Clear skies and glorious sunshine made the idyllic surroundings of Losehill House Hotel and Spa near Hope seem more stunning than ever at Derbyshire Life’s latest luncheon
Greeted on arrival with refreshing glasses of Champagne, guests saw how the hotel is flourishing under the expert stewardship of Visit Peak District & Derbyshire chairman Paul Roden and his wife Kathryn, who purchased the venue in 2007. Since then, Losehill House Hotel has achieved four AA stars and is the only hotel and spa in the Peak District National Park to be thus recognised. Its 23 beautifully-appointed bedrooms are complemented by a bright lounge and bar area plus high quality spa facilities including a terrace hot tub that makes the most of the expansive views.
The jewel in the hotel’s crown is the Orangery Restaurant, awarded 2 AA rosettes and spearheaded by talented chef Darren Goodwin, whose sophisticated menus champion seasonal ingredients, mostly sourced locally.
Once guests had taken their seats in the light, smartly-dressed room with views of spectacular Win Hill, an inspired starter of ‘cheese on toast’ arrived to a buzz of anticipation.
The cheese element took the form of an air-light mousse, wrapped in a blanket of tangy jelly made using Henderson’s relish. This sat upon lightly-toasted Lord Marples bread, created using ale from Bakewell-based Thornbridge Brewery, and was sprinkled with a peppery onion ‘ash’ for added texture; unique ingredients, masterfully handled.
The main course consisted of tender blade of beef from White Peak Farm butchery in Tissington, served alongside expertly-crafted potato terrine which had the extra surprise of a delicate meaty layer, beetroot and asparagus, dashes of horseradish in a leek casing and bubbles of white sauce in a crisp shell that burst in the mouth – a showcase of Darren’s culinary flair.
Both courses were accompanied by carefully-chosen, well-matched wines; a clean and fresh-flavoured white and an aromatic red sourced from Springwell Wines.
Desserts raised the bar for fine presentation once again and the theatrical highlight of the afternoon was a beautifully balanced plate of crème fraiche sorbet, herby sorrel posset and soft-baked sumac meringue studded with crunchy granola. The summery combination was served with a bowl of dry ice that released a swirling, lemon-scented mist. Perfection!
Freshly-brewed tea and coffee rounded off a memorable meal which had been enjoyed by notable guests including Peak District dignitaries, patrons of the tourist board and a host of local business owners and representatives.
This peaceful corner of the county exudes a unique charm and as the sun streamed through the windows of the Orangery, those long summery days seemed just around the corner.
Losehill House Hotel would like to thank Jim Harrison of Thornbridge Brewery, Chris Sellors of CW Sellors, Andrew and Vanessa Pugh of the Heights of Abraham, and members of the Devonshire Group, Go Outdoors and Peak Cottages. w
