Fintons Café & Bakehouse

If you seek a friendly café as you leave the M1 for Derby or Nottingham, head to Fintons, where home-baking reigns supreme. Fresh, contemporary décor makes this a comfortable place to stop and unwind, as friendly staff ferry plates to your table. A bucket of toys keeps little visitors absorbed and there's a garden with a marquee for those with four-legged friends.

Breakfast and lunch menus run all day so, whenever you drop by, you can enjoy a Full Fintons, Eggs Benedict or plate of fluffy American pancakes, or a ploughman's, warm quiche with colourful salad or some freshly-made soup. Sandwich fillings change daily (e.g. roast harissa chicken or halloumi with mango chutney) and there's a counter full of cakes; the cornflake tart is recommended. Gluten-free food is a speciality of owners, Carey and Louise, so expect a very good range (menu tweaks by you are fine, too). Coffee is barista-styled, the loose-leaf tea selection is broad and tasty specials are inked up on the wall.