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The Hyde Park Inn, Hilltop Road, Dronfield

The Hyde Park Inn,  Hilltop Road, Dronfield supporting image

The pub may tick all the right boxes but does it break from the bounds of standard pub fare?

It can be awkward when you’re an out-of-towner visiting a local pub. There tends to be a clique and you can feel the unwelcome stares from the regular clientele as soon as you enter the room. But at Hyde Park Inn in Dronfield, there’s none of this.

 

Owners Tom and Vee have been running the pub for almost a year and have already managed to establish a mouth-watering menu and a warm and welcoming atmosphere.

 

On this particular Thursday evening, this traditional pub with its contemporary décor was full of families and groups of friends with young children on high chairs and dogs under tables, creating a very relaxed and social vibe.   

 

There’s also a fantastic range of homemade pub grub on their menu and specials board, as well as a dedicated steak menu for Meaty Mondays and a varied seafood menu for Fishy Fridays. Now is the time to plan your Christmas party and Hyde Park Inn are currently advertising their festive menu and taking bookings.

 

Tonight, I started with the battered king prawns accompanied by a sweet chilli sauce, and my dining companion went with the garlic mushrooms. The batter on my prawns was light and bubbly and surprisingly non-greasy, whilst my companion’s mushrooms were presented in aromatic garlic oil with warm crusty bread on the side.

 

A great test when it comes to pub food is the classic pie, so for mains, I chose the homemade steak and ale pie of the day. Topped with a soft pie crust, filled with tender pieces of meat in a rich gravy and accompanied by chunky chips with a small jug of thick gravy, this certainly passed with flying colours.  

 

My companion went with another homemade option, the chilli and rice. With a tomato sauce and a lingering spicy after taste, this dish is a great way to warm up on those cold winter evenings.

 

I finished off with Belgian waffles served with cool vanilla ice cream and lashings of warm chocolate sauce whilst my companion had the highly recommended gingerbread cheesecake. With its crunchy base, melt-in-the-mouth cream layer and golden crunchy toppings, my dining companion was not disappointed.

 

After complimenting the chef, who turns out to be Vee, her partner and co-owner Tom invites us to take part in the Thursday night quiz. As tempting as this is, my companion and I are full, content and ready for home.

 

If Hyde Park Inn’s Christmas menu is as delicious as this one, a festive get together here may well be on the cards. Whether it’s on your door step or a drive away, it’s worth visiting this friendly pub which is sure to warm both your stomach and your heart.

 

The Hyde Park Inn
Hilltop Road, Dronfield, S18 1UH
Tel: 01246 290120

www.hydeparkdronfield.co.uk 

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