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.

Best find on holiday ever!!…read more Set in a beautiful little village with a huge village green with loads of parking round and about (although im sure that on a mid summer sunny day parking may be somewhat difficult!). The pub has a bar area and a restaurant area - we only ever went into the bar as you could eat int here and it was really cosy (dogs are also allowed!). The staff were incredibly friendly and chatty (lets face it, Yorkshire, particularly North Yorkshire folk are possibly the most friendly on the planet - i challenge you to disprove this!). The food was INCREDIBLE. Nothing fancy pants, just really good food, VERY big portions (trust me on this, you dont need three courses - choose your weapon of starter or dessert to go alongside your main - we made the mistake one night and 1) couldnt eat it all and 2)pretty much rolled home). We spent an evening in the pub, had a meal and then sat playing card games - we felt incredibly welcome. So welcome that we ended up visiting three times in a week long holiday. You cant really get a better recommendation than that can you??

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

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.

Nice local pub. Stopped in here for a pint after a cold damp hike and tour of the lake. Lovelyread more

Probably best place in Keswick to get a good range of real ale. Not tried the food. To be honest…read moreKeswick has nowhere where it isn't food focused. I personally think this place should just concentrate on beer because it would become a haven for those who just want a sociable drink without the Bain of suffering dinners. The real ale here is very very good.

You wouldn't think such a nice place was around here! Excellent selection of beers & ales…read more Reasonably priced food. Think pub-grub plus. I had a venison burger with chips and a salad. Really nice rustic chips. Friendly staff. And a nice view of the mountains / hills.

Came here to stay and was pleasantly surprised by the talent in the kitchen. Beer selection is…read moregood, with excellent real ales on cask. The lamb dinner was tender, tasty & fabulous, as was the gingerbread for dessert (get it with custard). Our room is pleasant, with an amazing view of greens hills dotted by sheep (you can hear them bleating). En suite is huge- window is very private which means we can leave it open for a nice cross breeze.

What a perfect little pub! We ate here on our first night in Gilcrux after a day of travel and it…read morewas absolutely wonderful. The barman was very friendly and chatty, and the waitress was equally pleasant. The food was absolutely delicious. The lasagna was excellent (fresh out of the oven too!) and the pastry on the chicken and leek pie was was puffed to about 6 inches. Highly recommend this place to anyone passing through/in the area of Gilcrux!

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.

My wife, dog and I came here for a delightful afternoon tea to celebrate our first wedding…read moreanniversary. This place clearly was an old coaching inn and you can really sense the history and age of the place. There are many different rooms which cater for different things, a lovely bar, a larger dining room and some smaller ante-rooms for things such as afternoon tea which I would definitely recommend. Well worth a stop en route to Keswick!

Wonderful and amazing choice of whiskey. Cider choice poor. The food is good, small quantity, quite…read moreexpensive and the food is bistro/gastro pub. Would rather have had good basic food.

The chicken and ham pie and halloumi fries were pretty good. Very packed inside though and had to…read morewait til someone left outside to get a seat. Order everything at the bar and they bring it out. Great vibes, lots of dogs.

Very good service and tasty food, had a nice lager & bitter + a delicious bowel of Goulashread more