Nottinghamshire &amp; Derbyshire


<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-location">THE LOCATION</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="667" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/nottsderbyshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2023/12/Boot_002.jpeg" alt="" class="wp-image-7472" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/nottsderbyshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2023/12/Boot_002.jpeg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/nottsderbyshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2023/12/Boot_002-300x200.jpeg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/nottsderbyshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2023/12/Boot_002-768x512.jpeg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/nottsderbyshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2023/12/Boot_002-787x525.jpeg 787w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>Hidden discreetly down a side street, a stone&#8217;s throw from the Repton&#8217;s eponymous famous school which spawls its way across half the village, you&#8217;ll find <a href="https://thebootatrepton.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Boot</a>, a 17th century rustic inn with eleven bedrooms that was Winner of AA&#8217;s English pub of the year 2016-17. Popular locally, as well as with tourists and Repton School&#8217;s prospective parents (a steady stream), it&#8217;s part of the local four-pub Bespoke Inns group (the others are Binary Bar &amp; Restaurant in Mickeover, The Dragon in Willington and Harpers in Melbourne). </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-vibe">THE VIBE </h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="750" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/nottsderbyshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2023/12/IMG_4688.jpeg" alt="" class="wp-image-7473" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/nottsderbyshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2023/12/IMG_4688.jpeg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/nottsderbyshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2023/12/IMG_4688-300x225.jpeg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/nottsderbyshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2023/12/IMG_4688-768x576.jpeg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/nottsderbyshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2023/12/IMG_4688-700x525.jpeg 700w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>The Boot has the relaxed, welcoming vibe of a local pub (and to that point there&#8217;s a large area for drop-ins and bar-proppers) but with its muted tones, exposed brickwork and beams, and wooden floors, there&#8217;s also style and quality here. You can eat in the &#8216;pubby&#8217; bit, though if you&#8217;re on the right side of the bar it still feels quite flash as there are wood-panelled walls, a log burner and plenty of space. </p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="668" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/nottsderbyshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2023/12/dining-room-the-boot-.jpeg" alt="" class="wp-image-7474" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/nottsderbyshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2023/12/dining-room-the-boot-.jpeg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/nottsderbyshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2023/12/dining-room-the-boot--300x200.jpeg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/nottsderbyshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2023/12/dining-room-the-boot--768x513.jpeg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/nottsderbyshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2023/12/dining-room-the-boot--786x525.jpeg 786w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>There&#8217;s also a step up to a more formal dining area that would work well for private dining and bigger parties (above) and for warmer months, a small, charming walled outdoor area. </p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="656" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/nottsderbyshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2023/12/Boot_065-patio.jpeg" alt="" class="wp-image-7475" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/nottsderbyshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2023/12/Boot_065-patio.jpeg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/nottsderbyshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2023/12/Boot_065-patio-300x197.jpeg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/nottsderbyshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2023/12/Boot_065-patio-768x504.jpeg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/nottsderbyshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2023/12/Boot_065-patio-800x525.jpeg 800w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-scoff-amp-quaff">SCOFF &amp; QUAFF</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1535" height="2048" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/nottsderbyshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2023/12/boot-food.jpeg" alt="" class="wp-image-7481" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/nottsderbyshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2023/12/boot-food.jpeg 1535w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/nottsderbyshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2023/12/boot-food-225x300.jpeg 225w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/nottsderbyshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2023/12/boot-food-768x1025.jpeg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/nottsderbyshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2023/12/boot-food-1151x1536.jpeg 1151w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/nottsderbyshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2023/12/boot-food-393x525.jpeg 393w" sizes="(max-width: 1535px) 100vw, 1535px" /></figure>



<p>The sweet spot for The Boot. The food here is great, a mix of pub pub classics and steaks with more intricate fare such as pan-roasted cod with katsu sauce, spiced arancini, mango and coriander, or sea bass with king prawn beurre blanc. </p>



<p>I went classic with a peppercorn fillet steak and chips (£36.99, plus an extra £4.99 for the sauce), which was elevated &#8211;  and on delivery totally hidden by &#8211; a cascade of garlic mushrooms, dressed rocket, persillade and crispy onions. It made for a terrible photo so you&#8217;ll forgive me for not running it here, but the steak, sauce and sweet crunch of the onions was delicious, and I needed nothing else apart from a large side helping of Malbec, though you can also by Châteauneuf-du-pape by the glass if you&#8217;re so inclined.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="768" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/nottsderbyshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2023/12/IMG_4697-e1702727896812-1024x768.jpeg" alt="" class="wp-image-7483" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/nottsderbyshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2023/12/IMG_4697-e1702727896812-1024x768.jpeg 1024w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/nottsderbyshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2023/12/IMG_4697-e1702727896812-300x225.jpeg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/nottsderbyshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2023/12/IMG_4697-e1702727896812-768x576.jpeg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/nottsderbyshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2023/12/IMG_4697-e1702727896812-700x525.jpeg 700w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/nottsderbyshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2023/12/IMG_4697-e1702727896812.jpeg 1333w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



<p>The Boot has a keen commercial eye and so is open also for breakfasts to the public (they&#8217;re doing it anyway for guests, so why not?), as well as afternoon teas, and the obligatory Sunday lunches.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-stay">STAY</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="750" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/nottsderbyshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2023/12/IMG_4674.jpeg" alt="" class="wp-image-7477" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/nottsderbyshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2023/12/IMG_4674.jpeg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/nottsderbyshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2023/12/IMG_4674-300x225.jpeg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/nottsderbyshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2023/12/IMG_4674-768x576.jpeg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/nottsderbyshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2023/12/IMG_4674-700x525.jpeg 700w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>There&#8217;s been a serious zsushing of the bedrooms here, including a full alpine makeover in my deluxe room, with skis on the wall, faux fur blankets and wood panelling motif (so realistic it took me hours to realise it was actually wallpaper). The bathroom was more practical than luxurious but you can&#8217;t argue with a strong shower on a morning and I think the overriding feeling here is that it&#8217;s great value &#8211; rooms start from £75 per night, and on my highly positive and very piggy experience, breakfast an additional £12.95 per person which is a steal. It&#8217;s a pillow fight between Rooms 3 and 9 for the &#8216;best bedroom&#8217; crown, but Room 1 and 2 might edge it for you if you&#8217;re travelling with kids and want rooms next to each other. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-dog-friendly">DOG FRIENDLY?</h2>



<p>Pooches are allowed in the bar area and a few of the dining tables with fresh water and dog treats available.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-accessibility">ACCESSIBILITY</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/nottsderbyshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2023/12/Photo-28-11-2021-15-46-12-scaled-1.jpeg" alt="" class="wp-image-7476" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/nottsderbyshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2023/12/Photo-28-11-2021-15-46-12-scaled-1.jpeg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/nottsderbyshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2023/12/Photo-28-11-2021-15-46-12-scaled-1-300x300.jpeg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/nottsderbyshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2023/12/Photo-28-11-2021-15-46-12-scaled-1-150x150.jpeg 150w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/nottsderbyshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2023/12/Photo-28-11-2021-15-46-12-scaled-1-768x768.jpeg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/nottsderbyshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2023/12/Photo-28-11-2021-15-46-12-scaled-1-525x525.jpeg 525w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/nottsderbyshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2023/12/Photo-28-11-2021-15-46-12-scaled-1-500x500.jpeg 500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>Two new annexe rooms at the back of the property are wheelchair accessible.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-out-and-about">OUT AND ABOUT</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="563" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/nottsderbyshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2023/12/yew-alley-hardwick-hall-worcs-1457037-1.jpeg" alt="" class="wp-image-7479" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/nottsderbyshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2023/12/yew-alley-hardwick-hall-worcs-1457037-1.jpeg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/nottsderbyshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2023/12/yew-alley-hardwick-hall-worcs-1457037-1-300x169.jpeg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/nottsderbyshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2023/12/yew-alley-hardwick-hall-worcs-1457037-1-768x432.jpeg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/nottsderbyshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2023/12/yew-alley-hardwick-hall-worcs-1457037-1-900x507.jpeg 900w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>You can mooch around Repton for an hour or so &#8211; make sure you take in <a href="http://www.reptonchurch.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">St Wystan&#8217;s church </a>and its eighth century crypt &#8211;  but for more sustained pleasure you&#8217;ll need to hop in the car. Try National Trust&#8217;s fascinating <a href="https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/peak-district-derbyshire/calke-abbey" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Calke Abbey</a>, billed as the &#8216;unstately home&#8217; for its elegantly declining interiors &#8211; a common issue for country houses in the 20th century. A second National Trust, <a href="https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/peak-district-derbyshire/hardwick" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Hardwick Hall</a> (above), is its opposite, an exquisitely preserved Elizabethan manor house owned by the Chatsworth Estate before being bequeathed to the nation. <a href="https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/peak-district-derbyshire/foremark/index" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Foremark reservoir</a> offers opportunites to walk, horseride, sail, bird watch and genereally enjoy 230 acres of nature. If you&#8217;re a serious walker, you&#8217;re in driving distance (40 mins) of  the stunning <a href="https://visitpeakdistrict.com/business-directory/dovedale" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Dovedale valley</a> and its famous stepping stones. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-muddy-verdict">THE MUDDY VERDICT</h2>



<p><strong>Good for: </strong>Foodies will be happy,  so will those looking for a beer at the bar (from the pub&#8217;s own microbrewery, no less) or a lunch drop in. The service is en pointe and friendly.  </p>



<p><strong>Not for: </strong>The higgledy piggledy nature of the bedrooms, with access through the bar, won&#8217;t appeal to those looking for a more &#8216;hotel-style&#8217; experience. The car park is small so if accessibility is important to you, call before hand about access.</p>



<p><strong>The damage: </strong>Bedrooms from £75 room only, £12.95 per person for breakfast. For dinner, starters from £9-11; classics £16-18; mains £20-22; steaks £32-37. </p>



<p><em><a href="http://thebootatrepton.co.uk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Boot</a>, 12 Boot Hill, Repton, DE65 6FT. Tel: <a href="tel:01283346047">01283 346047</a>.</em></p>


Muddy stays: The Boot, Repton

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