The Cow

Top choice in The Midlands & the Marches


Stunningly restored in 2017, this whitewashed 19th-century inn 6.5 miles west of Derby has solid oak floors, stone walls and timber-lined ceilings. Its 12 individually styled rooms range from Victorian and art deco to retro vintage, and feature locally handcrafted mattresses and Egyptian cotton sheets. The bar-restaurant's stools are fashioned from milk cans and food is sourced within a 30-mile radius.

Sharing plates change frequently but might include wild garlic, spinach, mushroom and fennel casserole, ham hock Scotch egg, pulled barbecue chicken with chestnut pesto, and rhubarb and custard fool with pink peppercorn shortbread (mains £6.50 to £11).