Petit Fours
20 February, 2026
Two AA Rosettes for The Pepperpot Restaurant
𧢠The Pepperpot Restaurant in Derby has been awarded two AA Rosettes for Culinary Excellence, less than two years after first opening its doors to the public. The scheme is one of the UKâs most respected and longstanding benchmarks for restaurant quality, and two rosettes places it among an elite group of establishments recognised for creativity, consistency, and excellence at a national level. This latest accolade signals the next step in The Pepperpotâs rapid rise to national recognition. After opening on Valentineâs Day 2024, the restaurant earned its first AA Rosette just over a year later, and has now progressed to two rosettes in record time, underscoring its ambition and unwavering commitment to quality. Dan Fincher, Head Chef at The Pepperpot said: âFrom day one, our goal was to create something truly special for Derby, a restaurant that champions outstanding ingredients, refined technique, and warm hospitality. This recognition reflects the passion, discipline, and creativity of our entire teamâ. The award also builds on the recognition of the cityâs new âNightingale Quarterâ.
𧢠Why now is the time to consider a beercation in âThe Place to Beerâ
Small, specialist beer companies, real ale producers, beer with a story as strong as its flavour - all found within a region that boasts a distinct brewing history and heritage - has helped to set a new trend in tourism. Having evolved from gastro-tourism, âbeercationsâ have sent enthusiasts scuttling around the globe, in search of local beer cultures, and has created an industry estimated to be worth US$11,628.0 million in 2024, which is projected to reach US$22,560.3 million by 2030. So itâs always worth lifting a glass to the appearance of a new brewery these days - especially when it enters a regionâs Top 8 Breweries âwith a bulletâ, just as Brasserie dâArthur has in The French Ardennes. Hereâs what that list now looks like right now, in a region of France famously once described as âThe Place to BeerââŚ
𧢠This weekâs âTop Pickâ @WeightmanPR: Duchess China x Gladstone Museum
Gladstone Pottery Museum, the home of Channel 4âs popular TV show Great Pottery Throw Down, and Duchess China - creators of some of the most prestigious fine china in Britain - are launching a new partnership for 2026, that coincides with Stoke-on-Trentâs vision for the future. Stoke-on-Trent has already delivered a prospectus to Downing Street outlining FUTURE100 - which aims to transform the cityâs economy and unlock prosperity and opportunity for decades to come. And on Tuesday 10 March, Stoke-on-Trentâs past, present and future will all be brought together, with the launch of a new visitor experience - âBeyond the Bottle Oven Tourâ - that will combine the staged-setting of the award-winning Gladstone Pottery Museum with the present day behind-the-scenes real life story of current-day manufacturer, Duchess China. Having that close link with TVâs Great Pottery Throw Down clearly helps. The centenary year of Queen Elizabethâs birth, and the various commemorations that will mark that occasion, is also likely to be another important factor in what Duchess China will be able to bring to the party. The new experience is all set to happen in Longton, now bidding to become the first ever UK Town of Culture.
đ§˘At the centre of it all
Derby is at the heart of a new tourism campaign aimed at showing itâs a city at the very centre of Derbyshire & The Peak Districtâs cultural and creative mix. From world-class art and a rich rail heritage, the new campaign also highlights some stylish places to stay, its vibrant food and drink scene, as well as its close proximity to The Peak District. Itâs also just a 90 minutes train journey from London, where one of the best examples of Derbyâs cultural offering is currently on display at The National Gallery, in London. Wright of Derby: From the Shadows is the first major exhibition dedicated to the British artistâs âcandlelightâ paintings, and will be travelling to go on show at Derby Museum & Art Gallery from 13 June to 1 November.
