As managing director of Longbow Venues, Rob Hattersley’s vision for hospitality done differently has breathed new life into several iconic Peak District premises. But, as he tells Fiona Stubbs, the newly opened Charleston in Bakewell is the most meaningful yet
The tinkling notes of a baby grand piano; the clink of glasses; the hubbub of chatter over good food.
Stories told. Secrets shared.
This is The Charleston, capturing the glamour and vitality of the 1920s Jazz Age with a modern twist.
For the man behind one of the region’s most eagerly anticipated venues, the £2.6 million development of The Charleston has been a long labour of love, rooted in his own experience of growing up in Bakewell where his parents, John and Diane Hattersley, ran the legendary Aitch’s Wine Bar and Bistro.
The Charleston has brought back to life the former Royal Bank of Scotland building in Rutland Square. Originally opened in 1838, the Grade II listed sandstone structure had been empty since 2018.
“This is very, very personal to me,” says Rob. “It feels like I’m coming home. It means everything. It really does mean everything.”
“I can stand on the rear fire escape of The Charleston and look across Bath Gardens to what used to be our living room above Aitch’s,” muses Rob. “We lived there until I was two and, when mum and dad could afford to buy a house, it became the office for the business. As a teenager, I remember doing the banking for Aitch’s in the Royal Bank of Scotland.”
Hospitality is in Rob’s blood. His grandparents, George and Joan Hattersley, ran well-known pubs The Lathkil Hotel at Over Haddon and The Monsal Head Hotel, where his father, John, grew up.
John and Diane ran Aitch’s on Buxton Road, Bakewell from 1982 to 2004, establishing the venue as the place to be in the Peaks.
Rob recalls: “Bakewell shaped who I am. Watching my parents run Aitch’s for 22 years taught me the value of good food, warm hospitality and community connection. It wasn’t just a business; it was a hub of life, laughter and conversation.”
He worked with his parents from the age of 14 before heading to Manchester Metropolitan University where he gained a degree in hospitality and management.
“I left the area aged 18 – ran away for a few years, as you do,” smiles Rob. “I worked all over the UK and did stints abroad. But the idea was always to come back.”
After working for companies “where it was all about the bottom line and everything else came second”, Rob launched independent hospitality business Longbow Venues with an ethos of placing ‘people over profit’.
He sold his house to finance Longbow’s first acquisition, The Maynard at Grindleford and, over the course of six years, its portfolio has grown to include The George in Hathersage, The Ashford Arms in Ashford in the Water, The Peacock at Owler Bar and The Peacock at Rowsley.
Despite external challenges – not least the 2020 Covid lockdown just weeks after The Maynard opened and flood damage to The George as a result of Storm Babet in October 2023 – the business has built a strong reputation for quality food, drink and service.
The Charleston is Longbow’s most ambitious project to date. “Throughout the last six years, people kept asking ‘when are you doing something in Bakewell?’” explains Rob. “Aitch’s closed 22 years ago and I think there’s been a gap in the market. There are some good operators in Bakewell but I think there’s a space for everyday premium; somewhere that’s not a pub, where people will feel at home and where they can enjoy some great wine or nice cocktails, with genuine warmth of service and food that’s a different offering.”
Rob had long been intrigued by the imposing former bank building. “I first began chatting to the landlord a few years ago,” he recalls. “For a while, I thought it was going to be too big. But, the more experienced you become, the more you realise that you can use the size and scale of the business to its full potential.
“When I first walked into the building, I could visualise how I wanted it to be. Its features created a vision. The overwhelming feeling I got was the grandeur – the expansive windows, the soaring ceilings, the architraves, the coving.
“For me, we had to play on that grandeur. The 1920s – the roaring ’20s – were all about fun and vibrancy. Coming out of the First World War, there was a boom in cocktails and a huge European food influence which hit America. Even during Prohibition, people still went out and had fun.”
The Charleston – which brings 60 new jobs to Bakewell – is set over two floors, with seating for up to 160 guests inside and a terrace area for outdoor dining. There is live music every evening. A private dining area – The Speakeasy – nestles in the original bank vault and serves up to 10 guests.
General manager Josh Butler looks after the day-to-day running, with Jemima Prater as assistant manager, supported by Alice Houghton.
With a carefully curated food and drinks offer – championing local suppliers – The Charleston caters to all tastes, from coffee and cakes to brunch; small plate bar dining to afternoon tea and from cocktails to dinner.
“The Charleston is different for Bakewell, different for the area and different to anything we’ve done as well.”
“It feels very special, but we also want it to feel relaxed,” says Rob. “I’ve a huge love of Bakewell and just want the best for the area. I think this is something that’s going to be good for both local people and tourists while bringing this amazing building back to life.
“Before we officially opened, teams from our other venues came to The Charleston for an exclusive staff dining event and it was an incredibly special moment. It really did show how none of this is possible without the amazing people within Longbow.”
The development of The Charleston is a collaboration between Longbow and partners including Coverland UK and Concorde BGW group. Rob’s vision is shared and supported by Longbow Venues directors Stephen Atkinson, Adrian Gagea and Victoria Cone.
In the pipeline for three years, the development process included complex negotiations with the building’s landlords, designers and Peak District National Park planners.
Rob explains: “Heritage is one of Longbow’s core values – I think it’s important that we keep and look after historic places in the Peak District and that we continue enhancing the area.
“All of our buildings are old – four are listed. I think it’s sad when heritage buildings don’t have a life, a purpose.”
He’s mindful that The Charleston should complement existing hospitality in the town.
“We didn’t want to tread on the toes of the fine dining offering,” he says. “The Charleston’s menu is very much brunch to brasserie, but with the option of bar snacks, small plates and a nice glass of beer, wine or a cocktail.
“I look back to Bakewell over 20 years ago and remember how vibrant it was. At Aitch’s, you had to book a table weeks in advance for a Friday or Saturday night. Although times have changed, I do feel that Bakewell has fallen behind a little. Hathersage and Matlock are great examples of how places have been developed and boosted into vibrant hotspots again.
“Bakewell has a hybrid population. It has a lot of locals who don’t come into the town during the day but want to do so at night and there are also a lot of tourists.
“Retail in Bakewell is definitely getting there with names like Fat Face, Joules, Fairfax & Favor and Seasalt improving the town as a destination but the same needs to go for hospitality. Having more options will improve the local economy.”