Derbyshire’s finest fish & chips and best restaurant?

Derbyshire’s best fish & chips?
Sometimes in life all you want is good, old-fashioned comfort food. It could be after a hard day’s work or as a Saturday evening treat. King Street Fish Bar in the centre of Belper is where you can get this well-deserved, life-giving fix. Here you won’t find fish served with Sicilian, hand-turned, sun-bathed lemons, nor chips fried four-times and infused with spice oil. However, you will get flaky fish encased in crisp, melt-in-your-mouth batter; fluffy-centred chips with just the right amount of bite; and good, reliable mushy peas cooked the way they always have been.

These, then, are the fish and chips of your childhood, reliable when everything else is topsy-turvy in your life. These are the staples that keep us going through thick and thin, and make everything alright again. Give them a try: King Street Fish Bar, 37 King St, Belper, Derbyshire, DE56 1PX. Open Monday to Saturday 11.30am to 11pm, 01773 828659.

Derbyshire food fair axed
Staying in Belper (or rather it’s not), it is sad news that the long-running annual Derbyshire Food & Drink Fair is to be axed. This has been a valuable event over the last 12 years, showcasing the best produce from our region. Throughout the years, not only has it encouraged me to ‘buy local’, but also sample some unusual delicacies (ostrich burgers). In recent years the fair has been held in Belper but previously at Bolsover Castle, Hardwick Hall and Elvaston Castle, and it was always well attended. A spokesman for Derbyshire County Council – which needs to save £157 million by 2018 – said: “We now feel we would be best using our resources to support these events throughout Derbyshire rather than supporting our own single fair”. It will be interesting to see how this plan will manifest itself – watch this space for news.

Seven at Pride Park
Finally, a word about Seven restaurant, based in Pride Park, Derby, and a worthy winner of the Derby Food & Drinks Award 2014. It’s not the most scenic of places to eat, but certainly offers a unique experience. Seven boasts two private dining rooms able to seat 16 and has space for 100 diners. Owner Helen Salloway saw a gap in the market when she opened early in 2014: more than 10,000 people work at Pride Park with many more visiting on business. The highlights of its interesting and varied menu include slow-braised Derbyshire beef and char-grilled calves liver with crisp pancetta. For something lighter choose a croque monsieur or a Moroccan salad. Afternoon tea and champagne breakfasts are a lovely treat. The omelette Arnold Bennett looks pretty special – only usually found at the Savoy – or, in the past, following the late Arnold Bennett on his travels around the world. I’m sure he would be amused to know he is being talked about in Derbyshire!

 

The author:

Sally lives in Milford,Derbyshire with her black labrador, she shares a love of all things food related with her partner.If she can combine long walks with food both dog, partner and Sally are happy.