Three pubs and restaurants run by independent Peak District hospitality group Longbow Venues have been named among the top 10% worldwide in the 2026 Tripadvisor Travelers’ Choice Awards.
The Peacock at Owler Bar, on the outskirts of Sheffield, The Maynard in Grindleford and The Ashford Arms in Ashford-in-the-Water have each received the accolade, which recognises businesses consistently earning excellent reviews from travellers. Tripadvisor’s Travelers’ Choice Awards recognise the top 10% of businesses on the platform, based on reviews and ratings from guests over a 12-month period.
A restored Grade II listed pub
For The Peacock at Owler Bar, the award marks another milestone in its transformation under Longbow Venues. The Grade II listed pub reopened in December 2024 following a £350,000 refurbishment, which restored original features including solid oak floors, timber beams and leaded windows.
Situated on the old turnpike route between Sheffield, Bakewell and Chatsworth House, the pub has welcomed travellers for more than two centuries. It now combines its historic character with seasonal British dining and views across the surrounding Peak District moorlands. The recognition comes less than two years after its reopening.
The Maynard and The Ashford Arms
The Maynard combines a restaurant, bar, boutique hotel and wedding venue in the village of Grindleford, in the Hope Valley. The Edwardian property has built a reputation for seasonal, locally sourced food and was awarded Coeliac UK Gluten Free Accreditation in 2025, recognising its commitment to providing safe, inclusive dining for guests with coeliac disease.
The Ashford Arms is a 17th-century country inn in Ashford-in-the-Water, near Bakewell. The venue reopened in March 2024 following an extensive £1.6 million refurbishment and has received repeated praise and awards for its food, service and rooms.
Food across Longbow Venues is overseen by Executive Chef Adrian Gagea, who trained under Raymond Blanc, with menus celebrating seasonal produce sourced from local farms, growers and independent suppliers.
Rob Hattersley, Managing Director of Longbow Venues, said: “To have three of our pubs and restaurants recognised among the top 10% in the world is absolutely fantastic. What makes these awards so special is that they’re based entirely on guest feedback, and I’m incredibly proud of our teams for consistently delivering such brilliant experiences.”
He added: “With seven Visit East Midlands Tourism Awards finalist places too, it’s been an incredible few weeks for Longbow. The Peacock at Owler Bar is a particularly lovely success story, achieving international recognition less than two years after we reopened it following a major refurbishment. It’s a real testament to the hard work and dedication of everyone involved.”
Regional tourism award nominations
The group has also secured seven finalist places across five categories in the 2027 Visit East Midlands Tourism Awards for Derbyshire. The Ashford Arms and The George Hathersage have each been shortlisted for B&B and Guest House of the Year and Pub of the Year, while The Peacock at Rowsley has received three nominations: Hotel of the Year, Taste of Derbyshire Restaurant and Team of the Year.
The awards, organised by Visit Peak District, Derbyshire & Derby, recognise excellence across the region’s tourism and hospitality industry, with winners due to be announced in March 2027. Local recognition of this kind follows initiatives elsewhere in the country, such as the new festival supporting Hackney’s independent restaurant scene.
Longbow Venues has grown from a single property in 2019 to six pubs, restaurants and hotels across the Peak District and surrounding area.
Details and image via Longbow Venues.