Cressbrook Brewstop is back

When the Mabeys bought the old apprentice house in Cressbrook in December 2011 they promised Dave Teare they would try to re-open the Brewstop, a popular walkers café since the 1990’s. However with a large house to renovate and both in full-time work we were slightly daunted by the prospect of running a café too. However the children, Noah (14), Hattie (13) and Bea (9) put up a persuasive argument, promising to earn their own pocket money, develop an understanding of business and improve their maths skills, and now finally the Brewstop has re-opened!

The original Brewstop was in the basement of the castle-like apprentice house. We’ll have seating here once the garden is sorted, but the Brewstop has moved round the corner to the old stables. The décor is simple with original limewashed walls, ancient woodwork and the original floor where you can still see the grooves in the floor where years of heavy horses’ hooves have worn away the floor. The Brewstop is manned mostly by the Mabey kids and other local children echoing the house’s original function as a home for the mill’s apprentice children (but with slightly better working conditions!). The Brewstop is open weekends and school holidays serving hot and cold drinks, snacks and local Peak District Dairy ice-cream from Tideswell. Everything is either local or fairtrade (apart from the drink cans). The Brewstop is accessed from the footpath running between Cressbrook Mill and the Monsal Trail. Walking boots and muddy paws are all welcome.