REAL ALE PUBS in SOUTH CUMBRIA

The Ship Inn is situated at Sandside on the B5282 between Milnthorpe and Arnside. It has wonderful views over the Kent estuary. The Langdales and Coniston Old Man in the lake district are visible on a clear day. The pub is privately owned and the owner prefers to keep it closed rather then allow it to be the thriving business it could be in the right hands.

Excellent Pizzas can also be found at JJ Crossfields in Arnside

See the Ship Inn in the December 2013 storm - Picture 1  Picture 2

Popular village pub that reopened in April 2013 after some refurbishment by the new owners. The pub is now a free house with up to 5 local real ales available. Swan Blond is always available. Food is available up to 9pm most days.

Comment - Small village pub that has retained an "olde worlde" charm. Good range of real ales, many from local micro breweries.  Free wi-fi and fabulous Pizza. Well worth a visit.

Website - Hare and Hounds Levens  

Just off the A6, 2 miles south of Milnthorpe, the Wheatsheaf at Beetham offers a warm welcome and being independent offers 4 real ales from local breweries including Coniston Bluebird, Loweswater Gold, Hawkshead and Old School Breweries.  

Comment - Has undergone major refurbishment and reopened on 5th February 2018.

Website - Wheatsheaf

Crooklands Hotel is close to junction 36 of the M6 near Kendal and although it is a large hotel it does have the feel of a pub in the bar area. The bar usually has 2 or 3 real ales including Crooklands Bitter brewed by the local Kirkby Lonsdale brewery. The bar has a massive wood burning stove and confortable seats. The food here is very good too.

Comment - Good beer and excellent food make this a very popular location with both locals and tourists.

Crooklands Website.

Cuckoo Brow Inn is situated between Lake Windermere and Hawkeshead close to the National Trust owned home of Beatrix Potter. It has 14 en-suite bedrooms and welcomes walkers with muddy boots and wet dogs. It is open 7 days a week and has 3 real ale hand pumps serving local beers including Coniston Bluebird, Loweswater Gold and another which changes regularly. Free wi-fi available.

Comment - Definitley worth a visit if you are in the area.

Cuckoo Brow website

Tucked away on the edge of the village of Brigsteer this free house has 4 real ale hand pumps serving beers from Hawkshead, Coniston and Thwaites breweries.  The building dates back to the mid 1700's and has been a public house for over 200 years. The pub has undergone a major redevelopment in 2013 including the addition of a garden room, covered walkways from the car park past a water feature and a completely redesigned interior. Open 7 days a week and serving food as well.

Comment - Great to see this pub has been transformed and reopened. 

Website  

The Blacksmiths is one mile off the A593 Broughton in Furness to Coniston road in the Lickle Valley. It is a lovely old 16th century farmhouse which has served beer for centuries and retains the character features of the original building. It has 3 real ale pumps serving local ales and the food is excellent too. 

Comment - Although off the beaten track, this is good walking country and well worth a visit.

Website

Situated on the A6 south of Milnthorpe the Tavern at Hale has undergone extensive refurbishment and modernisation with the bar now situated in what was the dining room. 2 real ales are on offer and their is food at reasonable prices. A kids play area has also been provided to the side of the car park. This pub is now part of the innocollective group and a new manager and chef came in July 2023.

Satterthwaite is in the Grizedale Forest and is a traditional Lakeland Inn. It is a free house and has four real ale hand pumps serving beer from local Cumbria breweries including, Hawkshead, Barngates, Cumbria Legendary Ales and Coniston. There is a welcoming real fire in the bar and a good selection of food including a sandwich menu.

Comment - Good place to relax after a walk in the forest. but check opening hours as often closed mid week.

Eagles Head website

Hidden away on the north side of the village of Silverdale, the Woodlands Hotel gets the prize for being the hardest to find. A pot holed track leads up to the hotel and on entering you find yourself in a hall with no obvious bar in sight. Take the door on your left into the snooker room and then pass through to the bar. Do not be put off by the pumps on the bar, the real ale is out of sight in the back. A blackboard displays what's available from a changing range of up to 4 guest beers. They also offer their own woody bitter and keg Boddies.

Comment - Worth the effort to find this place and at £3 a pint or less (May 2021) it must be one of the cheapest places to drink around. Why not combine a trip here with a visit to the excellent Cinnamon Indian Restaurant and Take Away in the village of Silverdale. See Cinnamon Spice Menu for details.

Woody's Facebook page

This pub is managed by the same team that run the Strickland Arms so you can expect good food and a selection of real beers. The bar has 6 hand pumps with beers from Hawkshead, Black sheep, Coniston, Tirrel, and Twaites breweries, plus Jollyboys bitter from Cumbria Legendary Brewery. For lager drinkers they have an excellent Hawkshead lager.

Comment -  Good range of well kept beers but the place is looking a bit shabby these days.

The Derby Arms website

Busy pub with a lively atmosphere. The Longlands has a good range of real ales with two resident beers, Theakstons Black Bull and Black Sheep bitter plus two guest beers. Beers on offer are usually in good condition.

Recommended tipple - Black Sheep bitter

Longlands hotel website

Those of you seeking something a bit different will not be disappointed here as this popular pub offers an extensive range of foreign bottled beers and draught lagers. For those seeking real British ale they have 5 hand pumps offering Boddington's bitter, 2 bitters from the local Hawkshead micro brewery, Timothy Tailor Landlord, and Jennings Cumberland when we visited).

Comment - Great views and the Hawkshead bitter is delicious. They also sell a rather nice alcohol free lager for drivers. Foods good too.

Mason's Arms website

Situated just off the A590 dual carriageway at Haverthwaite this pub has 5 real ales in the bar and a further 5 real ales in the lounge giving a choice of up to 10 different beers. They also have an impressive range of lager, cider and bottled beers.

Comment  - Has plenty of outside seating so a great place for a beer in the sun. Working model railway in lounge,

Anglers Arms Website

This 400 year old coaching inn is situated at Troutbeck on the A592 from Windermere to Penrith. Following a devastating fire in 2014 the Grade II listed building has undergone extensive renovation and reopened in 2017. 

Comment - Lakeland coaching inn offering good food and superb real ale.

Website

Drive up Kirkstone Pass from Ambleside and when you reach the junction with the A592 Windermere - Ullswater Road you will find the Kirkstone Pass Inn. At 1500 feet above sea level it is the highest pub in the Lake District and the third highest in the UK and is 510 years old. The pub has 3 real ale hand pumps and was serving Carlisle Pale Bitter and Moorhouse Black Cat when I last visited.

Comment - Big car park opposite.

Just up the hill from Oxenholme station lies the Station Inn which is a child friendly pub with a large eating area and a reputation for good real ale. Usually has 4 real ales including Black Sheep bitter, Doombar & Copper Dragon on my last visit. This pub changed hands in May 2022

Comment  - Has an adventure playground for the kids.

If this web site gave ratings for food the Punch Bowl at Crosthwaite would get 10 stars and is thoroughly recommended for those seeking excellent cuisine. It offers 3 good real ales from the local Barngates brewery -Tag-lag, Cat Nap and Westmorland Gold and a guest beer, currently Black Sheep..

Comment - Great place to dine with some good beers available.
Michelin regional dining pub 2008 award.

Punchbowl website

The Bulls Head at Milnthorpe is on the main A6 adjacent to the traffic lights and directly opposite the Cross Keys Hotel (now closed). There is parking in the square behind the pub. This pub was closed for a while and has had several changes of landlord but is now open again and is fast becoming the place to go to in Milnthorpe. The resident beer is Lancaster Blond but they also have 3 or more guest beers including beers from Bowland Brewery at Clitheroe and Kendal's Gan Yam brewery.

Bulls Head website  

Tucked away in the Troutbeck Fells, just up the hill from the Queens Head Hotel, the Mortal Man was first established in 1689. You will find 5 real ale hand pumps here serving beers from local Cumbrian breweries.

Comment - Roaring log fire in the bar and good food make this an ideal spot to end a good walk in the Lakes.

Website of - The Mortal Man

Situated in the small village of Winster in the Lythe Valley, the Brown Horse provides a pleasant atmosphere including a welcoming log fire in winter. The pub has a pleasant restaurant area for food but a bar area has been retained for drinkers. It no longer brews its own beers but provides beers from local breweries such as Handsome near Kendal.

Comment - Beers were in good condition. The food is usually excellent - well worth a visit for that special occasion.

Website of Brown Horse Winster

On the A65 between J36 of the M6 and Kirkby Lonsdale, the Plough is more of a restaurant than a pub but it does have a proper bar with 4 real ale pumps and an area where you can just sit for a drink if you wish. Beers on offer vary but usually include beers from local  breweries such as Coniston and Kirkby Lonsdale.

Comment - Beers are kept in good condition. The food is usually excellent - well worth a visit for that special occasion or try a ciabatta for lunch.

Plough Inn website

Home of the Barngates Brewery, so you would expect a good selection of real ales here and you will not be disappointed. Situated within a few minutes drive of Tarn Hows, Coniston Old Man and the Langdale Pikes, it provides good real ale and food and magnificent views of the surrounding countryside.

Comment - Beers are named after dogs that have lived at the inn.

Website of - The Drunken Duck Inn

Situated on the road from Ambleside to Hawkshead, the 18th Century Outgate Inn lies in the small hamlet of Outgate. It is a Robinson's house so beers on offer all come from the Robinson's stable. Lettings rooms now available.

Comment - Live jazz on Friday nights - see website for details.

Outgate Inn website

The Silverdale Hotel on Shore Road has been refurbished and is worth a visit if in Silverdale. It is just up the road from the estuary where you can drive right down onto the foreshore. The pub offers 2 real ales from local breweries as well as some keg beers. They also do food at reasonable prices.

Fancy a curry? Try the excellent Cinnamon Indian Restaurant and Take Away next door to the Coop in the village. See Cinnamon Spice Menu for details.

Comment  - Has a good garden area for drinking outside.

Website of the Siverdale Hotel

Situated on the seafront at Arnside, with great views across Morecambe Bay, the Albion is a great place to sit and watch the world go by on a nice sunny day. The Albion is over 200 years old and is a Thwaites pub which has recently won awards for customer service and Thwaites Pub of the Year 2013. They have a minimum of 4 cask beers on offer and increase this to 5 or 6 during high season including guest beers.

Comment - Foods good too. See website for menus and details of special events.

Website - Albion at Arnside

This Jacobean pub has some interesting items on display inside and offers a range of 4 real ales. Theakstons Best, Black Sheep bitter, Skipton Breweries Copper Dragon and Tirrel Ale when we last visited. Its also a good place to eat and can offer accommodation if you want to stay in the village.

Comment  Popular with the locals again and beers were in good condition.

Snooty Fox website

Formerly known as Ditto this is not a pub but more of a bistro. Avanti has an eating area upstairs and one of the best "beer gardens" I've seen which must be viewed at night to appreciate the lighting effects, it even has heaters to keep you warm. Only one real ale is available - Bass but this was in excellent condition. Keg Boddingtons is also served

Comment - Well worth a visit for Bass and Groundforce fans.

Avanti website

Situated in the village of Ings near Windermere, this traditional lake district pub offers good food and a constantly changing range of quality real ales from all over the country plus several brewed at the pub.

CAMRA - Westmorland pub of the year and many other awards

Comment - With up to 16 different beers available the Watermill Inn has something for everyone - Highly recommended .

Visit Watermill Inn's website

Situated in the village of Staveley, half way between Kendal and Windermere, this country inn boasts four hand pumps and an ever changing range of real ales mainly from local brewers. On our last visit they had Yates bitter, Coniston Bluebird, Black Sheep bitter and Barngates Catnap all in excellent condition. The inn has riverside gardens and offers food and accommodation.

Comment - Has an interesting collection of truncheons hanging next to the bar, troublemakers beware!

Visit Eagle and Child Inn's website

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On the A590 near Levens this Robinson's owned hotel offers three real ales, Robinsons Unicorn (renamed Best Bitter) HB and Cumbria Way. For the smoothflow fans the Robinsons is also available in a frothy version.

Comment - Decent pint of Robinsons.

Gilpin Bridge website

Situated close to Sizergh Castle, the Strickland Arms has re-opened after a prolonged period of closure and extensive alterations which have transformed the interior. The pub has four hand pumps for real ale with a changing range of beers from Thwaites, Hesket Newmarket, Hawkshead, Tirrel and Coniston breweries.

Comment - A very popular pub with a good range of beers and excellent food. Quiz night Wednesday 9:30.

Sample Menu

Website of the Strickland Arms

Situated at the foot of Coniston Old Man, the Black Bull also plays host to the Coniston Brewing Company, brewers of award winning ales such as Coniston Bluebird. As you would expect, a good selection of beers in tip top condition.

Comment - Plenty of outside seating to sit and watch the world go by.

Website of - Coniston Brewery

Website of - The Black Bull Hotel

Set in the heart of the Lake District near the Langdales, this 400 year old inn is very popular all year round and rightly so. As well as a good selection of food it offers 6 real ales which included resident beers - Coniston Bluebird, Jennings Bitter, and up to 4 other guest beers which change regularly.

Comment - You may just loose the will to go for that walk if you pop in here first.

Website of - The Britannia Inn

Traditional lakeland inn with stone floors and open fires in winter. Situated in the small village of Crook between Kendal and Bowness the Sun Inn also has a good reputation for food. Beers available on our last visit were Hawkeshead bitter, Coniston Bluebird and Courage Directors.

Comment - Well worth a trip out for a meal and a few decent pints. The wine list is good too!

Website

The Golden Rule was famous for the quality of its Hartley's bitter when it came in wooden barrels from Ulverston. Now sells a range of Robinson's beers including Robinson's Best, Hartley's XB, Frederic's, Stockport Arches and Hatters Mild. A Lake District favourite.

Comment - Robinson fans will find a range of good quality beers here.

Golden rule website

On the A683 between Lancaster and Kirkby Lonsdale. This pub has recently changed hands and has undergone extensive refurbishment including a repositioned bar and exposure of the stone and wood floors. The bar area is reserved for drinkers (no food) and there is a large dining area. Beers available when we visited were Timothy Taylor Best bitter and Black Sheep bitter.

Comment - The beer and food were both excellent

Website.

Situated near the centre of the village, the Queens Hotel is making a real effort to attract customers by offering two real ales and two guest beers. In Nov 2006 they had Jennings Bitter and Yate's Bitter along with Coniston Bluebird and Hawkshead bitter. Very popular with the local real ale fans.

Comment - Try and catch the Yates spring fever next time its on.

Popular village pub in the heart of this lake district village. Offering beers from Theakstons (Best bitter and HB) and Youngers when I called in. One of the 4 handpumps was out of action so they may offer something else as well. Owned by the John Barras Pub Company

Comment - Another very popular Ambleside pub.

Royal Oak website

Kirkby Lonsdale is ideal for a nights pub crawling as it has several pubs offering a wide variety of good beer. One of our favourites is the Orange Tree which has well kept beer from Kirkby Lonsdale Brewery. Its also a good place to eat.

Recommended tipple - Ruskins Bitter

Website of the Orange Tree Hotel

Kirkby Lonsdale Brewery

Traditional Lakeland village pub which has an interesting decor and up to 6 real ales available. The walls and beamed ceiling are adorned with old tools and implements, stuffed animals, horse brasses and a collection of mugs. Many of the beers on offer are brewed in Cumbria so its well worth a visit. The food is good too.

Comment - Fans of taxidermy will love this place and real ale hunters will not be disappointed. Try the Black Sheep or Ennerdale Blond bitter.

Website of the White Hart at Bouth

Popular 16th century coaching inn situated next to the canal in Hest Bank village between Bolton le Sands and Morecambe. Gaining a reputation for good food and real ale. Normally has up to 4 real ales available including Black Sheep, Lancaster Blonde and 2 others.

Comment - Great location and excellent quality beer.

Hest Bank website

Just round the corner from the Golden Rule the Unicorn with its beamed ceiling and horse brasses is a popular venue for jazz music. It sells a range of real ale from Robinson's. On offer when we visited in April were Old Stockport bitter, Stockport Arches bitter, Hartleys and Frederic's.

Comment - Another good lake district venue for Robinsons fans.

Website

Pub near the centre of the village which has become less popular with real ale fans lately. Has several real ales on offer including Theakstons, Timothy Taylor Best and Black Sheep bitter. It also has a bistro area for food.

Recommended tipple - Black sheep bitter.

Sun Inn website

This 18th century coaching inn is renowned for its food but also serves some good real ales. Usually has a choice of 2 real ales.

Comment - The beer is good and the food even better.

Pheasant Inn website

Situated on the A65 2 miles east of the village of Kirkby Lonsdale. This popular hotel often has live entertainment in the bar and offers some good real ales. It has a caravan site alongside so you can bring your own bed and make a weekend of it

Recommended tipple - Theakstons Bitter.

Popular village pub with entertainment on Friday nights and complementary chips on the bar when we visited in early May. A Mitchell's pub that now offers Caledonian - Flying Scotsman and Tetley bitter. Boddingtons Keg is also available.

Comment - Worth a visit now that Mitchells is no longer brewed.

This 16th century inn knows something about keeping good real ale as until recently it produced its own beer. It also has a good reputation for food and also has rooms available for a longer stay. When we visited in Dec they had Charles Wells Bombardier, Theakston's Best and Jennings Cumberland Ale, all of which were in excellent condition.

Comment - Beer quality is good.

Cavendish Arms, Cartmel

Situated in the square, this popular pub offers a good range of up to 4 real ales from local brewers such as Hawkshead and Barngates. Those sampled were in excellent condition when I visited.

Comment - Real ale fans are in for a treat here and the food is good as well.

Kings Arms website

This pub in the village of Underbarrow near Kendal has beamed ceilings and a welcoming fire if you visit in winter. It offers several real ales from local breweries and does food during the day and evening. The pub has undergone extensive renovation for 2017 with a new extention and has been renamed.

Comment - Beers are in good condition and reasonably priced.

Black Labrador website

Traditional lakeland village pub offering a good range of locally produced beers and excellent food. This pub appears to have new owners and is fast becoming the place to go to when in the Bowland Bridge area. It was serving Black Sheep bitter on our visit and the lunch we had was excellent. 

Comment - Winning awards for accommodation. Great food and good beer.

Website

On the seafront in Arnside, this popular pub offers 3 reals ales from Thwaites brewery. Popular with the tourists in summer and now enjoying increased popularity with the locals. Featured on the TV series "4 in a bed" in January 2015

Comment - Great view over the estuary from the beer garden. Live entertainment on Saturday nights, Quiz on Wednesdays. See website for food deals.

Ye Olde Fighting Cocks website

This 17th Century Inn is the first of 3 pubs you come across if entering the village of Hawkshead on foot from the main car park. It has 4 hand pumps offering real ales from local brewers such as Barngates, Hawkshead and Jennings.

Comment - Try the Hawkshead and Barngates bitters

Sun Inn Hawkshead - Website

In the centre of the village you will find the 2nd of 3 pubs all serving real Ale. This is a delightful 16th century pub focusing primarily on providing good food. All the beers here are by Robinson's so you will not find any local brews on any of the 4 hand pumps.

Comment - This pub was standing when Wordsworth was a lad.

Website of - Queen's Head Hotel Hawkshead

In the centre of Hawkshead in the market square, you will find the 3rd of 3 pubs in the village. The Kings Arms is a typical small Lakeland hotel. It is 500 years old and features oak beams and an open fire. It has 2 hand pumps serving real ale from local producers and further afield.

Comment - You will need to walk to this pub as no cars are allowed into the village.

Kings Arms website

Its quite rare these days to get a totally new pub but on the Canal side in Carnforth is a little gem. Opened in summer 2001 this pub was formerly a cottage and has been tastefully converted. What's more it has six real ales on offer including; Moorlands-Old Speckled Hen, Black Sheep bitter, Bass, Hancocks HB, Cask Worthington IPA and Greene King Abbot Ale.

Comment - Great place to watch the boats and decent beer on offer.

Canal Turn Website

OK, the Marton Arms is over the border in Yorkshire but it is well worth a visit. The bar has 16 hand pumps and offers an ever changing range of real ales from all over the country. Whiskey drinkers will not be disappointed either as there are over 200 different ones available. The pub has letting rooms and provides good bar food. It is very popular with cave dwellers and pot holers

Comment - Paradise for real ale fans

Marton Arms website

The White Lion is a large hotel in the centre of the village offering a good choice of beer including 2 real ales. These change regularly and include some you may not get elsewhere locally. See website for current beer offerings. Has spacious dining areas so its a good place to eat as well.

Comment - Offers something different from the usual local brews.

White Lion website

On the main street in Burton, this pub is once again very popular. When I visited in Mar 07 they had 5 cask conditioned beers on offer plus Jennings Mild. All were in good condition and reasonably priced.

Comment - Well worth a visit for real ale fans.

Situated on the main street in the village of Kirkby Lonsdale, the Kings Arms is a Scottish and Newcastle house offering Theakston's Best bitter as its only real ale along with Theakston's dark smooth Keg and John smiths keg.

Comment - Another one to try on a pub crawl through Kirkby Lonsdale.

Kings Arms Hotel website

The village of Barbon is near Kirkby Lonsdale mid way between the Lake District and Yorkshire Dales National Park. It is a 17th century Coaching Inn which has 10 bedrooms for guests and a restaurant. The bar area is warmed by an open range fire and has 2 real ales from Tetley and Kirkby Lonsdale breweries. The owners are wine experts so the wine list is interesting too.

Comment - Barbon is home to a hill climb circuit so motor sport fans will love this place.

Barbon Inn website

Formerly called the Sportsman Arms this popular inn belongs to Thwaites and in common with other Thwaites houses only offers real ales from its own brewery. Fine if you are a fan of Thwaites products.

Comment - Handy if you want to catch the big match while on holiday.

Ambleside Tavern Website

On the A65 3 miles South of Kendal, this pub offers an ever changing selection of real ales from around the country. Is a meeting place for some groups such as the local air cooled VW club and the Harley Davidson group. Has quiz and folk music niights. See website for details. Now managed by Ray and Lyn formally of the Ship Inn at Sandside.

Comment - Also a popular place to eat.

Punchbowl website

Former Mitchells pub which has 3 hand pumps on the bar dispensing beers from Everards and Hawkshead breweries.

Comment - Better range of beers on offer since Mitchells stopped brewing.

If you fancy a curry, pizza or chinese the takeaways nearby are Jumbo Chinese  No 3 Curry House  Goa Spice  Flames Pizzaria