Amber Valley
Bluebell Inn

Bluebell Inn

Farnah Green, DE56 2UP, Amber Valley, United Kingdom

Pub • Pubs • Full • Steak


"We managed to get a late table on Saturday. However, after arriving we were shown to our table, we asked what non alcoholic spirits were available and was informed that they didn 't do any (strange , needless to say I had to have a soft drink. We asked another member of staff and she informed us that they did offer non alcoholic spirits, it was therefore clear that some of the junior staff were not aware of what the Bluebell offers. We ordered our meal, the starters arrived, the scallops were an insult to the price, there were four scallops on the plate, three were very small, i.e. the size of a twenty pence piece, one having been cut in half to make up the numbers, the fourth scallop was the size you would expect especially considering the price (may I suggest having three scallops that would present better than what was offered . The other starter which was prawn/salmon was an exceptionally large portion, fine for some but a little to large for a starter. We ordered a bottle of white wine and had to ask for a cooler as the wine was very warm. When the main courses came, I asked for my steak to be cooked bleu at best it was medium (how a chef doesn 't know how to cook a bleu steak is somewhat bizarre . However, the lamb that we ordered was so rare I don 't think it actually had been cooked, it was very fatty and chewy, this being a result of being under cooked. For desert, I ordered white mint chocolate ice cream, this was awful as it was very grainy which leads me to believe it may have started to defrost and then re frozen. Needless to say I didn 't eat it! From being seated to paying the bill, we were no longer than 45 minutes (we didn 't even have time to drink the wine and had to take half the bottle back home with us! We were given no time between courses to enjoy our evening out. The service overall was very poor, as at the end when we were paying the bill, we were asked very bluntly have we done ! Also at this point it was drawn to their attention how disappointed we were at the quality of the meal, the restaurant wasn 't busy, therefore the food should have been coming from the pass at a much higher standard as we have received in the past. Needless to say we were extremely disappointed and have agreed that we will not be returning. It is clear from the outside that the Bluebell is in need of some investment and perhaps maybe some more experienced staff front of house and in the kitchen. The meal cost £125.75 (for two people , given the fact that I didn 't eat the lamb or the desert, this was a rather expensive meal in 45 minutes. Word of caution, if you park in the disabled section at the front of the Bluebell, the rendering on the wall is falling away and therefore is a potential danger to patrons and their vehicle."

Alfreton Hall

Alfreton Hall

Church Street, DE55 7AH, Amber Valley, United Kingdom

Pizza • Mexican • Seafood • European


"Booked afternoon tea, had to re check booking as the first time they didnt ask for a name or phone number and we wanted to know they could provide options for someone who was Gluten free. They said they could provide Gluten free but it was revealed they obviously couldnt when we received the afternoon teas. The gluten free option consisted of cheesecake and a couple of bought in cakes, nothing was home made, there was no scone for the gluten free person...... the staple of afternoon tea....how long does it take to knock up a batch of gluten free scones. The sandwiches consisted of two approx 2 triangles one ham one cheese and a split bread roll with very runny egg mayonaise on it, no salad or garnish to make it at least cover the micro small bottom of the cake stand, there was a scone provided on the non gluten free option and it seemed home made and there was lashings of cream and jam and it was very nice, the other cakes consisted of a difficult to describe moose type thing that had been cut so thin it just dissolved into nothing, a massive dry piece of victoria sponge....shop bought with nasty cheap butter cream and a quite nice home made but miniscule chocolate eclair. We had to ask for tea and coffee to be provided. The staff clearly had no clue what to provide for afternoon tea but were attentive and helpful and pleasant, the surroundings were quite grand but in need of some housekeeping, cobwebs in corners and on lights, a lovely view onto a veranda with a fountain and across the park. It cost us £12.50 each and it was daylight robbery for what we got, on the whole the place seemed to lack anyone in charge and appeared tired and lack lustre and they need a chef who understands gluten free diets and options and who knows how to provide an afternoon tea that has at least some wow factor. We didnt complain to the waiter as he was doing his best but wont be recommending the venue to anyone else."