Stepping Stones
Quick info
About Stepping Stones
On Carnation Way in Ashbourne, Stepping Stones is a pub with a patio for outdoor seating alongside cask ales and an international menu. Food and drinks come to the table, brought by waiters and waitresses rather than ordered at a counter. Dogs are welcome throughout, making the pub a straightforward stop for anyone out walking with one. The setting suits families, with the patio offering extra space beyond the main room.
Good to know
- ReservationsAccepts reservations
- ParkingFree parking lot · Free street parking · Paid parking lot
- AccessibilityWheelchair: entrance, parking lot, restroom, seating
- Good for kidsGood for kids
Reviews
What reviewers say
Reviewers most often mention gluten free menu, sticky toffee pudding, pie and mash and pedigree ale.
What reviewers say
Reviewers most often mention gluten free menu, sticky toffee pudding, pie and mash and pedigree ale.
Customer Review Summary
Pie and mash draws repeated praise, with lemon tart and a Saturday three-course steak deal (roughly £25) also mentioned, alongside pints of Pedigree ale and comfort food after long drives or hikes. Staff attentiveness comes up again and again, servers greeting diners warmly and one coeliac guest noting a separate gluten-free menu covering starters, mains, sides and desserts with no reactions. Most describe fresh, warm food and a relaxed, welcoming feel. One review is sharply negative, however: starters arriving twenty minutes apart, a thirty-minute wait for drinks, a main going cold, a wrong dessert substituted, a paid-for extra ice cream scoop missing, and one staff member described as rude. Another reviewer found the food a mixed bag, praising a fried chicken starter and halloumi but calling the steak overdone and cheap-cut, the mushroom raw inside, and a single J2O priced at £3.80 "an outrageous mark up," concluding the Saturday deal was worthwhile but other days were not.
Customer Review Summary
Pie and mash draws repeated praise, with lemon tart and a Saturday three-course steak deal (roughly £25) also mentioned, alongside pints of Pedigree ale and comfort food after long drives or hikes. Staff attentiveness comes up again and again, servers greeting diners warmly and one coeliac guest noting a separate gluten-free menu covering starters, mains, sides and desserts with no reactions. Most describe fresh, warm food and a relaxed, welcoming feel. One review is sharply negative, however: starters arriving twenty minutes apart, a thirty-minute wait for drinks, a main going cold, a wrong dessert substituted, a paid-for extra ice cream scoop missing, and one staff member described as rude. Another reviewer found the food a mixed bag, praising a fried chicken starter and halloumi but calling the steak overdone and cheap-cut, the mushroom raw inside, and a single J2O priced at £3.80 "an outrageous mark up," concluding the Saturday deal was worthwhile but other days were not.
Featured reviews
- Google user
“There's a good deal on Saturday, all day £25 three course meal. The 8oz steak would otherwise cost about £22. The food quality is a mixed bag. The halloumi starter was very good. My fried chicken starter was amazing, the sauce on the side was a good touch. The fried chicken was very freshly done. My main was ok. The tomato had a funny taste to it. They charged £2 extra for the peppercorn sauce which was meh. The steak was overdone for both of us. The cut of meat seemed to be on the cheaper side. The fat was caramelised well though. The mushroom was bad, it was raw on the inside. The tomato was not cooked well either and had. Strange taste to it. The sticky toffee pudding was decent but my friend said he has had better from Tesco. They charged me £3.80 for a single J2O. That's an outrageous mark up. Overall it's ok if you get the £25 deal on Saturday. I would pass on every other day of the week. The start was excellent though.”
- Google user
“As I’m coeliac I’m always concerned when we eat out. Ryan and Laura were both reassuring and lovely members of staff. There was also a gentleman behind the bar whose name we didn’t get. Everyone was lovely and the food was delicious. Separate gluten free menu with starters, mains, sides and desserts. A lovely family pub and it has a little park for the children. No reactions and felt completely safe to eat there as a coeliac.”
- Google user
“Amazing place! We came for dinner, and it turned out to be one of those hidden gems we were so happy to discover. The food was delicious, and the service was excellent, especially Jess, who was incredibly friendly and made us feel very welcome. We would definitely come back!”
- Google user
“Starters all come out at a different time about 20 mins apart, some of us canceld there order due to how long we waited ! It took 30 mine before the drinks even came out. My main finaly came and was goin cold before i started eating . The dessert said chocolate fudge cake got a brownie like thats not what i orded duh 🙄i payed for an extra scoop of ice cream and only got one overall the service and experience wad awful one staff member was rude from the moment we got there wouldn’t recommend or come again !!”
- Google user
“Served by Courtney. She and the team were nonstop but extremely personable and kind! Food was delicious after a long day in the road. We always make this out stop on the way home from Alton Towers.”
Highlights
“Modern, family-friendly pub with a spacious patio serving cask ales and a varied international menu.”
- Great beer selection
- Great wine list
- Live performances
- Popular for solo dining
Amenities
- Wi-Fi
- Wheelchair accessible entrance
- Accepts reservations
- Dogs allowed
- Dine-in
- Good for kids
Show more amenities
- Food at bar
- Cozy
- Onsite services
- Beer
- Food
- Free water refills
- Offerings· 4
- Alcohol
- Cocktails
- Hard liquor
- Wine
- Highlights· 3
- Great beer selection
- Great wine list
- Live performances
- Facilities· 1
- Restroom
- Atmosphere· 1
- Casual
- Crowd· 4
- Groups
- LGBTQ+ friendly
- Tourists
- Transgender safespace
- Accessibility· 3
- Wheelchair accessible parking lot
- Wheelchair accessible restroom
- Wheelchair accessible seating
- Dining options· 2
- Seating
- Table service
- Popular for· 1
- Solo dining
- Parking· 4
- Free parking lot
- Free street parking
- Paid parking lot
- Usually plenty of parking
Location
Bars near Stepping Stones
- The New Broom4.56939.9 mi awayReservationsOutdoor seatingGood for kids
carvery, caravan and motorhome pitches, children's play area
| Place | Rating | Distance | Mentioned in reviews |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stepping StonesReservations · Wheelchair accessible · Good for kids | 4.32,988 | — | gluten free menu, sticky toffee pudding, pie and mash |
| The New BroomReservations · Outdoor seating · Good for kids | 4.5693 | 9.9 mi away | carvery, caravan and motorhome pitches, children's play area |
The 1 nearest bars by distance. Ratings, hours and review terms come from public business profiles.
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