The Pack Horse in Hayfield was named the 19th best gastropub in the UK, featuring in the 2024 Estrella Damm Top 50 Gastropub list. The rankings, which celebrate the highest standard of pub dining across the country, were launched in 2009 and have become one of the most prestigious industry awards.
We decided to visit the pub, which is also listed in the Michelin Guide, to see why the venue has become so popular with tourists – while maintaining the support of their local customers.
These 21 photos offer a glimpse inside the pub – will you be visiting the next time you’re in the area?
![Luke believes that one of the main draws of the Pack Horse was its location. He said: “We’re so fortunate to be where we are, with loads of lovely walks on the door - many of which we have documented in a little pamphlet you can pick up on arrival. If you’re coming for lunch, you can do a really nice walk in the local area and stop off afterwards for some really great food.”
Jodie Morgan is pictured here.](https://www.derbyshiretimes.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjI5NjViZmRiLTJkZjUtNDljZi1hMjRkLTQ2ZTNjOWM3ODY3MToxYjRlN2M5Mi02YjdlLTRlNDYtYTNiMi0wN2FjMjFiZmIwNzU=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
5. Great location
Luke believes that one of the main draws of the Pack Horse was its location. He said: “We’re so fortunate to be where we are, with loads of lovely walks on the door - many of which we have documented in a little pamphlet you can pick up on arrival. If you’re coming for lunch, you can do a really nice walk in the local area and stop off afterwards for some really great food.” Jodie Morgan is pictured here. Photo: Brian Eyre
![Luke added: “I think it’s also the fact that we’ve sort of paved the way a little bit in the Peak District. Compared to the Lake District, for example, the Peak District food scene has been a little bit dormant for a long time, and it’s a real pleasure to be at the forefront of driving that forward.”](https://www.derbyshiretimes.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOmMwOWQ0OWQ0LTE3M2YtNGRlOC04MWQxLTYxYTMwZTJiMTA5YzplMTViNjk5Ny0xNjI5LTQ0NDctYTkwNy1lZjcwZjRlZDQ3Mjc=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
6. Peak District food scene
Luke added: “I think it’s also the fact that we’ve sort of paved the way a little bit in the Peak District. Compared to the Lake District, for example, the Peak District food scene has been a little bit dormant for a long time, and it’s a real pleasure to be at the forefront of driving that forward.” Photo: Brian Eyre
![Luke said that the way the pub had evolved over the last seven and a half years had also captured the imagination of visitors. He said: “I think people are invested in the story of this country pub that rose from nowhere, started off really simple and has developed - I think that plays a big part of it.”](https://www.derbyshiretimes.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjhkYTMxZDcyLWYyNDMtNGExNS04MzE3LTljMjllMjYzMjAzMTpmNjBlMDBmZi0wOGVlLTRjNDgtODk2My00M2I5OTI1Y2NmZmI=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
7. Remarkable rise
Luke said that the way the pub had evolved over the last seven and a half years had also captured the imagination of visitors. He said: “I think people are invested in the story of this country pub that rose from nowhere, started off really simple and has developed - I think that plays a big part of it.” Photo: Brian Eyre
![Luke added: “A lot of that is documented in my cookbook that I released this year - ‘The Pack Horse: A Journey Through The Seasons.’ That kind of documents the story from the beginning, how I nearly left the industry altogether, and then I just happened to drive past the front of the Pack Horse and spot the sign saying ‘would you like to run this pub.’ 10 weeks later we had the keys - we never envisaged it being at the point it’s at now, we just wanted to cook food we loved and serve our locals.”](https://www.derbyshiretimes.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjgzZDQ0M2JiLTdiMTktNGUxNy05OTNmLTA1YWI0ZTIzZmU0OTo5MmVhYTMzMy05YmVmLTQwNTYtOTk3YS1mMTgzNjEyY2ZhYTU=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
8. The Pack Horse story
Luke added: “A lot of that is documented in my cookbook that I released this year - ‘The Pack Horse: A Journey Through The Seasons.’ That kind of documents the story from the beginning, how I nearly left the industry altogether, and then I just happened to drive past the front of the Pack Horse and spot the sign saying ‘would you like to run this pub.’ 10 weeks later we had the keys - we never envisaged it being at the point it’s at now, we just wanted to cook food we loved and serve our locals.” Photo: Brian Eyre