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??

The Red Lion is amazing! Would highly recommend staying here. The service was amazing, and everyone…read moreis very nice. They breakfast comes out very quick, and servers are awesome. We stayed in a cottage and a room, and it was great! Will be back!

Set in a beautiful location, but if you go in summer expect lots of children. Food in the…read morerestaurant is subpar and you could tell it was all highly microwaved. We sat in the dining room area and it was very tired and worn, sit in the Pub area instead. Outside seating is very smoky. No A/C or even ceiling fans especially since we were in the new set of rooms. No one opened up the windows prior to our arrival and it was literally like an oven. As secluded as it is there is another hotel/restaurant nearby which we enjoyed better.

We just stopped for a beer after a long hike. It was very busy and filled with locals. Pleasant…read morestaff. Good beer. The food looked good, but we did not try it.

What a grand unspoilt little pub with little rooms and open fires. If you thought the little…read morecountry pub had died a death get yourself here, theres not been a smell of fresh paint here for many a year (thankfully) off the beaten track but well worth looking for, ideal for walkers looking for a beer and bite to eat, Hardraw Force Waterfall is situated at the back as a added attraction.

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.

After an 18km walk round Bolton Abbey, three hungry people needed some decent food down their neck…read moreand boy, did we find it here. A lovely country village pub with a roaring fire and a lot of people enjoying good food and great service (and dog friendly). The starters were go good the three of us couldn't choose which one we wanted, so a surprised staff member delivered their first (I'm sure) four starters for three people (there's nothing wrong with one for the table right!?). There was quite a strange silence fallen over the table as we devoured our starters. The creamy garlic mushrooms were amazing, the goats cheese peignet with pickled beetroot (for sharing) was delicious, and the pork spring rolls and pâté were met with equal delight. The mains of slow cooked pork belly (with roasts not mash), the steak & ale pie with chips and corn fed chicken supreme were all very well presented and more importantly, tasted amazing. The pork with LOTS of crackling was only let down let down by the lack of Yorkshire pudding (I know, not meant to have it with Pork dinner but I wanted one and it wasn't allowed due to exact numbers being made). The food was washed down with two bottles of white Rioja and followed by some beautiful desserts of chocolate brownie and Baileys Creme Brûlée with cookie. All in all, a perfect Sunday roast and for £122, was pretty impressive. Note: the staff were young but were absolutely honest and professional. It was great to see and they brought the food out promptly and couldn't have been nicer. A great find.

The place really is excellent, as you would expect for a pub in the middle of nowhere…read more.. We sat outside for an hour or so before lunch, just enjoying the views. It really was a pleasure to hang around here, despite being ever so slightly chilly (I'm used to the balmy climate of London). The views are awesome, there's wildlife everywhere and plenty of dogs around if you're a dog person. The lunch was in the cruck barn and this is really an. Exceptional building, it looks old despite being only 10 years old! The decor is perfect. Except maybe the projection of the menu, not the biggest fan if that (it was hard to read). The food was impeccable, I had the pigeon and venison and it was perfect, the table generally seemed very pleased with their food so I think everything else was good too! The roast looked incredibly, serious food envy there. The drink selection, as you would expect in a decent traditional Yorkshire pub, was local and very very good. If you're in the area (or even just in the north east) then I would definitely recommend coming here for some food. Beware the roads however, super difficult to drive around.

Middle of nowhere, casual dress, Michelin-starred…read more My husband and I went out of our way to eat and stay here. Was it worth the 3 hour journey from London (2-hr train ride, 1-hr by car) to make our reservation from 6-months earlier? Absolutely. Courses are small, but plenty. Staff are immensely courteous and thoughtful (they made a custom menu for our dietary needs and even had the chefs sign it before we left). And the setting couldn't be more idyllic. I'd suggest getting the wine pairing as it really completes the meal. Go ahead and stay the night as breakfast is included the next day. Just make sure to work out your travel from the train station to the restaurant. It really is out in the sticks.

An absolutely fantastic experience enhanced by the charming and beautiful countryside that The…read moreBlack Swan at Oldstead is nestled within - an area that I wouldn't have visited otherwise but am grateful for having done so. Make sure to make a small detour to Kilburn to see The Kilburn White Horse which stands firmly in the hillside. The Black Swan is a beautiful picturesque old pub full of warmth and charm. Upon arrival you are welcomed into the bar area for aperitifs where a log fire crackles and glows. Make sure to notice the Robert Thompson mouse carved into the bar. Great selection of small batch gins - I enjoyed a glass of Sir Robin of Locksley from Sheffield with tonic. Amuse bouche are served here before moving upstairs to the restaurant. The Smoked Eel and Apple Tartlets were light and well balanced in their flavours whilst the Chicken Dumpling was rich, satisfying and would sit well on the finest of dim sum plates in Hong Kong. The restaurant is more modern in decoration with an "open kitchen" where some of the dishes are prepared with a clear artistic love and attention to detail. Service is friendly, knowledgeable and attentive without being intrusive. Good selection of wines for most palates and wallets. I had the 10 course tasting menu which, at £85, felt like a bargain compared to the price of Michelin starred food in major cities. To start, a Mussel with Oyster Leaf canapé - so perfectly decorated that it felt wrong to eat it, but so tasty. Next up Langoustine with Caramelised Whey, served like a lollipop with a twig to hold it with - lovely textures and cooked to perfection. Venison Tartare followed - a small dish but rich in flavour and beautifully prepared and decorated. Sour Bread and Sour Butter was distinctive and a good filler in preparation for the main courses. The Monkfish with Asparagus and Onion, although delicious, was probably the weakest dish. The sauce tasted like heavy sweet soy sauce and was a bit overpowering in its saltiness for the delicate flavour of the fish. Still very enjoyable though. The Slowly Cooked Crapaudine Beetroot was the star of the menu. Cooked in beef fat (I believe), the beetroot takes on a heavier composition and is chewy and almost glutinous with all of the accompanying decorations providing broad and bold flavours. Absolutely fantastic! Scallop Cured with Rhubarb was another standout with the smoothness of the slightly charred scallops countering the tartness of the rhubarb, all tied together with a rich and balanced sauce. Herb-Fed Chicken with Wild Garlic from this Year and Last was another amazing creation with a blanket over the chicken in the form of a garlic leaf. The chicken was more warm than hot but extremely tasty. The first dessert was ice cream (or iced yoghurt?) Lollipops which were wonderfully innovative with their unique flavours. The Sheep's Milk with Douglas Fir Oil was also an memorable dessert with natural tastes of the season. The final dessert, served with coffee was Cake made from Artichoke, Chicory Root and Thyme. The combination worked well although the chicory root (?) was slightly bitter. A great end to a fantastic meal and experience. For most who visit The Black Swan at Oldstead, a significant journey will be involved but don't let that put you off...It's well worth the effort and will be one of those great food experiences.

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.

Third visit to the Strickland Arms, and the place never disappoints. Great, real pub atmosphere,…read morefriendly attentive service and superb food. My wife had the pork roast dinner, I had the nut roast dinner and both were very good indeed. Caffetiere coffee, and ample parking. Highly recommended.

The Strickland Arms is situated on the very old main road, just before the entrance to Sizergh…read moreCastle. There is a large beer garden and the Pub/restaurant is situated in a country setting about 5 miles outside Kendal. The food is locally sourced and superb. A bit more pricey than pub food but well worth it. Also they have guest ales and it is nice to sit outside with an authentic pint of bitter. Well recommended

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.