The Charleston Is Officially Open
We’re thrilled to share the news. The Charleston is now officially open, and Bakewell has a new destination to fall in love with.
Set inside the beautifully restored former Royal Bank of Scotland building in Rutland Square, The Charleston brings together brunch, bar snacks, small plates, Afternoon Tea and evening brasserie dining under one roof, alongside a wine list and cocktail menu built with genuine care.
Whether you’re after a coffee and cake to start the day or a cocktail and canapés to end it, there’s a reason to visit at any hour.
What to expect at The Charleston
Spread across two floors of this Grade II listed building, The Charleston has been designed to feel like it’s always belonged in Bakewell.
Downstairs you’ll find a glamorous bar, upstairs a full restaurant and outside a courtyard for those long summer evenings.
For something more intimate, our private dining room, The Speakeasy, seats up to ten guests and is perfect for celebrations that call for a little extra occasion.
The menu moves from brunch to brasserie throughout the day. Expect a relaxed, easy pace in the morning and a more polished, stylish feel once evening dining begins.
Our drinks list draws inspiration from the glamour of the 1920s, with cocktails crafted using proper technique and a good dose of vintage charm.
Rob's vision: Bringing Bakewell's heartbeat back
For owner Rob Hattersley, The Charleston is deeply personal.
Many Bakewell locals will remember Aitch’s Wine Bar and Bistro, opened by Rob’s parents John and Diane Hattersley in 1982. It became a true cornerstone of Bakewell’s social scene. It was there, working as a pot washer at just 14 years old, that Rob first fell in love with hospitality.
Aitch’s closed its doors over two decades ago and its absence has been felt ever since. Rob still gets stopped in the street by people telling him Bakewell needs something like it again.
“Watching my parents run Aitch’s taught me the value of good food, warm hospitality and community connection.“ Rob explains. “It wasn’t just a business, it was a hub of life, laughter and conversation.“
In the years since, Rob has worked across some of the world’s most exciting bars and restaurants, learning what it takes to build a genuine atmosphere and deliver service that feels personal rather than performed.
The £2.6 million development of The Charleston is the result of bringing all of that experience home, into a building with real history and real meaning to him.
“I can stand on the rear fire escape and look across Bath Gardens to what used to be our living room above Aitch’s” Rob says. “It feels very special, but we also want it to feel relaxed. 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.“
The building itself dates back to 1838 and had stood empty since 2018 before this restoration. With seating for up to 160 guests inside plus outdoor terrace dining, The Charleston has also created 60 new jobs in Bakewell.
Thank you to everyone who made it happen
A project of this scale doesn’t come together without a huge amount of dedication, and we want to properly thank everyone involved. The development has been a true collaboration between Longbow Venues and our partners, including Cloverland UK and Concorde BGW Group, whose expertise helped bring this Grade II listed building back to life.
In the weeks leading up to opening, it really was all hands-on deck. Contractors and teams worked round the clock to get the building finished and furnished, while our staff were busy training behind the scenes to make sure every guest receives the warm, attentive service Longbow Venues is known for.
To everyone who gave their time, skill and energy to this project, thank you. And to our team, who continue to work so hard every single day to look after our guests, we couldn’t do this without you.
The Charleston's opening party
The night before we officially opened our doors on 27th June, we celebrated with an opening party for the ages. It was an evening of welcome drinks, delicious canapés, live music and wonderful company in our new Bakewell home.
We were honoured to be joined by John Whitby MP and John Brocklehurst, who officially opened The Charleston ahead of the celebrations. Both gave lovely speeches, following on from Rob Hattersley, who took a moment to share his gratitude to everyone who has been part of this journey and his genuine admiration for Bakewell and its hospitality community.
The party continued into the evening with cocktails, canapés and live entertainment from The Grumpah Band, whose set kept the atmosphere going right until the end.
Now open daily from 9am
We’re now open every day from 9am and the response since opening has been incredible. Thank you to everyone who has already stopped by for a drink, some food or simply to soak up the atmosphere. It means more to us than you know.
Here’s what to expect from our daily opening hours:
• Brunch: 9am to 4pm daily
• Evening dining: from 5pm
• Bar snacks: available all day, downstairs and in the courtyard
• Coffee and cakes: available daily
• Sunday lunch: available every Sunday
As the evening rolls in, we have live music running throughout the week:
• Monday to Thursday: 8pm to 10pm
• Friday and Saturday: 9pm to 11pm
• Sunday: 6pm to 9pm
Book your table at The Charleston
If you haven’t yet visited Bakewell’s newest destination for brunch, drinks and evening dining, now’s the perfect time.
Book your table today or simply walk in, we’d love to welcome you to The Charleston.
