Barley Mow, Main Street, Kirk Ireton, ASHBOURNE, DE6 3JP [Map]
01335 370306 
12-14, 19-23 MO-SA; 12-14, 19-22.30 SU
Accommodation, Car Park, Real Fire, Beer Garden, Historic Interior, Quiet Bar, Campsite At / Near Pub

Jim and I by the door of the Barley Mow, September 1999

This has to be one of the classic pubs of England tucked away in a village near Ashbourne. The building itself is impressive. It's a tall, gabled Jacobean building which has been an inn for over 200 years. The interior of the pub full of little poorly lit passageways seems virtually unchanged. The real ale is still stillaged behind the simple wooden bar in jugs from the cellar and the prices were about the cheapest I've seen in Derbyshire. Service was prompt and civilised. They always seem to offer a Hook Norton beer (brewed in Oxfordshire) generally Old Hooky (abv. 4.6%), a complex rounded beer which is very drinkable. They also have several guest beers available too. All were in excellent condition too.

The small main bar has a tiled floor with old wooden settles, panelled walls and a coal fire. There are several other rooms including one no smoking room. There's also a couple of benches out the front of the pub and a large garden at the rear where you might like to enjoy your drink.

Food wise they offer lunchtime rolls with evening food only available to guests. Unfortunately I've no information on accommodation apart from to say that it's as reasonably priced like the beer.

Why use a post when you can use a
big tree to hang your sign from!