The Bulls Head

Review - The Bulls Head (Repton)

We went for our annual Family Christmas meal at the Bulls Head on Christmas Eve.The Bulls Head is a big place and it was busy. I Love this place. The staff are helpful and the place is amazing. There were fourteen of us, so I got to try a bit of everyone's food! It's a hard job!

We usually try to book the conservatory.

The food is superb! I have been here about tens times and have not had a bad meal.

The portions are generous and great quality too.

I went for the Christmas Menu, as I was doing turkey and all the trimmings on Christmas day, I avoided the "Christmas Fayre".

The Christmas menu was £20/25 depending on the time you dined.

To start I had the Potted game, piccalilli, rocket & parmesan salad and charred home-made breads & a drizzle of olive oil.

For my main I went for the Centre cut rolled 8oz rump steak, artichoke puree,  fondant potato, caramelised squash, pepper sauce and dressed watercress.

The steak was cooked medium rare to perfection.

To finish I had the Christmas creation, homemade Christmas pudding gelato, Madagascan vanilla gelato, chocolate shavings, red currants,  boozy custard, whipped cream, a splash of brandy, a sprinkle of cinnamon. This was sublime! WOW WOW WOW. I know this is a seasonal dish but I wish it was on the menu all year round!

The choices on the table varied some going for the soup, turkey and Christmas creation and others ordering from the normal menu.

Most of the table had the Butternut squash & ginger soup to start. It went down a treat! I have to agree with the foodie family it was good! One of my sisters even recreated the soup a few days later. I will ask her for the recipe, watch this space.

My wife had the Salmon & ginger fish cakes with lemon mayo.  The ginger did not really come through in the fishcakes.

She also had the Salmon en croute, fine beans, garlic roasted potatoes, prawn & watercress sauce. This was also a really good dish. There was crisp buttery pastry, the salmon was cooked to perfection and all tied together with the sauce.

Others on the table had:

Fish & chips premium cod fillet in a ‘Freedom’ batter (locally brewed premium lager), real chips, mushy peas, home-made tartare (£11.50). This dish is huge. the best quote came from my brother in law... "this is a two man job". I will have to have a whole one next time. I had some, OMG the batter was light and crispy, the fish and proper chips surpass many a chipshop. I also love the way this one is served.

My mum went for a vegi option. She had the Spinach Tart, Wilted spinach, sautéed wild mushroom & stilton rarebit short crust pastry tart,  red pepper coulis. She said her usual line when it comes to food "it's nice". A woman of few words. I did not try this one as I was already full and still had dessert to come!

One of my nephews had chicken lollipop with chips. again an amazing batter and moist chicken.

My youngest just turned eight months old, we mentioned it in passing and he was given a lovely gelato. A really nice touch.

The menu here is extensive! normally big menu's mean average food, that is not the case here! I don't have the pictures from previous visits to talk about the woodfired oven pizza's or the burgers or the yakatori sticks... or... you get the idea. I have to say this is one of my favourite places to eat! I will visit again and again and there will be further posts on the Bulls Head.

The only suggestion I have is.... extend the carpark :)

What they say:

1. Warm people - we really have got the nicest people on the team.. and they all want you to have a great experience
2. Fresh - quality - homemade food - in an unserious way
3. The BIGGEST range of beer & cider in Derbyshire... it’s a permanent beer festival....reassuringly extensive!
4. Voted the best wood fired pizza in Derbyshire... #FACT
5. The BIGGEST range of premium soft drinks in Derbyshire
6. Yakitori sticks - Sooo tasty !
7. Fresh artisan gelato.. we make it ourselves...everyday!
8. Fresh home-made lemonade with a dollop of fresh lemon sorbet on top..... slurps away
9. Different places... all in one place: - pub.. nice n cosy - restaurant.. upstairs... nearer the gods - garden room... the great outdoors - indoors - secret sun terrace....sssh!
10. Home of the goldfish in a bag... CARP DIEM!

The Bulls Head Website