It was an absolute delight to have received an invitation to the launch of the new champagne bar on the terrace of Fischer’s Baslow Hall situated within the beautiful Derbyshire countryside.
Family owned, it was back in 1988 that Max and Susan Fischer first set eyes on the hidden gem which had fallen into a state of neglect. With meticulous attention to detail, they set about transforming the building into the delightful country house hotel it is today epitomising elegance and sophistication. The century old manor house is now an 11 bedroomed luxury hotel and home to one of Derbyshire’s highest awarded Michelin restaurants.
Location:
Fischer’s Baslow Hall stands in stunning countryside in the heart of the Peak District National Park close to the picturesque village of Baslow. It’s an ideal base from which to explore picturesque countryside walks along the many miles of marked trails. A short journey from Fischer’s leads to the world famous Chatsworth House and slightly further afield the romantic Haddon Hall.
The hotel is easily accessible being within an hour’s drive of Manchester, Sheffield, Derby and Stoke and for guests preferring to travel by train the nearest stations are at Grindleford and Chesterfield from where taxis can be taken to the Hall.
Champagne Terrace:
Baslow Hall’s sweeping lawns and elegant façade provide the perfect backdrop for a glorious summer of alfresco dining. The sun might not have been shining during the launch event but apart from that everything else was perfect. I enjoyed a delightful afternoon sipping Möet and Chandon champagne whilst mingling with the other invited guests.
Alongside glasses of champagne, we sampled fine English wines from Gusbourne‘s vineyard in Kent and soft drinks and tonics from Franklin and Sons, their ginger beer being one of my all time favourites.
We were also treated to a taste of the Peak District indulging in some delicious canapés created by the talented team of Michelin chefs led by Adam Thackeray and John Shuttleworth. After my first taste of oysters whilst touring Sligo on a Wild Atlantic Way road trip, they are now firm favourites of mine. Here, we savoured oysters prepared three ways served naked, mignonette and spicy.
Other tempting canapés included pork belly with tandoori carrot and mango, truffled croissants and beef tartare with black garlic. Concluding with sweet treats of melt in the mouth chocolate fudge cake, it was truly an epicurean delight all the while serenaded by relaxing music by a talented local pianist and singer.
The scents of the seasonal floral displays adorning the terrace were absolutely beautiful and I enjoyed chatting to Laurenne Hopkins who is an award winning florist and owner of the six acre Happy Roots Flower Farm located just a 20 minute drive from the hotel in nearby Bolsover.
Exploring the grounds:
Head gardener, Kim Orwin invited us to join her on a tour of the extensive grounds and prolific kitchen gardens where fruit, vegetables and herbs are cultivated and grown for use in the kitchens. Whilst wandering along the winding garden pathways taking in the beauty of the gardens with champagne glasses in our hands, I couldn’t think of a more quintessential way of capturing the essence of an English summer.
Overall:
Fischer’s Baslow Hall has a very talented, dedicated team who clearly take a pride in every aspect of the hotel going above and beyond to provide a personal service to all guests whether arriving for lunch or an overnight stay. Whether it’s for a special occasion, a romantic weekend, a relaxing few days in the countryside or a decadent lunch out on the champagne terrace, Fischer’s Baslow Hall ticks all the boxes and comes highly recommended.
Details: Fischer’s Baslow Hall, Calver Road, Baslow, Derbyshire, DE45 1RR,
