Best Peak District Pubs & Restaurants To Beat The Heat
- Jen Bell I Editor I Good Life List Peak District
- Jul 8
- 8 min read
From air-conditioned restaurants to cool stone pubs and shady courtyards, these are the Peak District restaurants we're heading for when the temperature starts climbing.
When the Peak District is basking in sunshine, there's nowhere we'd rather be. Long walks across the moors, gorgeously lazy afternoons beside Ladybower Reservoir and ice creams by the River Wye are all part of the charm. But when temperatures creep towards 30°C, even the biggest sun lovers start looking for somewhere to cool down.
Every summer, searches for Peak District restaurants with air conditioning and cool places to eat soar. The problem? Many of the national park's pubs and restaurants occupy beautiful centuries-old stone buildings that were never designed with modern air conditioning in mind.
The good news is you don't have to abandon your plans. From fully air-conditioned restaurants to naturally cool stone pubs, shady courtyards and one of Derbyshire's highest inns, these are the Peak District places we'll be making a beeline for when the temperature starts soaring.
1) Chatsworth Kitchen
Peak Village, Rowsley
If you're looking for somewhere guaranteed to stay cool during a Peak District heatwave, Chatsworth Kitchen is one of your best bets. The spacious, fully air-conditioned restaurant at Peak Village offers welcome relief from the heat, making it an excellent stop before or after a visit to Chatsworth House or Haddon Hall. Large windows, plenty of space and a calm, contemporary feel make it a wonderful spot for lunch while everyone else is melting outside.
The menu celebrates produce from the Chatsworth Estate and local Derbyshire suppliers, with breakfast served until 11.30am before moving into seasonal lunches inspired by the estate's famous Kitchen Garden. You can start the day with fluffy pancakes, creamy chestnut mushrooms on toast or a hearty Chatsworth breakfast, before choosing from Chatsworth Farm beef burgers, lamb flatbreads, Derbyshire beef pie, colourful salads and steak sandwiches later in the day. It's also one of the best options if you're travelling with a group, thanks to an extensive children's menu, plenty of vegetarian and vegan choices and consistently friendly service. Just don't be surprised if you need to book ahead, especially during the holidays - it's one of Derbyshire's most popular lunch spots for very good reason.
2) The Peacock at Barlow
Hackney Ln, Sheffield, Barlow
If you're specifically searching for restaurants with air conditioning in the Peak District, we've found what might be the coolest one around. It is also one of the best for food with multi-awards and five-star reviews coming out of its ears.
The Peacock at Barlow is possibly the only country pub in the region with full air conditioning. Stepping inside on a blisteringly hot day in the Peak District is pure bliss. That alone makes it worth popping on your list, but thankfully the food more than lives up to the surroundings. They're well known for dishing up generous portions of comforting British favourites, from beer-battered fish and chips and slow-cooked steak pie to towering burgers and homemade desserts, all served inside a beautifully restored country pub that somehow manages to feel luxurious without losing its village charm. It also has some lovely rooms, if you want to spend the night.
3) The Grouse & Claret
Station Road, Rowsley, Matlock DE4 2EB
The Grouse & Claret is a great one to have up your sleeve. Sitting between Bakewell and Matlock on the edge of the Peak District, this historic coaching inn combines the character of an 18th-century country pub with the comfort of a modern hotel. Better still during a heatwave, the light-filled conservatory is fully air conditioned, making it one of the most comfortable places to enjoy lunch or dinner when temperatures start getting a bit much. If you're planning a weekend away, you can also stay overnight in one of the hotel's spacious en-suite rooms or pitch up on the on-site caravan park.
The menu is full to the rim with familiar pub favourites, from hand-battered fish and chips (our favourite!) and slow-cooked lamb shank to pan-fried sea bass, steaks, burgers and homemade puddings, with a sunny beer garden waiting for cooler evenings when you'd rather dine outside. Families, walkers and dogs are all warmly welcomed, making The Grouse & Claret an ideal stop whether you're exploring Chatsworth, wandering around Bakewell or simply searching for somewhere cool to enjoy a leisurely meal before heading back into the sunshine.
4) The Charleston
Rutland Square, Bakewell
A new addition to the Bakewell food scene, The Charleston's elegant 1920s inspired interiors stay pleasantly cool thanks to substantial air conditioning units that made a noticeable difference when we visited during the recent hot spell. We can also confirm that a spicy margarita tastes even better when you're no longer mopping your brow with a napkin.
The food more than justifies a visit, too. Earlier in the day you'll find brunch dishes including tea-smoked duck Benedicts, cured scallop muffins and buttermilk chicken waffle sandwiches, alongside speciality coffee from Sheffield's Roastology and freshly baked pastries. As the day goes on, the menu shifts towards refined brasserie cooking, with dishes such as crayfish and lobster ravioli, Derbyshire beef fillet with blue cheese chutney, best end of lamb with pomegranate chimichurri and pan-fried cod with walnut and chicory velouté. If you prefer to sit outside, The Charleston also has one of the largest outdoor dining spaces in Bakewell, including two shaded alcoves tucked away at the back of the courtyard that are worth seeking out when temperatures are soaring.
5) The Maynard
Main Road, Grindleford
The Maynard doesn't have air conditioning, but we'd still recommend it during a heatwave. The historic hotel sits high above the Hope Valley, and while the Edwardian building stays naturally cooler than many modern spaces, the real draw is choice. If it's simply too hot to sit in full sun, you can retreat indoors for lunch or dinner. If temperatures begin to ease later in the day, their redesigned garden and terrace is one of the largest and loveliest places in the Peak District to settle in with a cold drink and dinner while taking in those sweeping valley views.
The kitchen makes this far more than somewhere to stop for the scenery. Local suppliers are front and centre throughout the menu, with dishes including their signature venison ravioli in a creamy chorizo and sage sauce, Derbyshire beef fillet with black garlic and feta emulsion, salt-brined cod with samphire and pickled strawberries, and their much-loved trio of Peak District pies. If you're visiting earlier in the day, the lunchtime sandwiches and generous sharing platters are just the thing for a leisurely meal, while the Longbow signature burger remains one of our favourites in the area.
6) The Barrel Inn
Bretton, near Eyam
If anywhere in the Peak District has a natural advantage during a heatwave, it has to be The Barrel Inn. Sitting 1,300 feet above sea level in the tiny hamlet of Bretton, it claims to be the highest pub in Derbyshire, which makes it a great place to aim for when the valley towns start feeling a little too warm. The views alone are worth the drive, stretching across the Hope Valley and, on a clear day, as far as five counties.
Dating back to 1597, this is a proper old Derbyshire inn with oak beams, flagstone floors, real ales and freshly cooked seasonal food. The menu is hearty rather than heatwave-light, but that is part of the charm: hand-raised steak pie, Whitby haddock and chips, tempura mushroom and brie burgers, braised shepherd’s pie and chateaubriand to share. Head up later in the day, grab a drink, sit outside with those huge views and enjoy the fact it should feel that bit cooler up here than down in Bakewell or Matlock.
7) The Castle Inn
Castle Street, Castleton
Not every summer escape needs air conditioning. Sometimes, a building that's been standing for more than 300 years does the job just as well. Dating back to the 17th century, The Castle Inn is one of Castleton's best-loved coaching inns, where thick gritstone walls, low ceilings and centuries-old stonework create a naturally cool retreat after a day exploring Mam Tor, Winnats Pass or Peveril Castle. On one of those sweltering Peak District afternoons, stepping inside feels like an instant reset.
The menu is exactly what you'd hope to find after a walk in the Peaks, with comforting country pub favourites alongside a few more indulgent dishes. Choose from slow-cooked beef shin, fresh beer-battered haddock and chips, hand-stretched stone-baked pizzas, steaks, burgers and generously filled sharing platters, or cool down with a crisp glass of wine, a local cask ale or one of the pub's refreshing summer cocktails. If temperatures become a little more forgiving later in the day, you can always head back outside to the garden before continuing your Peak District adventure (editor's note: the Castleton caves are also a good idea when it's hot as they remain roughly 9°C to 10°C all year round!)
8) Ostello Lounge
Derwent House, Dale Road, Matlock
If you're spending the day exploring Matlock or Matlock Bath and the temperature starts heading towards the high twenties, you'll be pleased that we told you about Ostello Lounge. Overlooking the River Derwent, it's fully air conditioned throughout, making it one of the most reliable places nearby to escape the heat without sacrificing good food or atmosphere. The colourful interiors, huge windows and relaxed all-day dining menu mean it's just as good for a quick coffee as it is for a long, lazy lunch.
The menu is far more interesting than your average café too, with brunch served all day alongside dishes such as shakshuka, Byron Bay brunch with sweetcorn fritters, smashed avocado on sourdough and fluffy buttermilk pancakes with maple mascarpone. Later in the day you can move on to flatbreads, birria tacos, burgers, Thai curries and tapas, before cooling off even further with an Aperol Spritz, frozen-style margarita or one of their incredible iced matcha lattes.
9) The Pig & Pump
St Mary's Gate, Chesterfield
If you don't mind venturing just beyond the Peak District boundary, The Pig & Pump is well worth knowing about. Just a few minutes from Chesterfield's famous Crooked Spire, this modern gastropub combines proper air conditioning with a relaxed atmosphere, making it a welcome refuge after a day exploring the national park. It's become one of Chesterfield's most popular spots for food and local ales, but on a scorching afternoon it's the cool dining room that really steals the show.
The menu is built around generous pub favourites done well, with beer-battered fish and chips, homemade pies, sizzling fajitas, burgers piled high with creative toppings and sandwiches ranging from Cubanos to fish finger ciabattas. If you're visiting with friends, the tapas menu is worth a look too, with everything from garlic and chilli prawns and Korean pork belly bites to patatas bravas, meatballs and halloumi fries. Pair your meal with one of the many local real ales, a craft beer or something chilled from the cocktail list and you'll soon forget just how hot it is outside.
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Main Image Credit: Tom Hodgson Photography
