Historic Peak District pub The Druid to reopen after outpouring of dismay prompts rethink
A 174-year-old Peak District pub is set to reopen after an outpouring of dismay prompted bosses to think again.
The Druid Inn at Birchover will open its doors again on Sunday, March 8 with a simpler, less expensive, business model.
The pub closed at the start of January with managers at Stanton Estate saying it had lost money every year since they took over in 2020.
The news shocked customers and the wider community, The Druid Inn was featured in The Daily Telegraph’s guide to the 500 best pubs in England in 2025.
Now, a new post on the pub’s Facebook explains the new plan.
It says: “Like many of you, I was incredibly saddened to see the doors close at The Druid Inn. The reality is that the previous model simply wasn’t financially viable, with rising business rates, energy bills and operating costs making it unsustainable.
“After the outgoing manager was offered first refusal on the tenancy and declined, it got me thinking – is there something I could try to get the doors open again? “With so many lovely comments about how much the pub means to people, could we find a way to get the doors open again – even in a simpler way?
“So that’s exactly what I’m doing. We’re reopening The Druid Inn on a reduced scale, predominantly wet-led, creating a welcoming space.”
It went on: “Running any hospitality business right now is challenging, and to make this work we truly need the community’s support.
“If you’d love to see The Druid Inn thrive again, please come down, spread the word, and pop in for a drink. Every visit makes a difference. We’re excited, hopeful and ready to welcome you back.”
In December, Adrian Davie-Thornhill, director of Stanton Park Farm, which includes Stanton Estate, said: “Stanton Estates regrets to have to announce the closure of the Druid Inn at Birchover.
“It follows a turbulent period during which the Druid Inn experienced the loss of nine tenants in 15 years.
“The estate took over management in 2020 and the business has lost money in each of the five years since.
“Recent legislative and tax changes have further increased those losses, making the business, sadly, commercially unviable.”