'''Ashbourne''' [http://www.ashbourne-town.com] is a small market town in Derbyshire.
Understand
Get in
by train
There is no train service to Ashbourne, the town's rail link was removed in the 1960's and now forms part of a national cycle network
by bus
There are regular bus services to the town from Derby and Manchester and numerous outlying villages and nearby towns.
by car
Ashbourne is at the crossroads of several main roads (all old stage coach routes) the two most notable being the A52 and the A515
Get around
As with every small town, all you need is your feet..
Eat
Most of the pubs in town provide food, but the following are the specialist food establishments.
Traditional
Bramhalls of Ashbourne - Buxton Hill - AA Rosette award winning food.
The Dining Room - St. Johns Street - AA Rosette award winning food.
No 7 Bistro - in The Residents Hotel
The Lamplight - Victoria Square
The Caverns Bistro - Market Place
Indian
Ashbourne Tandoori - Dig Street - Sit down Indian restaurant, very clean with friendly staff, good range of curries, licensed. Reasonably priced with good portions. Also does takeaway.
Bengal Cottage - Compton - Sit down Indian restaurant. Not licensed so you are welcome to bring your own alcohol (which can get messy if you drink to much to quick!). The food is superb but the service is slow as everything is cooked to order. Also does takeaway.
Panda Express - South Street - Takeaway only Indian cuisine. Also does Pizza and kebabs.
Chinese
The Dragons Nest - Market Place - Cantonese style Chinese sit down restaurant. Very good Chinese food in a clean and friendly restaurant. Also does takeaway.
The Golden Hill - Market Place - Takeaway only Chinese cuisine (owned by the same family as the Dragons Nest).
Fish and Chips
Market Place Chip Shop - Market Place - Eat in or takeout fish and chips. Best in town.
Ashbourne Chip Shop - Compton - Eat in or takeout fish and chips.
Other
Bennys - Compton - Pizza, Kebabs, Southern Fried Chicken. Takeaway only.
Romanoes - Dig Street - Pizza, Kebabs. Eat in or takeaway.
Drink
Ashbourne has many pubs and bars, quite a high number for such a small town
The Bowling Green - A quiet pub at the top of a very steep hill (probably why it is so quiet!). Does fantastic food but booking is ESSENTIAL, not very child friendly, in fact don't take children under 14 there at all. Bed and Breakfast accommodation
The Green Man & Blackshead - An old coaching inn with distinctive gallows sign that stretches right over the road. Has two bars, one is quiet, the other rowdy.
Carys Wine Bar - Recently refurbished with a very cosmopolitan feel, has large outdoor drinking area overlooking the river. Recommended.
The Living Room Bar - in The Residents Hotel
Bramhalls of Ashbourne - More of a restaurant than a bar, but with AA rosette award winning food, not cheap, but not overly expensive. Recommended.
The George and Dragon - Town pub, with no outstanding features.
The Vaults - Town pub, with no outstanding features.
The Swan - Town pub, with no outstanding features.
The British Legion - Members only, but very cheap bear, lots of old men.
The Wellington - Go there in the week, but avoid at the weekend when it fills up with kids.
Smiths Tavern - Very narrow pub but with good food, friendly.
The Horns - Very old pub on Victoria square, is cosy with fires in the winter, in the summer sit on the benches outside to enjoy a pint.
The White Hart - Used to be great, lost it a bit now.
The Wheel - Looks scarier than it actually is.
The Plough - badly needs redecorating!
The Beresford Arms - used to have an Italian restaurant called "Pasta La Vista", enough said.
Stay safe
Crime is virtually non existent, the local paper crime reports usually include events such as roof tiles being stolen from remote abandoned farm buildings.
Get out
Fairyhouse Races - The first meeting held at Fairyhouse was in 1848 when the Ward Union hunt held their point-to-point at this venue. From these small beginnings Fairyhouse quickly established itself as one of Ireland's premier racecourses. In 1870 the Irish Grand National was run for the first time and the winner was _eSir Robert Peel'. The Grand National quickly became Ireland's most valuable and prestigious steeplechase and each success has its own rich tale, none more amazing than the win in 1929 of a six year old mare _eAlike', owned and ridden by 5'4_h Frank Wise who was missing three fingers and who rode with a wooden leg.
Fairyhouse has always been one of the finest and fairest racecourses and continues to attract the leading horses both on the flat and over jumps. Arkle, Desert Orchid, Flying Bolt, Captain Christy, Prince Regent, Persian War, L'escargot and more recently Istabraq, Bobbyjo, Florida Pearl and Limestone Lad are just some of the legendary greats that have graced the almost 2 mile circuit.