The Apiary At Castle Donington

The Castle Inn

➤ High Street, Derby DE74 2PP, United Kingdom, North West Leicestershire

Cafés • Pizza • Seafood • European

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"Nipped in for a quick bite on a Friday evening. We went up to what looked like the restaurant bar and asked if it was possible to get a table but were directed to the main bar to ask about this. The place was packed- getting served at the internal bar would have been a bit of a fight. Had a similar experience on a visit here before because there's not much space around the bar so you tend to get an impenetrable crowd instead of any sort of line. Eventually managed to get the attention of a member of staff and were told the restaurant was fully booked, however we could sit outside and order food at the bar to our outside table. Would have saved us some time if that was communicated through the team and relayed by the first person we asked instead of sending us to queue elsewhere. We did order to an outside table, and the food was excellent. The small pizzas really are quite small. But if you have a couple of sides they're perfect to not overstuff you. If you want to just eat pizza probably get a large. Also they had really interesting topping selections on the pizzas- I had the spiced aubergine, creme fraiche and honey. It was absolutely delicious. The chips were hot and well seasoned, the greek salad also really nice- I did miss the addition of peppers and would possibly remove the pea shoots and sub in the peppers to improve this and keep it more authentic though. Drinks were nice and the atmosphere inside was quite cosy and outside had a nice vibe with the tasteful lightning and wooden furniture. Would definitely return (but probably make a reservation. It's busy for a reason!"

The Red Lion

➤ 24 High Street, North West Leicestershire, United Kingdom

Pizza • Cafés • Kebab • Seafood

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"We visited this restaurant for the first Sunday dinner prepared by the new chef, and we were not disappointed. To start, I had the homemade soup and potato soup served with a thick slice of delicious brown bread and butter (which was surprisingly enjoyable even though I don't usually like brown bread). The soup was perfectly seasoned and I savored every last spoonful. For the main course, I had the Roast Beef dinner with Yorkshire pudding, roasted potatoes, carrots, broccoli, cauliflower, and red cabbage. The gravy was delicious and served in a small jug so we could add as much or as little as we liked. Despite feeling quite full, we asked to delay dessert for a few minutes and the staff were very accommodating. When dessert arrived, I had the homemade fruit crumble which was delightful. I will definitely be returning to this restaurant and highly recommend it to others. The attentive waiting staff did a fantastic job and managed the busy restaurant with ease. Well done!"

Nags Head

➤ 1 Wilne Road, Nottingham, United Kingdom, NG1 3HW

Wine • Fish • Cakes • Coffee

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"We decided to stop by for a meal with family during our walk today. It was our first visit, but we had heard great things about the place. We ordered food and drinks for our family of four, and it was absolutely delicious—everyone finished their meals! It was also very affordable, totaling just over £20. I would definitely recommend this restaurant and plan to return when we’re in the area. Thank you!"

The Apiary Cafe

➤ 38 Borough Street, DE74 2LA, North West Leicestershire, United Kingdom

Cafés • Pizza • Seafood • Mexican

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"visited the apiary for dinner with a friend, loved the atmosphere here, many small interconnected rooms that felt both intimate and cozy. all the spits tasted fresh and absolutely delicious we both had burger and they were stunning! (also recommend the waffeln!) really loved the drink menu here we were not drinking, so it was great (and unusual to choose a real selection of tea, coffee, chi drinks and other non-alcoholic drinks. the tees were fantastic, we actually had 6 different aromes between us and they were all tasty personally recommend the blue chai! great service, beautiful atmosphere and good prices."

The Nag's Head Bistro

➤ Hill Top, North West Leicestershire, United Kingdom, DE74 2

Cafés • Seafood • European • Fast Food

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"First off, I'll concentrate on the social experience as a whole. Never been before, so knew not what to expect. Parking is easy – if the car park is full, there’s plenty of space on the side road, which itself isn’t busy (it’s the lane leading up to the start of East Midlands Airport’s runway). We were made to feel right at ease by the girls as soon as we set foot inside. Our pre-booked table was already prepared and drinks order taken once settled. But there was no rush at any point throughout the evening – meals were served at a steady pace, and plates taken away all in good time. I won’t bore you with details of our meals – excellent as they were, from experience we all know they won’t please everyone…someone will always manage to find fault. We are human, after all. And not everyone will care for Lebanese or Mediterranean (there’s English available, of course...and a Specials board). Besides, the Nags Head’s menus are easily accessible online, so you have a good idea of the range of dishes available. There’s Trip Advisor to refer to also. However, if you’re like the person that was sat at the table next to ours, who ordered their steak “as it comes”, then complains when brought to them it was “not as expected” and shoos it away, you don’t deserve to dine in such a wonderful place. Go elsewhere. Most tables were occupied, and the girls added to an informal atmosphere with their polite banter – the Lebanese owner even made the conscious gesture of shaking hands and wishing us well on our way out. A nice touch.Not cheap, but certainly not expensive and well worth the money, and having planned beforehand (by looking at the prices online) we knew what to expect in any case. But don’t think of this in terms of price. Think in terms of dining experience. We had a lovely night out and will visit again sometime in the future – maybe to one of the themed evenings held regularly here. Loved the place, loved the staff. Treat yourself and enjoy."