’ve almost definitely served multiple generations of Pinxton families, it’s safe to assume the local’s tastebuds have been won. When we arrived on a wet and dark Wednesday evening, The Boat Inn emerged out of dense forestry and gravelly roads like a home-from-home. Spacious parking, an expansive outdoor seating area that covers a patio and a beer garden, we assumed that these elements would likely be well-populated in the warmer months, and the weary parent would welcome the high-quality children’s play area opposite. Situated within the Pinxton element of the sprawling Cromford Canal, nature rules the day and, especially due to Springtime blooming, it adds an element of persistently shifting, kaleidoscopic tranquillity to the area. The Boat Inn is keen to offer an overall experience, opposing the usual sit-down-eat-and-leave routine most restaurants employ. The staff were warm and attentive from start to finish, allowing the courses to run seamlessly. Being afforded both Al Fresco dining on the patio or the option to sit in the tasteful, countrified restaurant is a luxury not many places can attest to. The Boat Inn has meticulously ensured to play to its strengths, resulting in a structured environment that distinguishes the socialites from the foodies, and the lively carousers from the introverted romantics. The Snug, as they have rightfully named it, yields a warming log burner, and the dining room opts for a stripped-back design with wooden beams against exposed brickwork. The restaurant area is perfectly set up, meaning you don’t feel adrift from other restauranteurs, nor are you getting overly intimate with the locals. Open Tuesday through Saturday from 11:30 AM to 9:00 PM and Sunday from noon to 9:00 PM, its selection of seating arrangements will not disappoint. Be aware that the kitchen closes at 5 PM on Sunday, so get down quickly for an end-of-week meal. Whether you have a dog or have to organise a large group booking, The Boat Inn can accommodate each demand. They aren’t stuck in the past. Just check out their Facebook page to see a demonstration of how active these guys are! Hosting Bingo Night on Saturdays and their exceptionally generous children eat for £1 menu over the winter period, be assured that The Boat Inn have its fingers on the community pulse. The Bar Lounge is a refined, modern addition that does not disrupt its rustic surroundings. It is a place to lounge and indulge in the pub’s inspired drinks and cocktail lineup. Is anyone up for a Pinxton Passion Martini or Canal Collins? These will be coming in the Summer! The Boat Inn broke down its locally sourced food options into several easily discernable menus, covering the kids’, lunchtime deals, their traditional Sunday courses, and the main menu that my partner and I worked through. A brief chat with Chef Julie confirmed the level of pride and thought that goes into the options. She excels in producing a cohesive menu that spans most people’s appetites, including her very own “Julies Homemade Cheesecake” that even the waiter attested to being sublime! So, we chose Baked Gnocchi and Sticky Hoisin & Sesame Pork Belly Bites, Salmon and King Prawn Oriental Noodles and an 8oz Rump Steak, and to clinch the perfect evening, we indulged in, would you believe it, Julies Homemade Cheesecake, made with lemon and ginger for that electric zing. We expect great things from the Boat Inn and imagine it will continue to lead as Pinxton’s cherished culinary heartthrob. Shall we see you there? To book a table or learn about upcoming events, visit https://theboatinnpinxton.co.uk/ or call 01773 861600. The Boat Inn, Pinxton Wharf, Pinxton, Derbyshire, NG16 6PN Tom Bell 00
Dining In Derbyshire – Seafood Cave & Grill, Matlock
It felt a little surreal as Susan and I drove into Matlock Bath, late on a sunny, mid-week afternoon. Most of the traffic was heading in the opposite direction; office workers in a rush to get home. We weren’t in a hurry and our route wasn’t busy. It felt like one of those summer evenings, back in the late 70s when you just went ‘out for a drive’. Our destination was the Seafood Cave and Grill for an early dinner. We parked in the Matlock Bath Station car park: deserted apart from a hand full of cars and an ice cream van, sales window closed and the driver already behind the wheel. Perhaps it’s because Matlock Bath is on our doorstep that we have a tendency to forget that, for many, it’s a tourist destination. It’s been one for more than a century. Holiday makers and the casual visitor have wandered through the gorge, cut by the river Derwent, admiring the scenery. We also admired those same views as we strolled over the Derwent and crossed the main road. A two minute walk and we were outside the stone arch that leads onto the covered courtyard in front of the seafood restaurant. We were greeted warmly by Ian, chef patron, who invited us to take a seat at a table in the flag-stoned courtyard. The interior of the restaurant is uncluttered: with white painted walls and solid furniture. The festoons of bare light bulbs, with their exaggerated filaments, are quirky, but the most striking feature is the open kitchen and grill. You can see the chefs at work, and everything is on show. Ian explained that the ethos of the restaurant, with its daily deliveries of fresh fish and shellfish, had not changed and he was now spending all his time concentrating on the Matlock Bath venue. A warm summer evening calls for a long cool drink. I asked Ian if he had any alcohol-free beers. ‘Yes’ he said: ‘Ales, cider, lager and stout.’ I chose a glass of Heineken. I didn’t want anything too heavy to mask the taste of the food. Susan, as constant as the Northern Star, asked for a glass of Sauvignon Blanc. Ian has devised a lunch menu with two and three course options all at fixed prices. In the evening the a la carte menu takes over. Most of the dishes are also available as a takeaway. On the evening menu there are nibbles of potted crab, shrimp and crayfish on a herb crostini, or roasted garlic marinated olives with rosemary focaccia, plus a whipped goats cheese with Highland oaties. The starters or wee plates as they are called on the menu include a crispy belly pork with salt and pepper squid. The Cave Cocktail: prawn and crayfish in a bloody Marie Rose sauce along with smoked salmon and samphire. There’s also a grazing board and goat’s cheese. And the one we were having: the hot and cold taste of the sea sharing platter. As Susan and I chattered over our drinks Ian brought us an amuse-bouche: two bite size hors d’oeuvre to whet our appetite. One was a shot glass of crab and rice soup topped with a crab claw tip. The rice had been blended to a silky-smooth paste with the sweet crab flavour holding its own. The second was a dice of Ian’s own sea trout pastrami topped with a dash of sauce and samphire. It’s cured similar to gravadlax but with dark sugar and coriander. The fish was firm, full of flavour and enhanced by the salty samphire. Our sharing starter arrived. A colourful palette of exciting nibbles. There were mussels and whelks in their shells, small cubes of the sea trout pastrami and two crab claws all on a bed of lettuce. Two crab and sweetcorn bon-bons, with a crispy coating of deep-fried bread crumb, jostled for position in a dish of Marie Rose sauce. A bowl of potted shrimp and crayfish was topped with a disc of whipped caper butter. On top of that sat a small mound of caviar, and all topped with a scattering of samphire. There was sliced focaccia, oat cakes and crostini tucked in amongst the fish. The mussels were succulent, the crab claws sweet, the dressing spot on and the salty samphire and caviar enhanced the delicate shellfish flavours. The platter for two has many rewards. One being that you can exchange ideas and thoughts about the food you are both sharing; a conversation over dinner. And the sharing continued. The mains on the restaurant menu contain a mix of fish and meat. There’s Moray Firth monk fish, battered haddock and a posh Kiev (breaded hake stuffed with garlic, crab, shrimp and crayfish butter). There’s haunch of lamb and Sirloin steak, plus, a surf and turf. But we maintained our sharing evening with a lobster and crab celebration. Ian had devised a special menu, for one month, devoted to these tasty crustaceans. The platter was a visual delight. It was dominated in the centre, by two huge crab claws. To one side was a lobster Thermidor, topped with a lobster claw, and to the other side a pile of king prawns dressed with samphire. We’d been provided with two crab forks to pick the flavoursome white crab meat from the claws. A task we shared with some amusement. The tender sweetness of the lobster meat had been blended into the not too heavy cream and white wine sauce for the Thermidor. It was a delight to eat. I also nibbled on the lobster legs. The prawns had been dusted with a little cayenne to add warmth, each one a juicy mouthful. A small dish of dauphinoise potatoes accompanied the platter. The smooth, starchy nature of the potatoes offset the richness of the shellfish. As we drove home we reflected on our delightful evening: our shared experience of delicious food and the attentive service. The Seafood Cave and Grill is somewhere to make
Restaurant Review – The Poet & Castle
The demise of the local public house has been the subject of many newspaper articles; part of the ethos of the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) believes well-run pubs, whether in rural or urban areas, play a critical social role in UK culture as the centres of community life. CAMRA believes that the British pub is a uniquely wonderful institution. The 50,000 or so which remain offer a rich variety of drinking and social environments and contribute significantly to the sum of the nation’s happiness. One of these unique institutions was our destination for a midweek contribution to our happiness; a Wednesday evening in the Poet and Castle on the Market Place in Codnor, Derbyshire. Our taxi dropped us off in the car park at the rear of the pub. One of the first things we spotted was the large outdoor seating area with its extensive views over the fields. Perfect for a family on a warm Summer afternoon. The Poet and Castle is the 5th and latest pub to be owned by the Lincoln Green Brewing Company. The Company, started in 2012 by Anthony Hughes, takes its name from the colour of the woolen cloth associated with the legendary Robin Hood. What began in the garage of his home in Nottingham has grown to include a brewery in Hucknall and the 5 pubs; 4 in his home county of Nottinghamshire and The Poet and Castle in Derbyshire. The Company has a simple philosophy; they believe in ‘proper pubs’ and this is evident in the Poet and Castle. It’s a place with quiet corners. It has big comfy chairs in front of the log burner. It’s a meeting place for dog walkers. It’s somewhere to put the world to rights and for us, somewhere for a Wednesday evening meal. As the owners state ‘You know when you’ve entered a proper pub. It’s a sense, not a blueprint’. We were given a warm welcome by Clive, the manager who explained the Lincoln Green real ales on offer. Their 4 main brews are called Marion, Hood, Archer and Tuck, names associated with the famous outlaw of Sherwood Forest. While Sue chatted to a group of friendly dog walkers I decide to sample the Hood; the bitter. This is a proper bitter; it’s complex flavours and smooth finish are a reminder of how good ale used to taste and is a treat worth making a detour for. The food is pub grub and for that reason the menu does not run on for 4 or 5 pages. There are 4 starters to choose from: goats cheese and red onion flatbread, 2 homemade soups; tomato or leek and potato and mushrooms in a wine and garlic sauce served on toast. There are 7 main course meals which include 2 burgers (one venison and the other a veggie), fish and chips, a beef pie, ham and eggs and a red pepper tagliatelle; 4 of them are available in child portion sizes. We chose the mushrooms and a soup followed by the pie and fish and chips. Everything is freshly cooked. I placed our order with Clive at the bar. He made a note of it and dispatched it to the kitchen along with a glass of Marion light ale he had just pulled and added “That’s to make the beer batter for your haddock.” It doesn’t get more fresh than that. The mushrooms take centre stage in the generous starter. Sautéed mushrooms are served on toasted slices of baguette There’s just a hint of garlic in the creamy wine sauce but it doesn’t mask the delicate mushroom flavour. Toasted baguette also accompanied the fresh leek and potato soup; a soup that can be served in all sorts of shapes and sizes: rustic, chilled and in this instance creamed. The Poet and Castle version is carefully seasoned and uses the whole leek giving it a deep flavour. It’s finished with a swirl of cream to enhance the smooth presentation. I decided to try the lighter, more delicately flavoured Archer American pale ale with my homemade beef pie and its robust gravy made with their own porter; Tuck. The pie pastry was crisp, the triple cooked chips lived up to expectations and I could taste the ale in the tender beef pie filling. Susan’s fish was a fillet of haddock in a Marion beer batter. The white, flaky fish had cooked beautifully inside the crisp beer batter and again the triple cooked chips were delightful. It was served with mushy peas and a dish of tartar sauce. To round off the evening I sampled the Marion. This is a full bodied pale ale with a fresh, zingy aroma and comforting warm malt taste. Along with their real ale they also offer real cider, wines and spirits. There is lager, but not the mainstream brands. We came away with the impression that the Poet and Castle was in the great British tradition of proper pubs; a warm welcome, excellent beers and wines, good conversation and good old fashioned pub grub. 00
Restaurant Review – Viva Matlock
Viva restaurant is well situated in the middle of Matlock on Dale Road; being close to a car park just around the corner. We visited this restaurant and discovered an idyllic place to eat in and experience that special Italian dining cuisine at a very cost effective price… On entering the restaurant we immediately felt delighted that we had chosen this venue. Viva is a stylish, modern and glamorous restaurant which offers a traditional Italian and contemporary cuisine. We were greeted by a waitress and taken to our table. Looking around, the open kitchen is impressive and pristine; together with the carefully chosen wallpapers and sculptures it all creates a totally enjoyable different dining experience. We were struck by the hustle and bustle of the restaurant, even on a raining mid week evening the restaurant was busy. And soon we were to find out why… Having examined the extensive menu of traditional dishes my partner eventually (with the expert recommendation from our waitress) chose the Cozze al Vapore at £6.95. This delicious dish consisted of steamed mussels in a cream, lemon and garlic sauce. I went for the Funghi Dolcelatte priced at just £4.95. Also delicious – the button mushrooms were stuffed with the famous Italian Dolcelatte cheese, coated in breadcrumbs and then baked in the oven and served with ciabatta bread. For our main dishes, my partner chose the Filletto Pepe Verde at £19.95. His fillet steak was cooked to perfection and the flambéd sauce of black peppercorns, brandy, French mustard and cream beautifully complimented it. He really was enthusiastic and remarked that it was one of the best steaks he has ever had! The dish was served with a garnish and French fries. Equally looking too good to eat was my choice of pasta. I chose the traditional Salsa di Pollo at £11.25. This popular pasta dish consisted of diced chicken breast, mushrooms, onions, fresh herbs and a hint of pomodoro and garlic in a creamy sauce. All this was washed down with a glass of house red and a Peroni beer. The appetising substantial portions had completely filled us up and so to finish the evening off we just had a couple of coffees. In conclusion, all the dishes were dazzlingly presented and bursting with flavour and nothing was too much trouble. It’s so good to have an Italian restaurant on ones doorstep that is excellent value for money and very affordable. Children are welcomed at Viva and I noticed the kids menu; for £6.95 they can choose any pizza or pasta from the menu, just in a smaller size. A massive thank you to Saj and their team. We’ll be back very soon so watch this space. 00
