Edensor Tea Rooms

Situated: in the village of Edensor, part of the Chatsworth estate, home to the Dowager Duchess of Devonshire.

Tables inside and out with a close-up view of Edensor church. A former post office, it has undergone a recent revamp which now gives two indoor dining areas. Ideal stop-off for walkers, cyclists and day-trippers.

Owned by Dave and Julia Houghton, who took it over four years ago. Julia's speciality is the scones and the freshly made soups along with various jams and chutneys. They've gained the royal seal of approval as the fruit comes from the Dowager Duchess' garden and Chatsworth. In the process of applying for a drinks licence.

Menu: breakfast served up to 11.30am and lunch from noon to 3pm. The lunch menu includes traditional, pate or pork pie Ploughmans (£5.50); baked potatoes with a choice of fillings (£5.50); cakes and desserts; home-made soups (£4) plus a variety of sandwiches – traditional, speciality and club.

Traditional (£4.50, with soup £6.50), include brie and onion jam and mature cheddar and home-made chutney.

Speciality (£4.95, with soup £6.95) brings, among others, humus, feta and red pepper and mozzarella, salami, red pesto and tomato while the Club (£5.95, with soup £7.95) choice is a home-baked chicken and grilled bacon double-decker.

The breakfast menu includes a breakfast stack of toasted chunky granary bread spread with mayonnaise and topped with grilled tomatoes, home-baked ham, gherkins and two fried eggs (£4.50) plus home-made pancakes from £4.

Drinks: a selection of speciality teas (£1.50), expresso-based coffees both large and small from £1.50, hot chocolate (from £2) and numerous soft drinks and fruit presse.

What we had: the pork pie ploughmans which featured Hancock's prize-winning pie. Decent texture and flavour with a crisp pastry – but the jury's still out on whether it's a real prize winner.

It was accompanied by three mini pots of home-made chutney, English mustard and home-made gooseberry, mint and apple jelly and served with lettuce, coleslaw, spring onions, tomatoes, cucumber, croutons and a chunk of granary bread.

I also asked for some cheddar cheese but the pickled onions never materialised so I pinched a gherkin off M's plate… It must have been one of the those days, as shortly after they'd run out of pork pies and pate and a number of soft drinks. The top of our outside table was also in need of a clean.

M's double-decker club sandwich was a real feast – three slices of lightly toasted granary bread filled with chicken, grilled bacon, tomato, lettuce and mayonnaise. Big on size, big on value.

Cakes: I was disappointed to find that four out of the six on offer were bought in but Julia's delicious fruit scones saved the day.
We then went against all tea-shop traditions and ordered two cappuccinos (£2 small; £2.50 large).

Total cost of food and drinks: £23.05.

Edensor Tea Rooms, Edensor, 01246 582283.

Aisseford Tea Rooms:

Situated: in Ashford-in-the-Water next to the Bull Head's pub. Eating inside and out with two indoor dining rooms and a back garden with views of the Peak.

Owned by Elizabeth McGoverne and mum Roz Elizabeth aways wanted to open a tea shop so her elder sister Kate and brother Dan bought Aisseford House for her; gained planning permission to convert it; retained the name and opened four months ago.

Aisseford – a Saxon word meaning 'ford of the ash tree' – appears in the Domesday Book. Over time Aisseford developed into Ashford.

Menu: includes a specials board with a posh fish finger sandwich (£5.95), vegetarian lasagne (£6.50), steak sandwich with our without stilton, avacado and prawn salad and warm goats cheese and bacon salad (both £6.95).

Other options: light bites from £1.60; baked potatoes with various fillings (from £4); sandwiches on white, granary and ciabatta from £3.80 to £4.80 including bacon, brie and cranberry, Hartington stilton and green apple and cottage cheese and walnut plus a selection of paninis including roast veg, mozzarella and pesto (£5) and tuna and brie (£4.50).

Drinks: seven different teas including Aisseford's own along with a number of herbal and fruit infusions, the pick of them being the delightfully named Green Gunpowder. Pot of tea for one (£1.60) and two (£3). Various coffees from £1.60, hot chocolate and cold drinks.

Three afternoon teas: Ashford, which includes tea or coffee with scone, butter, preserves and clotted cream, for £3.80; Peak District, with an additional sandwich (£6.50): and Derbyshire, which also includes an additional sandwich and a cake or pastry (£8.50).

What we had: the posh fish finger sandwich finally ruled the day for me. Gougons of plaice in two wholemeal rolls, complete with a small pot of tartare sauce and home-made coleslaw. M chose the homemade vegetable lasagne, a tasty combination of tomatoes, aubergines and peppers in a rich, cheesy sauce. Both were served with lettuce, tomatoes, cucumber and a dash of balsamic.

Scones and flapjack specials are made on the premises while the cakes are baked by ladies from around the area. I had the lemon drizzle – very moist and very lemony – while M was defeated by the huge slab of coffee date and walnut (both £2.60).

Again we finished with cappuccinos (£2 each).

Total cost of food and drinks: £22.60.

Opening times: Monday 11am-4pm; Tuesday to Friday 9.30am-4.30pm;

Saturday and Sunday 9.30am-5.30pm.

Aisseford Tea Rooms, Ashford-in-the-Water, 01629 812773.