The George Hathersage, a 500-year-old Peak District coaching inn, which was once frequented by Charlotte Brontë, will reopen this month, after being closed for eight months due to catastrophic flooding.
There will be a grand reopening on Thursday 13th June 2024 from 12pm, with dinner service starting at 5pm. Food will be served from 12pm.
A full refurbishment has taken place after Storm Babet, which wreaked havoc across the Peak District in October 2023, damaged the entire ground floor, including the ground floor bedrooms, restaurant, and kitchen.
Concorde BGW, the design and build specialists that also transformed sister venue, The Ashford Arms, have taken the opportunity to instil even more heritage and character throughout the building.
Historic features have been carefully restored. Furniture has been refurbished, new floors and wallpaper installed, the toilets have been revamped, and popular private dining area, The Dragon’s Den, has been redone. The final eight bedrooms at The George have also been finished.
Outside, the expansive courtyard has been refurbished, ready for a busy summer.
The George will reopen with its summer gastropub menu, designed by Raymond Blanc trained executive chef, Adrian Gagea, and executed by head chef, James Heywood. The pub has been sorely missed by locals and visitors alike, and is expected to be extremely busy, including for Father’s Day on Sunday 16 June.
Alice Houghton, general manager at The George, said:
“We really can’t wait to welcome everyone back to The George. We’ve used the time we’ve been closed to improve training, raise standards and get ready for a busy, bustling summer.
“The whole team is so excited to get back to The George. While repairs were underway, employees were redeployed to our sister sites, The Maynard and The Ashford Arms, and have been working very hard. But The George is where our heart is and we’re so pleased to see it restored to its former glory.”
The menu at The George features something for everyone, with dishes like:
- Baby spinach, rainbow pepper and heritage tomato salad with truffle and tahini yoghurt dressing, toasted pine nuts and crispy onions
- Lebanese spiced lamb ballotine, chickpea hummus, raita, marinated vegetable skewers, pickled vegetables and fresh coriander served with grilled pita bread
- A selection of homemade pizzas from The George’s woodfired pizza oven
- Steaks; and burgers, including the BBQ beef brisket and cheese burger
- Pina colada mousse, caramelised pineapple with rum, oat and coconut crumb served with coconut sorbet.
There is also an extensive children’s menu and options for individuals with dietary requirements. That includes more than 69 gluten free options, 95.6% of the main menu.
The menu at The George changes according to the season, and what is being grown nearby, with ingredients supplied by local farms, heritage brewers and artisan producers. The pub serves breakfast, lunch (including Sunday lunch), afternoon tea and dinner.
The pub also has 24 spacious and contemporarily styled en-suite bedrooms, making it ideal for a stay in Hathersage, one of the best Peak District locations for walking, climbing, and sightseeing.
Many people travel to Hathersage to see the places visited by Charlotte Brontë that appear in Jane Eyre. There is also a famous location from Pride & Prejudice (the Keira Knightley version) above Stanage Edge and the grave of Robin Hood’s sidekick Little John in Hathersage’s 1000+-year-old church.
Rob Hattersley, owner of independent hospitality business, Longbow Bars & Restaurants shared his delight at the upcoming reopening:
“The damage caused by Storm Babet was unbelievable. Staff tried in vain to protect our beloved, historic pub but there was nothing we could do. The water poured in and the place was engulfed, affecting the kitchen and ground-floor bedrooms immediately.
“I have been so impressed with how our staff have pulled together while The George has been going through an extensive drying out and refurbishment period.
“The team from The George have been an absolute asset to our sister venues, The Maynard and The Ashford Arms. We’ve used it as an opportunity to bolster our training sessions, and have also developed a new career pathway called The Longbow Way so we can always focus on progressing from within.
“I have also been overwhelmed by the support and feedback from locals and regular visitors from further afield. I feel like everyone has been behind us and The George as we get it back on its feet.”
Rob founded Longbow Bars & Restaurants shortly before the pandemic hit, selling his house to fund his first venue, The Maynard in Hope Valley. He had a rocky start, which saw him on the brink of bankruptcy, due to the nationwide lockdowns, but he has quickly established himself as a rising star in the Peak District hotel, pub and restaurant industry.
The George was acquired by Rob in June 2021. He has since opened The Ashford Arms, a historic pub in Ashford-in-the-Water, near Bakewell. Rob also recently revealed his plans to transform the former Royal Bank of Scotland in Bakewell into a premium dining destination.
The George will be open from 8am to 12am, Monday to Sunday (last food orders at 9.30pm Monday-Saturday, 8.30pm on Sunday). Food and room bookings can be made now via the website at thegeorgehathersage.com.