There’s a pub in the Peak District that’s comfortably established itself as one of the very best in the UK, and this banging local isn’t just about pints and Sunday roasts.
The Pack Horse in the village of Hayfield is also a purveyor of an excellent breakfast, perfect to fuel you up before a big hike in the surrounding hills.
Want a little taste of this pub’s accolades? In the space of just one week, The Pack Horse placed in the Top 50 Gastropubs and then got added to the Michelin Guide – a stunning double header.
The restaurant in Hayfield was praised by Michelin inspectors for being ‘a true village local’.
Just this week, it was also added to the Good Food Guide’s list of the best Sunday roasts in the UK.
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Headed up by chef and co-owner Luke Payne, The Pack Horse in the village of Hayfield is an outstanding establishment.
Here is a pub where you can have a world-class meal that shows off the best of British produce, while sipping an ale, with muddy boots on your feet.
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Inside The Pack Horse Hayfield. Credit: The Manc GroupOutside the Pack Horse in Hayfield
It doesn’t really matter who you ask, The Pack Horse is readily and consistently named one of the best pubs in the entire UK and anyone stepping through its door would struggle to argue with that.
Because although the price point sits a little higher than your average boozer, it still has all the trappings of a proper country pub.
Yes, there are crisps behind the bar. Yes, there’s a pub quiz. Yes, there’s a resident pub dog (Lola the Labrador will sit and stare you out if there is anything edible in your immediate vicinity).
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But what we haven’t seen anywhere near enough people harp on about is the breakfast at The Pack Horse.
The ingredients on their breakfast menu are all sourced so locally you could probably hike to any of them with a bit of grit and determination.
From Port of Lancaster smoked kippers to bacon cut thick and laced with maple, everything is of the highest quality.
You can’t go wrong with The Pack Horse signature breakfast, which has eggs, bacon, Manchester sausage, crispy hash browns, Doreen’s black pudding, wild mushrooms, confit tomato, trotter beans, AND sourdough.
A bacon and egg muffin at The Pack Horse HayfieldCoffee, juice and a breakfast menu at The Pack Horse. Credit: The Manc Group
You can have the full portion for £20 or just take one of each item for £10 and then immediately regret not having more.
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The bulk of the menu beyond that centres around the pub’s homemade English muffins, toasted and buttered and filled with whatever breakfast item takes your fancy (scrambled egg and bacon for me, always).
It’s a breakfast worthy of the fanciest hotels and most popular of brunch spots.
Once you’re suitably fuelled and ready for a walk there are two hikes nearby that aren’t too strenuous and crucially don’t take too long (those daylight savings hours really mess with a big hike, eh).
The Sett Valley Trail starts just across the road and is a consistent and mostly flat out-and-back.
Kinder Reservoir in the Peak District. Credit: The Manc GroupKinder Reservoir in the Peak District. Credit: The Manc Group
You can follow it all the way to the Torrs Millennium Walkway in New Mills if you fancy, or just turn back when you’ve had enough.
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Or you can head the other way through Hayfield out towards Kinder Reservoir – the loop will take you over streams and stepping stones and little wooden bridges, past the huge body of water, through woodland and fields, and place you within sight of Kinder Downfall waterfall.
This is the poster child of the Peak District and one of the National Park’s best, most comprehensive walks.
You’ll also be close to Kinder Scout, but this is a more challenging hike and at this time of year we’d really recommend setting off nice and early to get maximum daylight hours.
And that would mean no time for a Pack Horse breakfast, which just won’t do.
Northern Quarter craft beer bar Fierce Bar announces sudden closure
Thomas Melia
A much loved independent craft beer bar in the heart of the Northern Quarter is set to close before the end of the year.
Fierce Bar, which opened in Manchester city centre in 2020, has been a firm favourite for Mancs and visitors alike with their range of beers and IPAs.
The Fierce Beer company has established itself as a leading force within the beer community winning ‘Scottish Brewery of the Year in 2021’ and numerous Scottish Beer Awards.
Their wide range of drink flavours pay homage to varieties from the USA and offered people who frequented their Thomas Street site in the Northern Quarter were treated to a refreshing taste of the transatlantic.
The Thomas Street bar had previously been home to 57 Thomas Street, a bar operated by Marble Brewery, which also operates The Marble Arch.
In a post on social media which opens with, “Some sad news…”, the company have stated: “We face continually spiralling costs that unfortunately mean it’s going to be unsustainable to continue operating the venue viably going forward”.
There’s still some hope as beer brand have also announced: “This is not the end for Fierce Beer south of the border though; we’re continuing to keep an eye on the market and aim to get back as soon as we can with a new physical location.”
Anyone wanting to continue the bar’s legacy in Manchester can sport the indie establishment’s range of t-shirts, hats and funky glasses, some of which adorned the walls.
Being a Scottish born and bred brewery, if you’re still after your alcohol fix, you can still visit their two other locations in Edinburgh and Aberdeen next time you’re heading up north.
The last day of trade for Fierce Bar will be 20 December where the founders Dave and Louise will be heading to the Manchester site say a sad goodbye.
As it will be the final night of service ever, the team are urging anyone to pop down for a pint or two to commemorate the Manchester home.
It’s a shame to see such a well-used city centre social space shutting its doors, however Fierce Beer loyalists fear not as their online website is still very much alive and thriving here.
Six By Nico launches tasting menu inspired by Christmas dinner
Daisy Jackson
Everyone’s favourite affordable tasting menu restaurant, Six By Nico, has announced its first-ever festive Sunday roast menu.
The beloved restaurant group, which now has two locations in Manchester, is famed for serving creative and interesting tasting menus, but at a much more accessible price than other fine dining establishments – just £44 a head.
Then you can add on extra snacks, perfectly-paired wine flights, and even matching cocktails.
At Six By Nico, the inspiration is always changing, whether the menus bring a sense of nostalgia, memories of a much-loved book or film, or whisk you away across the globe with dishes inspired by another country’s cuisine.
Previous menus have included The Chippy Tea, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, and The Mad Hatter’s Tea Party.
Six By Nico switches up its six-course tasting menus every six weeks, keeping customers coming back time and time again for the next adventurous experience.
And one of the best things is the flexibility that these tasting menus have, catering for vegans, veggies, pescatarians and more. You can even mix and match courses across tasting menus to suit your mood and dietary requirements.
Inside one of Six By Nico’s two Manchester restaurants. Credit: The Manc Group
The next menu that has had us clicking ‘book’ at the speed of light is Six By Nico’s first-ever Festive Sunday Roast menu, with six courses and a cocktail pairing.
The new Six By Nico tasting menu features all the flavours of Christmas Day, presented in creative and exciting ways.
For example, your evening will begin with ‘Pigs in Blankets’ (pork pressé, Sauerkraut, burnt onion and grain mustard), as well as a Brussels Sprouts-inspired course that used barbecue hispi cabbage, aged ewe’s cheese, pickled mushrooms and black garlic emulsion.
For the main event it’s the Three Bird Roast – duck, chicken and turkey ballotine, liver parfait, honey glazed carrot and Madeira jus.
And you’d be remiss not to add the Ultimate Yorkshire Pudding on as an extra, made with pork and sage stuffing and sauce charcuterie.
Chocolate Profiteroles on the Six By Nico festive roast menu. Credit: SuppliedThe Six By Nico Christmas dinner-inspired tasting menu features Baked Brie De Meaux, homemade mince pie and Peckhams pearAnother dish on the Six By Nico Christmas dinner-inspired festive menu
Course five is Baked Brie De Meaux, homemade mince pie and Peckhams pear, then to finish Six By Nico has Chocolate Profiteroles, Tahitian vanilla Choux au Craquelin, chocolate Cremeux, buttermilk sorbet and dulce de leche.
In a second brand-first, Six by Nico Manchester has created a perfectly matched cocktail pairing to accompany the six-course tasting menu (£40pp) which includes six cocktails including an Apple and Dill Martini.
It’s just another example of the way Six By Nico keeps pushing the game forward.
Andrew Temple, Chief Creative Officer, spoke of the menu’s festive twist: “The response to our Sunday Roast menu has been incredible, and we wanted to capture that excitement in a way that complements the holiday season.
“Extending the Sunday Roast with a festive version not only celebrates the British classic but adds a layer of excitement in the build up to the Festive season.
“We’re looking forward to sharing this seasonal reimagining with our guests, bringing them both the comfort and joy of the festive period.”
The Festive Sunday Roast is £44 per person, with an additional wine pairing available for £30, or a matched cocktail pairing for £40. It’s available to book every Sunday from 24 November until 5 January HERE.
Daisy Jackson -
22nd November 2024 
