Historic The Greyhound At Cromford Is Finally Coming Back To Life

There are pubs you pop into for a quick pint now and again, and then there are pubs that are something more...an integral part of a place's identity. The Greyhound in Cromford is firmly in the second camp. Sitting proudly in the middle of one of Derbyshire's most historic villages, the statuesque Grade II listed inn has welcomed generations of walkers, tourists, locals and families since it was built by industrial pioneer Richard Arkwright in 1778. When it closed last December, it wasn't just another pub shutting its doors. It left a noticeable gap in the heart of the village, prompting months of campaigning from residents determined to see one of Cromford's best-known buildings brought back to life.

We're so pleased to report that the wait is almost over.

A £500,000 refurbishment will begin in August before The Greyhound reopens later this autumn with new operators and a fresh vision. Rather than simply bringing another village pub back into use, the ambition is much bigger: to create somewhere people can drop in for breakfast and morning coffee, indulge in Sunday lunches with all the trimmings, celebrate life's big moments or stay for a long weekend.

The people taking on that challenge are local couple Greg and Sarah Dufton, who arrive with hospitality credentials as long as our arm (possibly longer). Greg owns Belong Bar in Derby, which has been named Best Bar at the Marketing Derby Food & Drink Awards for the past two years, while Sarah's career has taken her through senior marketing and communications roles, including editing Middle Eastern editions of OK! and HELLO! magazines. Before returning home to Derbyshire, the pair spent almost twenty years creating hospitality concepts for brands including Atlantis The Palm and Jumeirah Hotels & Resorts, giving them plenty of experience creating places people want to spend time in.

Now they're hoping to do exactly the same in Cromford.

"We want The Greyhound to give people another reason to visit, stay longer and see Cromford as the destination it deserves to be," says Greg, while Sarah perhaps summed up the significance of the project even better when she said: "The Greyhound doesn't just sit in Cromford. It is Cromford."

It's hard to argue with that. Positioned just a short stroll from Cromford Mills and the Derwent Valley Mills UNESCO World Heritage Site, the inn occupies one of the most enviable locations anywhere in the Peak District. Thousands of people already visit the village every year to explore its industrial heritage, independent shops and surrounding countryside, but many have long felt Cromford deserves somewhere equally special to eat, drink and stay.

The refurbishment certainly sounds like it has the potential to deliver that. Every part of the building is set to benefit from investment, including the bar, restaurant, kitchen, nine guest bedrooms, en-suite bathrooms and outdoor terrace. The idea isn't to strip away the building's character but to give this much-loved landmark another chapter, creating somewhere that feels premium without ever becoming pretentious and welcoming without losing sight of the history that makes it so special.

The announcement has understandably been warmly received by the local community, which has spent months making clear just how important The Greyhound is to Cromford's future. There's optimism that a thriving Greyhound could encourage visitors to stay longer, support neighbouring businesses, create jobs and strengthen Cromford's position as one of the Peak District's standout destinations.

If all goes to plan, work will begin in August and take around eight weeks, with The Greyhound expected to reopen during autumn 2026.

We'll definitely be making the trip when the doors reopen.

Because if Greg and Sarah deliver on even half of what they're promising, The Greyhound won't just be another Peak District pub worth visiting. It has every chance of becoming one of the region's most exciting hospitality openings of the year. We wish them all the luck in the world.

Image credit for main image: Image Credit: Derwent Valley Mills World Heritage Site / Facebook