An original oak table from the Victorian kitchen at Chatsworth takes centre stage in the contemporary daytime dining offer opening in the village of Rowsley, on the edge of the Peak District.
Located within the retail and leisure offering at Peak Village, Chatsworth Kitchen celebrates quality, seasonal dishes sourced from the estate and a community of farmers, producers and makers from across the Derbyshire Dales.
With a bespoke interior featuring hundreds of items from the stores and kitchens at Chatsworth, the new food and retail concept provides a relaxed and welcoming place to enjoy delicious, fresh food selected daily from the estate’s farms and gardens.
The launch menu showcases the best of local produce from Chatsworth Gin cured salmon with capers and sherry vinegar shallots, to marinated estate beef with roasted cherry tomato and herb couscous, and Chatsworth lamb cutlets with fig, goats cheese and spinach salad. Deli plates offer a choice of flatbreads baked fresh in the bread oven or a seasonal baked tart and fresh salads while popular children’s dishes will be updated regularly.
The majority of the food is made on site, while the freshly baked pastries and dessert items will be created under the watchful eye of Chatsworth’s experienced pastry chef in the stables kitchen by the house.
Alongside the dining experience, a thoughtfully curated retail offer of more than 300 items of quality food, drink, kitchen and homewares is available.
Working closely with retail consultant Lady Burlington and the Chatsworth team, Sheffield based design agencies Whitehead Commercial and 93 have created an interior that effortlessly blends heritage artefacts with a modern and fresh approach.
Lady Burlington said: “We were inspired by the old kitchen at Chatsworth, and have brought a variety of pots, pans and artefacts from Chatsworth to the restaurant. Sustainability and authenticity have been central to this project; we have reused and repurposed items including chairs, doors and panelling, with many of the tables made from reclaimed flooring from the estate.
“Chatsworth Kitchen celebrates local produce, suppliers and makers, and we hope it will become a place for people to spend time together and enjoy great food, before exploring the many new shops opening at Peak Village.
“The Peak District has a wealth of wonderful produce and passionate, talented craftspeople, and we look forward to doing our part to support these businesses; from established names like David Mellor, who has provided stoneware and cutlery, to our candle maker in Barlow and young talents like potter Joe Heath working on the Chatsworth Estate.”
With indoor and outdoor seating, the Chatsworth Kitchen can seat 130 people, and is open from 9.30am – 5.00pm daily, seven days a week. The new venture has also seen the creation of several full-time jobs, as well as casual short-term work and opportunities for career progression for existing employees.
Chatsworth’s Head of Catering, Chris Bailey-Jones, said: “Food is at the heart of the Chatsworth Estate and therefore it should be no surprise that at Chatsworth Kitchen, estate reared and grown produce is celebrated in every dish.
“The menu looks to build on emerging food trends while never losing sight of the importance of local, seasonal and sustainable food that showcases Chatsworth, Derbyshire and indeed the wider country.
“The restaurant will give a distinctly Chatsworth twist to great service, being informal, fun and even a little quirky. All of this is helped along with a carefully crafted drinks list, looking to shine a light on local providers in a setting that is perfect for a relaxed lunch with friends or a family get together.”
With centuries of heritage in growing, harvesting, cooking and making, Chatsworth Kitchen builds on the estate’s past with an outlook to the future, supporting local producers, with a mindful approach to the environment and sustainability.
Chatsworth Kitchen is part of a long-term investment and development plan for Peak Village, which was purchased in 2021 by The Devonshire Group, the company that represents the interests of the Devonshire family at nearby Chatsworth. Aiming to offer something different from traditional high streets and shopping centres, and welcoming local businesses and national brands, Peak Village is on track to become one of Derbyshire’s leading retail and leisure destinations.
Instagram: @ChatsworthKitchen