The Hollywood icon visited the village’s food outlets along with cast and crew during filming. The village was also recently visited by rock star Liam Gallagher
Stoney Middleton in the Peak District (Image: MEN)
Stoney Middleton, a quaint village in the Derbyshire Peak District, has always been a popular choice with film and music stars. Hollywood superstar Tom Cruise filmed adrenaline-fuelled scenes for the latest Mission Impossible 4 blockbuster there – thanks to its cliffs and quarries.
The actor, along with his cast and crew, reportedly frequented the village’s eateries during their stay. Adding to the village’s star-studded visitors list, rock legend Liam Gallagher also made an appearance while on holiday. The Oasis frontman visited the village’s chippy, which is housed in a former toll house that now boasts Grade II listed status, according to MEN.
The village, known for its local legend of Lovers Leap, also features an Indian restaurant with a unique twist. The Curry Cottage offers customers the chance to dine in a small cave, providing a unique experience unless there’s a sudden downpour.
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Located in the Middleton Dale valley, Stoney Middleton is approximately 13 miles from Buxton and roughly a one hour and 15-minute drive from Huddersfield, covering around 36 miles. One of the standout features of the Curry Cottage restaurant is the opportunity for diners to enjoy their meal inside a cave. This quirky feature is a room carved directly from the rock, offering a truly unique dining experience.
Restaurant manager Nadeem Khan has enhanced the dining experience by installing lighting over the cave wall, making the cave room a highly sought-after spot for patrons. However, he warns that during rainfall, water may trickle down the cave’s side. Nadeem quipped: “Depending on where you sit and the weather you might get a little bit of spray, but it all adds to the atmosphere.”
(Image: MEN)
He added: “Everyone loves to come and look at the cave. There’s not many restaurants that have a room like this inside.” The tale of ‘The most beautiful girl in Stoney Middleton’.
Stoney Middleton boasts a local legend about Hannah Baddeley, who was reputedly the village’s most beautiful girl. In 1762, after being spurned by her lover William Barnsley, Hannah is said to have climbed the cliffs and leapt off. According to the tale, her woollen petticoat billowed out like a parachute, saving her life.
This dramatic event gave the cliffs and the adjacent pub, which later became Curry Cottage, their names.
A Hollywood icon visits the village
Hollywood heavyweight Tom Cruise caused quite a stir when he visited Stoney Middleton in 2021. The Dalton Quarry was transformed into a movie set featuring a railway, complete with a train carriage plunging over the cliffs.
Cruise himself was seen piloting a helicopter during a thrilling action sequence.
According to Nadeem from the Curry Cottage, the star didn’t just treat himself but also the crew to curries, and it’s rumoured he might’ve enjoyed a bite or two from the local chippy as well.
(Image: MEN)
Grade II listed fish and chip shop
It’s not every day you come across a Grade II listed fish and chip shop, is it?
Nestled in Stoney Middleton lies one of the rare Grade II listed fish and chip shops in the country. Toll Bar Fish and Chips, situated on the main thoroughfare of the village, has been dishing out Britain’s beloved dish since 1926.
This unique chippy resides within what used to be the village’s old Toll House, which dates back to the 1800s when it was erected to collect tolls from travellers using the road. Its distinctive octagonal structure was designed to complement the unconventional shape of the local church.
By 1926, Herbert Ford transformed the building into the village’s fish and chip shop. In 1940, Eleanor Hall took over, running the establishment for around three decades before her retirement. The business has continued as a chippy to this day, now under the ownership of Dr Peter Grafton and his wife Kirsten.
They offer the classic menu of fish, chips, sausages, pudding, and pies, with the addition of “Yorkshire fishcakes” a delicious concoction of potato and fish and a rotating selection of specials like halloumi fries, black pudding, and haggis.
(Image: MEN)
Positioned right beside the Grove Garden, there’s a quaint stream that flows directly beneath the Toll Bar. Here, patrons can enjoy their hot chips on a bench in the sunshine.
The doorway of the Toll Bar Fish and Chip shop is adorned by various plaques demonstrating its numerous accolades, one of which comes from the Telegraph “Best Eating Guide”. It proclaims: “This tiny stone cottage always has queues out of the door as it sells the best fish and chips, not cooked in dripping. The drive to get here is lovely too.”
Open from 11.30am to 8pm, only from Wednesday to Saturday, this renowned chippy operates on limited hours.
The village was once home to many pubs, but only one remains. The Moon Inn, formerly known as The Old Moon Inn, sits opposite from where it originally stood. With contemporary interiors and a hearty pub grub menu, it nestles at the beginning of High Street, a steep road running up towards the pinnacle of the village. This incline is responsible for the street being titled “steepest high street in the country”.
Stoney Middleton in the Peak District, Derbyshire (Image: MEN)
Known for its tragic history as the “Plague Village”, 206 residents of Eyam were claimed by the bubonic plague back in 1665. Both signs throughout the village and a visitor centre pay tribute to those who lost their lives during this harrowing period in the village’s past.
For those seeking a bit of adventure, the rocky cliffs of this area are a popular spot for rock climbing. The crag here is one of the most geologically significant in the Peaks and has been a favourite among climbers for years.
Stoney Middleton is situated on the A623 between Buxton and Chatsworth in Derbyshire, approximately 36 miles from Huddersfield town centre. If you’re coming from Holmfirth, expect a drive of about an hour.
For those in Sheffield, it’s even closer – a drive of roughly 35-40 minutes, depending on traffic conditions.
The closest train stations are at Hathersage or Grindleford. From there, buses including the 257 connect Hathersage and Grindleford to Stoney Middleton.
