Devonshire Arms

This handsome stone-built village inn (converted from cottages back in 1741) is almost more restaurant-with-rooms, offering a slightly more formal dining experience, though it does give a nod to pubbyness at lunchtime. Contemporary colours contrast with the attractive traditional interior features: between black beams, flagstones, stripped stone, traditional settles and cheerful log fires, you'll find bright candy coloured modern furnishings, prints and floral arrangements. Despite the accent on dining, they keep up to six changing real ales, most likely including Buxton Blonde and Kinder Sunset, Peak Ales Chatsworth Gold, Thornbridge Jaipur and Whim Hartington, and they've several wines by the glass from a well chosen list and a good range of malt whiskies, as well as local mineral water. The inn stands in an attractive village in the Peak District on the fringes of the Chatsworth Estate and you can walk to Chatsworth House itself from here (though you might not feel completely at ease in the pub in walking gear). Note that although dogs are allowed to stay in the stylishly comfortable bedrooms, they are not allowed in the bar.