The Roseleigh

Readers on their annual visit to the Buxton Festival assure us that all is as good as ever at Maggi and Gerard Heelan’s Victorian B&B. It is perfectly situated, overlooking the lake in Joseph (Crystal Place) Paxton’s Pavilion Gardens, five minutes’ walk from the Opera House, in this splendid Peak District spa town. The bedrooms vary in size but are similar in style, with a feeling of solid good quality, heavy floral drapes, patterned blue or red fitted hotel-style carpet, soft-hued decor, traditional furniture. All have an en suite bathroom, except one single with separate private facilities. Dual-aspect Room 4, with lake view, is a good choice. A crimson-walled guest lounge overlooking the lake has comfy seating, exotic ornaments, shelves of travel books (the Heelans, former adventure tour guides, are a fount of local knowledge). ‘The owners cannot do enough for you,’ say other readers. A ‘lovely breakfast’ brings grapefruit segments, pear halves or prunes, croissants, porridge, cheeses, a full English or vegetarian, free-range eggs with smoked salmon. ‘We have booked again for next year.’ (Stephen and Pauline Glover, and others)