If you are attempting the HardKnott pass run, or returning from it then you must stop at this…read morefriendly pub. Nice garden to relax in (you need it after HardKnott). Good selection of real ales, my favourite Hardknott Black. Well worth a visit.

The Woolpack Inn is a rare find. It's a pub but also a micro-brewery (the Hardknott brewery) that…read morebrews its own ales for sale in the bar. Don't expect too much in the way of decor, it's a pretty rough and ready, basic sort of place but if you're after a warm welcome with great ales and a place to shelter from the rain when the Cumbrian weather turns nasty then this is the place for you. It's a favourite with fell walkers but also readily accessible by road so you don't need to be an outdoor type to enjoy its output. Don't worry if you're wet and muddy too - it's not a problem and well-behaved dogs are very welcome in the bar too.

The Kirkstile is a gem, both as a pub and as an inn. The food is a really high standard--very…read morefresh and often very creative, and local. The rooms are so nice, clean and comfortable--and quiet--I had several fantastic sleeping nights. There are so many fine walks from the doorstep there is truly no need to get in your car. The staff is incredibly nice. And honestly...I can't see how it is possible to top a summer evening sitting at a picnic table on their lawn with an ale in front of you watching the light on fell change. I could park myself there for a week!

This is the best food I had in the Lake District!…read more A large group (11) of us showed up just before closing time and the staff was very accommodating. Everyone was helpful and kind. I had the Steak and Ale pie and it was just delicious. The mashed potatoes were perfect and the vegetable medley was just what I needed after all the fried food I had been having on the trip. I tried my friend's lamb and it was to die for. The only complaint I heard was about the chutney for the vegan curry. Save room for dessert. The sticky toffee pudding was one of the best desserts I've ever had; I'll be thinking about it for a long time.

Ok, so we may have gone at the wrong time of day to see the beautiful scenery. Let's just say it…read morewas super dark and we couldn't tell where we were driving and sort of thought we were driving towards a cliff that we would soon plummet off in the dark. Not kidding. BUT behold the end of the road the glowing lights of Wasdale Head! It was very busy in the restaurant so we first sat at the bar (the only 2 stools) and chatted with the staff. Everyone was sooo nice to us and I loved it. After a few pints we decided to get some food. You order at the counter and they bring your meals to the table. We picked the seat by the fire and I enjoyed the chickpea chili and of course the onion rings and loved the spice and warmth during the cold night. I would LOVE to return during the day because I heard the view was amazing so I will just have to make a trip back.

I went to Ritson's Bar for dinner after an epic over 6 hour hike up & down the terrifying and…read morebeautiful windy heights between Wastwater and Ennerdale. I loved the unusual design of big wooden booths, it helps stop a lot of disorganised chair moving too. We were obviously starving and watched in quiet agony as half the table's food arrived and was consumed before ours did. This was Bank Holiday Sunday though, so it was mega busy. When the food did come it was enormous and I couldn't finish it. I have never seen so much scampi and giant pieces too! Excellent. Fish and chips was also very well received, I thought the fish seemed like good quality. Meanwhile there was an ale on tap which both bartender & bf said was really excellent. I enjoyed a very tasty Virgin Mary, it's not often you get someone spicing it perfectly. For somewhere that could be lazy as it's the only game in town, Ritson's is especially impressive in its commitment to decent food and ale. Well worth a visit after your walk. Also btw if you are contemplating climbing down the scree as a shortcut to above-mentioned pub bear in mind it will be one of the most gruelling and exhilarating hours of your life, and you stand a reasonable chance of serious injury.

The drunken duck is a favorite of our friend who has come here for 40 years, starting with golf…read morebuddies, then with family and best of all to celebrate weddings, and great moments. Relax here, the staff is ready to make this luxury even better with whatever you need! Directions to many local hikes or hot coffee on the picnic tables. So much fun to have, there are gardens, strolls, patios and quiet libraries too. This is the most beautiful place I've ever stayed because I can get some rest, unwind and enjoy the great outdoors. Yesterday there was a local marathon- yes!- great runners charged past into the local town of Ambleside. Hikers and dog lovers are here too. National parks close by... what a get-away we are having!!

Such a charming pub and inn right in the middle of the Lakes District. There's a glorious view…read moreoverlooking the mountains right in front of the venue (with picnic tables if you'd like to sit and enjoy it with a pint). Brunch, lunch, dinner, and bar snacks are served at the Drunken Duck, and I'd only really recommend booking for dinner. The beer and cider are mostly local I believe. We did the curry bowl to share (vegetarian and VERY tasty - kind of wish I could get the recipe), scampi, fries, and tartare sauce (those fries are to die for!) and the lamb kofta, hummus, flatbread, and mint yoghurt (great for sharing and noshing). There's plenty of parking on the side of the inn. The inside is decorated beautifully (very insta-worthy), so maybe consider renting out for an event. And yes, you can bring your dog to dinner/drinks.

Lovely Lakeland pub. Dog friendly. Great fish & chips (weird mushy peas!!!)read more

We were staying in a caravan park just down the road and needed a place to eat in the evening. We…read morecame across this delightful pub within a few minutes of searching. We spent the remainder of our holidays here, every evening. Nestling by a brook full of eels. The pubs dog, Jasper, loved to just stand in the cooling water on the hot evenings that we experienced this July. Sufficient room to sit outside with plenty of tables. Service is second to none. Professional, efficient and, more to the point, friendly. Great selection of real ales, my favourite was the Cromwell. Now to the reason for frequenting this hostelry, the food. A reasonable menu taking into account the position of this pub. A good varied choice of fresh seafood, burgers, curries and steaks. We tried most of them and they all were extremely tasty. All cooked to order. Great mussels in white wine. Behind the bar is a blackboard describing their Naga 'Viper' curry made with, 'officially', the hottest chilli pepper. Underneath is written 'Curries ordered 528, curries eaten 400' LOL. I love hot curries but, even I, would not attempt it. We hope to make a return visit next year. Many thanks to the 'guvner', his wife, the staff (especially the chef and kitchen staff) for making our short holiday break a total delight. See you again.

This place is awesome! If you are looking for an authentic British pub with alot of character and…read moregood ale you gotta come here.

If you are in the area and want a cozy, wonderful place to grab a pint then this is where you need…read moreto be. Check the hours before you go because we went once and it was closed (we were super excited to try it). Also make sure you are turning down the right road which was a mistake we made a couple times :) I don't have a review for the food, this is for the bar area. We came in from a suggestion by a woman we were staying with in the area and it was perfect. There was a warm roaring fire in the corner of the small bar area and there is only a community seating style table and a few bar stools so it really lets you get into conversation with some of the locals who could have not been any nicer! I had an amazing time. The restaurant seating was also so rustic and cozy and I hear they get really busy at night so you need to make a reservation to eat.

This is a lovely pub. When you walk in you seem to be walking back in time - rough stone walls…read morepainted white meet old stone floors and the low ceilings seem to hug you in a warm welcome as do the open log fires in winter. The bar is small and intimate and the staff are cheerful and friendly. The real bonus, though, is the food! As usual at lunchtime, Judi and I were wanting something light. I chose a roasted vegetable and pesto Ciabatta - impossible to get wrong, perhaps, but the balance of flavours was amazing and the bread was rustic and full of flavour. Good wine too at reasonable prices. Now I wouldn't recommend a pub on the basis of a 'sandwich' but the dinner menu was imaginative and very tempting. I know that I am not doing this place justice by giving it only 4 stars but I need to save a star for when I have managed to return for a full meal. Well behaved dogs welcome on a lead.

We stayed in Keswick two nights and gave this pub a shot the first. It was so great we went back…read morethe second evening. Totally worth the walk for us, even from the other end of town. A proper pub, excellent food, great staff, and a lovely owner. Wish we could have spent more time chatting with her. Fish pie is a top choice. Sticky Toffee Pudding is excellent, I asked for a second scoop to get my preferred pudding to ice cream ratio. Arrive early or book a table well in advance. We got lucky with bar seating both nights. Dog friendly, which was so great, even though we are not dog owners. Looking forward to going back again the next time we visit.

Well definitely one of the best places to eat in Keswick. Possibly too popular. Although the food…read moreis very good it's no longer the great it once was. I found the portions have diminished over the years since I first went there. The steak pie is no longer brimming with content. It's still very good particularly for value. But it's crowded and eating feels rushed. The beer quality is poor not because of the way it's kept simply it's no longer great beer. Jennings beer just is no longer the beer I fondly remember. The staff are good though service cannot be faulted.

We loved Mason's Arms for the quaint building and gorgeous views. There is a spot inside next to…read morethe real fireplace that is a cozy sanctuary on a cool rainy day in the Lake District. The service was friendly and attentive. The food was just ok for us. The fish and chips batter did not stick to the fish. The mushroom soup was a puree with mild flavor. The hummus and pita was really good and had lots of garlic flavor. The fudge for sale at the bar was a real miss as it tasted more like a grainy carmel than fudge.

A lovely pub, out in what seems like the middle of nowhere, with a cozy bar area downstairs (and a…read morenice hot fire!) and delicious meals served upstairs. Friendly service, there seems to be a pub cat that wanders around, and you can buy local fudge from the bar. My husband and I shared the Three Little Piggies - black pudding and sausage rolls, a pork and leek scotch egg, a whole bunch of honey roasted chipolatas (which are sausages, I just learned that), served with bread, cheese pate, and apricot jam. A big portion for two, so of course we shared it with the others. Everything was great - you could build lovely little bites by putting the sausages in bits of bread and topping with some of the spreads. It's rustic Northern food, but really comforting and delicious. For our mains, my husband and I shared the stew pot of the day (rabbit), and one of the specials - lamb with lentil dahl on the side. All the meat was really tender and succulent, the lamb in particular had great flavor, the variety of accouterments alongside added texture and depth to the dish. The meal was hearty and homey, just how you want English pub food to be. Finished with a lush sticky toffee pudding, very rich. "Very treacley," apparently, as someone said, and I thought it was lovely with ice cream. Four of us split it, which was enough for us as the main courses are quite filling. A great place to stop for a meal in the Lakes, looks like they had lots of patio seating for warmer months when the weather is better - we'll have to return!