Historic Peak District Pub Once Frequented By Charlotte Bronte Will Reopen After Devastating Floods
Published On Monday 10 Jun 2024 by Sticky Beak
See Recent News Articles
The George Hathersage, a 500-year-old Peak District coaching inn, which was once frequented by Charlotte Brontë, will reopen this month, after being closed for eight months due to catastrophic flooding.
There will be a grand reopening on Thursday 13th June 2024 from 12pm, with dinner service starting at 5pm. Food will be served from 12pm.
A full refurbishment has taken place after Storm Babet, which wreaked havoc across the Peak District in October 2023, damaged the entire ground floor, including the ground floor bedrooms, restaurant, and kitchen.
Concorde BGW, the design and build specialists that also transformed sister venue, The Ashford Arms, have taken the opportunity to instil even more heritage and character throughout the building.
Historic features have been carefully restored. Furniture has been refurbished, new floors and wallpaper installed, the toilets have been revamped, and popular private dining area, The Dragon’s Den, has been redone. The final eight bedrooms at The George have also been finished.
Outside, the expansive courtyard has been refurbished, ready for a busy summer.
The George will reopen with its summer gastropub menu, designed by Raymond Blanc trained executive chef, Adrian Gagea, and executed by head chef, James Heywood. The pub has been sorely missed by locals and visitors alike, and is expected to be extremely busy, including for Father’s Day on Sunday 16 June.
Alice Houghton, general manager at The George, said:
“We really can't wait to welcome everyone back to The George. We've used the time we've been closed to improve training, raise standards and get ready for a busy, bustling summer.
“The whole team is so excited to get back to The George. While repairs were underway, employees were redeployed to our sister sites, The Maynard and The Ashford Arms, and have been working very hard. But The George is where our heart is and we’re so pleased to see it restored to its former glory.”
The menu at The George features something for everyone, with dishes like:
- Baby spinach, rainbow pepper and heritage tomato salad with truffle and tahini yoghurt dressing, toasted pine nuts and crispy onions
- Lebanese spiced lamb ballotine, chickpea hummus, raita, marinated vegetable skewers, pickled vegetables and fresh coriander served with grilled pita bread
- A selection of homemade pizzas from The George’s woodfired pizza oven
- Steaks; and burgers, including the BBQ beef brisket and cheese burger
- Pina colada mousse, caramelised pineapple with rum, oat and coconut crumb served with coconut sorbet.
There is also an extensive children’s menu and options for individuals with dietary requirements. That includes more than 69 gluten free options, 95.6% of the main menu.
The menu at The George changes according to the season, and what is being grown nearby, with ingredients supplied by local farms, heritage brewers and artisan producers. The pub serves breakfast, lunch (including Sunday lunch), afternoon tea and dinner.
The pub also has 24 spacious and contemporarily styled en-suite bedrooms, making it ideal for a stay in Hathersage, one of the best Peak District locations for walking, climbing, and sightseeing. Many people travel to Hathersage to see the places visited by Charlotte Brontë that appear in Jane Eyre. There is also a famous location from Pride & Prejudice (the Keira Knightley version) above Stanage Edge and the grave of Robin Hood’s sidekick Little John in Hathersage’s 1000+-year-old church.
Rob Hattersley, owner of independent hospitality business, Longbow Bars & Restaurants shared his delight at the upcoming reopening:
“The damage caused by Storm Babet was unbelievable. Staff tried in vain to protect our beloved, historic pub but there was nothing we could do. The water poured in and the place was engulfed, affecting the kitchen and ground-floor bedrooms immediately.
“I have been so impressed with how our staff have pulled together while The George has been going through an extensive drying out and refurbishment period.
“The team from The George have been an absolute asset to our sister venues, The Maynard and The Ashford Arms. We’ve used it as an opportunity to bolster our training sessions, and have also developed a new career pathway called The Longbow Way so we can always focus on progressing from within.
“I have also been overwhelmed by the support and feedback from locals and regular visitors from further afield. I feel like everyone has been behind us and The George as we get it back on its feet.”
Rob founded Longbow Bars & Restaurants shortly before the pandemic hit, selling his house to fund his first venue, The Maynard in Hope Valley. He had a rocky start, which saw him on the brink of bankruptcy, due to the nationwide lockdowns, but he has quickly established himself as a rising star in the Peak District hotel, pub and restaurant industry.
The George was acquired by Rob in June 2021. He has since opened The Ashford Arms, a historic pub in Ashford-in-the-Water, near Bakewell. Rob also recently revealed his plans to transform the former Royal Bank of Scotland in Bakewell into a premium dining destination.
The George will be open from 8am to 12am, Monday to Sunday (last food orders at 9.30pm Monday-Saturday, 8.30pm on Sunday). Food and room bookings can be made now via the website at thegeorgehathersage.com.
| Restaurant revamp brings taste of Spanish sunshine to Mercia Marina A six-figure investment is set to take a much-loved bar and restaurant at Mercia Marina to new heights at one of the Midlands’ most popular tourist and beauty spots. Read The Article | |
| The Peacock At Owler Bar Near Sheffield, To Be Refurbished & Reopened By Longbow Before Christmas Longbow Venues, owned by Peak District hospitality entrepreneur, Rob Hattersley, will be taking on The Peacock at Owler Bar Read The Article | |
| Croots Farm Shop in Derbyshire wins two accolades in the Great British Food Awards The farm shop near Duffield scooped a silver medal for its dirty brisket burger in the burgers category and a bronze medal for its lamb and mint Read The Article | |
| Visitors flock to Derby's Cathedral Quarter Hotel after new owners take over New management at one of Derby’s major hotels has revealed that business is “extremely good” since they bought it in May. Read The Article | |
| All we want for Christmas ... is a curry Diners in Derbyshire are planning on swapping their Christmas turkey for chicken tikka this festive season after a recently refurbished Indian restaurant revealed it is almost fully booked. Read The Article | |
| Derby's newest Indian restaurant thanks the city after a thousand diners flock to try it out Management at Derby's newest Indian restaurant say more than a thousand diners have visited since it opened. Johns Geo and his friends Read The Article | |
| Why this gin-ius metal bottle captures the spirit of upstart Guerrilla Chicken An upstart Derby distiller which sells its vodka and gin in distinctive eco-friendly reusable metal bottles has picked up a host of awards at two prestigious spirit Read The Article | |
| Piccalilli Opens Its Doors in Nottingham A New Neighbourhood Dining Spot Celebrating the Best of British Flavours. Dan Coles, celebrated chef and Nottingham local, has opened the doors to his first solo venture Read The Article | |
| Best Santa In The Peak District Is Flying Back For Afternoon Tea The Maynard and The George Hathersage, both owned by independent hospitality group, Longbow Bars & Restaurants, have announced that Father Christmas will Read The Article | |
| Restaurant At 1650 Set To Relaunch With New Head Chef And 7-Course Tasting Menu Ye Olde Bell's Restaurant 1650 is set to relaunch this October with new Executive Chef, Terry Phillips at the helm. Terry joins the award Read The Article | |