The Maynard

This hotel, set within a beautiful historic building and boasting a stunning garden, offers a picturesque escape in a scenic location. Its dual identity as a high-quality restaurant and a comfortable hotel makes it a memorable destination. The hotel is particularly well-suited for couples seeking a romantic getaway, walkers and hikers eager to explore the surrounding trails directly from the doorstep, and families appreciating the spacious accommodations and accommodating staff. Business travelers also find it a good value, though some aspects like breakfast timing might require planning. To ensure a seamless stay, guests are advised to confirm breakfast options and timings, especially if on a tight schedule, and to immediately register their car details upon arrival to avoid potential parking fines.

Facilities & Amenities
Guests frequently commend the hotel's beautiful building and its inviting decor, which blends traditional charm with modern comforts. The expansive garden and beer garden areas are highly praised, offering lovely spaces to relax and enjoy the scenery, often accompanied by live music. The hotel features a well-stocked bar and a popular restaurant. Rooms are equipped with thoughtful touches such as a coffee machine, kettle, water carafe, and quality toiletries, with some even including a Roberts radio for added ambiance. While the hotel provides Wi-Fi and ample power sockets, it is important to note that there is no lift, which may pose a challenge for guests with mobility concerns, as rooms are spread across multiple floors.

Cleanliness & Room Comfort
The hotel consistently receives high marks for its spotless and immaculately clean rooms and bathrooms. Guests frequently highlight the comfortable beds and high-quality bedding, ensuring a restful night's sleep. Many rooms are described as spacious, offering ample room to relax, and feature beautiful bathrooms with excellent showers, some even boasting a soaking tub. However, some guests have reported noise levels from various sources, including kitchen extractor fans that can run late into the night and resume early morning, or sounds from event spaces like the ballroom. Occasional issues with heating (rooms being too warm or cold with limited control), minor paint flaking, and shower drainage problems have also been noted. Additionally, sofa beds in family rooms have sometimes been found uncomfortable, and some guests experienced issues with flat pillows.

Dining & Food Quality
The hotel's dining experience is a significant highlight for many guests, with the food quality consistently described as excellent, delicious, and superb. The restaurant offers a varied menu, and the Sunday lunch is particularly popular. Breakfast receives mixed feedback; while the full English option is widely praised for its quality and taste, some guests express disappointment with the limited breakfast variety, noting a lack of buffet options for cereals, fresh fruit, or pastries unless a continental breakfast is specifically ordered. Service at breakfast can sometimes be slow or disorganized, leading to waiting times. Despite this, the overall food quality for both dinner and breakfast, including plant-based options, is highly regarded, with dishes like steak and organic chicken receiving specific commendation. The bar also offers a good selection of local ales and wines.

Location & Accessibility
The hotel's beautiful location is a major draw, offering fantastic scenery and serving as an ideal base for exploring the Peak District. Its central location provides easy access to numerous walking trails directly from the doorstep, including Padley Gorge. The proximity to a train station and bus routes, including one to Chatsworth House, offers convenient public transport options. While the hotel has parking available, guests must be aware of the requirement to register their car details upon arrival to avoid potential fines from the Parkingeye system. Some guests found the immediate surroundings somewhat remote, with limited activities directly nearby. As previously mentioned, the absence of a lift means guests must navigate stairs, which can be challenging for those with reduced mobility.

Staff & Service
The hotel's staff are consistently praised for being friendly, helpful, and attentive. Many guests highlight their professional and welcoming demeanor, noting that staff members often go the extra mile to ensure a pleasant stay. They are described as accommodating and responsive, particularly in addressing guest requests and managing specific needs like food allergies. However, some reviews mention instances of slow service, particularly during busy periods at breakfast or in the restaurant, which some attribute to a perceived lack of staff. A few guests reported isolated incidents of staff being uncommunicative or appearing indifferent, especially during check-in or when resolving issues like parking fines or room problems. Despite these occasional lapses, the overall sentiment towards the staff and service remains largely positive.

Additional Information
The hotel operates as a popular wedding venue, which can sometimes lead to increased activity and noise, though wedding events are typically held in a separate area with its own garden. Guests attending weddings should be aware that the hotel's no lift policy means navigating stairs to access rooms. For those driving, parking registration is a critical step upon arrival to avoid unexpected fines. The hotel is generally pet-friendly, though specific rooms or areas may be designated for pets, and an additional fee might apply. A thoughtful amenity for walkers is the provision of walking guides in the rooms, detailing local trails accessible directly from the hotel's entrance. The hotel also frequently features live music in its garden, adding to the ambiance.