Belper is back. Home to the second-ever water-powered cotton mill and the UK's first gas lighting, this Derwent Valley market town was a star of the Industrial Revolution. And while Belper's fortunes waned as local manufacturing declined, a strong community spirit and a host of independent businesses have helped put it back on the map. It's the only place to have won a Great British High Street title twice (in 2014 and 2019), and its food scene has played a major part in that success.
"Growing up nearby, I saw Belper develop from forgotten and overlooked to busy and thriving," says Leo Hill, chef-owner of Arthur's (arthursbelper.co.uk), the intimate, 24-seater restaurant he opened in 2018. "I love the mix of history, bustle, and natural landscapes; it gives us a plethora of avenues, in terms of local produce, from the high-street greengrocer to neighbours offering produce from their gardens to foraged ingredients." All of the above goes into Arthur's 10-course tasting menus, which change monthly but always centre on nostalgic dishes served in interesting ways: bone marrow s'more tart, for example, or cuttlefish chilli, or 'cheesy chips' (crispy potato terrine with rarebit sauce and black truffle).
This story is from the Atumn 2022 edition of National Geographic Traveller (UK).
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This story is from the Atumn 2022 edition of National Geographic Traveller (UK).
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