Amanda B and Rick G have sent us the following message:
Hi to anyone who appreciates a nice ale at a good price and maybe a nice spot of lunch too. Recently visited The Druid Inn in Birchover; it’s been a bit erratic for ages having been under changing management. However a new couple have just taken it over (in the past 6 weeks) and are really keen to make a go of it. Beers (numerous) are VERY well priced, as is a very decent glass of wine. Their new bar/lunch menu is just good old pub food without fancy frills although the downstair restauraunt promises more flair. The bar snacks make it worth a visit for a lunchtime pint though as does the selection of beers on offer. Their new opening times are basically every day lunchtimes and evenings (bar sunday eve) but they accept reservations for weekends when they are busy. After our flying trip there on Sun we’ll definitely be back.
PARWICH.ORG 
This is encouraging news. I’ve had mixed fortunes at The Druid over the past few years, ranging from the sublime to the hopeless (and ending with a “never again!” experience a few months ago). So it’s good to hear that the new owners are making a success of the place, especially if they’re making it a bit more of a pub again, rather than just a restaurant. Thanks for the tip, Amanda and Rick.
P.S. Another pub “on the up” is the Miners Arms at Brassington. Tried it a couple of weeks ago, not having visited for a few years, and we had a lovely time. There’s also a very curious “ancient manuscript” on the wall, which references some sort of strange Parwichian feud!
Both comments very interesting! John and I thought we might try the Druid tonight (for a drink and something to eat if it looks promising…). The Miners at Brassington we have been to in the past, not impressively, and thereafter we have always felt if we’re going to Brassington we’d far rather go back to the Gate.
Hi my name is Wayne Rodgers and I am the new chef at the Druid coming latterly from the Cavendish Hotel, Baslow, where I was the head chef .We have big plans for the Druid over the coming months and our website should be up and running any day so log on. At the Druid our plan is to have a pub serving good real ales (we have been shortlisted for the Camra pub of the season), and good seasonal pub food ranging from homemade scotch egg with apple and crackling salad and mushy peas to a current favourite on the menu new season Balmoral shot Grouse “Rossini”. The menu stays fresh as it is changed every month and we look forward to welcoming old faces as well as new.
Hi Wayne, thanks for posting your message on the site- I was one of the ‘CAMRA-ites’ who visited last sunday although I enjoyed a very nice glass of merlot as well as some of Ricks beer! The whole Chesterfield and Matlock CAMRA group who visited were very impressed, suffice to say. Thankyou for making us so welcome. We’ll be back very soon!
Too late to catch the chef but we’re just back from the Druid where we had a super meal! I have done a quick report on our blog http://www.tomsbarn.co.uk/tomsbarnblog/thumbs-up-for-the-druid/ if anyone would like to know how we got on (too late to repeat it all here).
Hi Marion, so glad to hear you enjoyed your trip out to The Druid; I’m looking forward to returning asap- it’s great to have somwehere like this ‘back on the local radar’ again. We often go to the Miners in Brassington, also under fairly recent new management, but I guess you could say that the two places are very different ‘animals’ in what each seems to be pitching to their prospective punters!
Great you gave the Druid a go though and hope more poeple locally will do the same
Thanks Amanda for your kind words about the Druid. Just a quick update we have just received word that we have been short listed for the Derbyshire gastropub of the year awards so fingers crossed.
We returned here last night following the enthusiastic comments on the blog and were delighted to see the improvement – particularly in the service. We have had an on/off relationship with The Druid over thirty years. Our last few experiences were definitely ‘off’ and so would not have returned without Amanda and Rick’s comments. As they say – good to have another local pub with great offerings.
Unfortunately neither the scotch eggs or the grouse ‘Rossini’ were on the menu last night but the hot figs, blue cheese and candied walnuts were yummy!
Glad to see you enjoyed it at the Druid last night.Sorry some of the dishes you fancied were not on the menu but it gets changed every 4 weeks to keep it seasonal.Our next menu will be on in the first week of october and will included dishes such as Venison “osso bucco” with mash and kale.The deer will be coming straight from the game keeper at Chatsworth.Also on the dessert menu will be ginger parkin with spiced syrup so some more hearty dishes coming to the menu for them cold nights.Our web site should be definately up by next week and will have up to date menus,upcoming events and a recipe of the month which for october will be our scotch egg.
Just to let you know the druid will be starting a quiz night on sunday 9th october, a pie night on monday10th october and a steak night on thursday 6th october for more info please get in touch with us on 01629650302