Hidden Culinary Gems: Discover the 10 Best Pubs in Cumbria and the Lake District That Fitness Fans Will Love

When you think of Cumbria and the Lake District, your mind probably drifts to sweeping fells and shimmering lakes—but have you ever wondered why this stunning region often plays second fiddle when it comes to British cuisine? Surprisingly, it’s a treasure trove for food lovers, boasting more Michelin starred restaurants than anywhere outside London in the UK. From rustic pubs with surprising accolades to sophisticated fine dining experiences nestled in charming villages, this landscape isn’t just for the eyes—it’s a feast for the palate. After journeying across the breadth of the Lake District National Park and beyond, I’ve uncovered some of the region’s most remarkable culinary gems. Ready to discover where the locals swear by and the stars align on a plate? Let’s dive in. LEARN MORE

Cumbria and the Lake District is well known for its beautiful landscapes but seemingly less known for its food. Yet the region home to more Michelin starred restaurants than anywhere else in the UK outside of London, as well as having some excellent pubs (some of which have Michelin stars, too). We’ve travelled the length and breadth of the Lake District National Park – and the wider county of Cumbria – to identify some of the best that the region has to offer.

Heft, High Newton

Heft is owned and run by Cumbrian-born chef Kevin Tickle (formerly of The Forest Side) alongside his wife Nicola. It was awarded a Michelin Star in 2023 and is known for its refined, locally-foraged fine dining menu. It’s a venue that operates as a dual-concept establishment: a casual, dog-friendly historic village pub bar alongside a more formal fine-dining restaurant area.

We visited for Sunday lunch and had the sublime, melt-in-the-mouth 24oz dry aged beef rib (which serves two), served pink, with thyme roasted Roscoff onions, wild mushrooms, ramson béarnaise, accompanied with herb and garlic potatoes.

Alternative options included whole plaice roasted on the bone in dulse with BBQ’d pak choi and a light curry broth, slow roasted Herdwick hogget shoulder with seared greens, sauerkraut and peppercorn sauce, or salt baked celeriac ‘steak’ with celeriac various ways, black garlic and a sour cream amd allium sauce.

Diners can choose from a variety of sides including Heft’s cheesy-three-cheese-mac ‘n cheese with a herb and onion crunch, or from ‘fancy sides’ which included cauliflower roasted in brown butter, with cheesy romesco and toasted almonds, or an Isle of Mull cheddar, truffle & crispy onion mash. ‘Proper Northern gravy’ is another available addition that you’ll want to include if you’re having the beef.

For dessert, you can’t go wrong with the Yorkshire rhubarb strudel with mascarpone ice cream or the pecan, maple and molasses tart with muscovado crémeux.

While the dining room serves high-end Michelin-starred food, the bar area still deliberately retains a local village atmosphere.

So substantial is the Sunday lunch that a nice touch is the option to take some ‘heftovers’ away with you, and re-live a little of this memorable dining experience in the comfort of your own home.

The traditional Cumbrian agricultural term “hefted”, from which the pub gets its name, refers to local sheep that naturally learn to stay on their specific un-fenced area of the fell.

A little hidden away in the Winster Valley, The Brown Horse at Winster is a traditional coaching inn that dates back to the 18th century. The pub heavily utilises home-grown produce, sourcing meats and vegetables from its own on-site farm and kitchen gardens.

At the time of our visit, we were lured by the starters on the specials – tempura prawns, teriyaki and soy dipping sauce for me, and the halloumi fries with a chilli mayo for my wife, both of which were lovely. (Had we been restricted to the main menu, the chicken liver parfait, poached rhubarb, chicken crumb and toasted brioche would have been calling my name.)

Main courses ranged from the roasted cornfed chicken breast, spinach, fondant potato, crispy chicken leg, carrot and tarragon jus, to the gluten-free curried cod, saffron potatoes, tender stem broccoli, korma sauce and puffed rice.

Pub classics such as the ribeye steak and the Brown Horse burger could also be found on the menu, but we instead opted for the fish pie (packed with haddock, cod, salmon and smoked haddock) topped with a golden Cheddar mash.

From the sides, we chose the tasty stock pot carrots with tarragon butter.

Since the Winster Valley lies parallel to the Lyth Valley, world famous for its damsons, it would have been criminal not to try the Lyth Valley damson gin trifle, topped with cinder toffee. The perfect way to end a memorable evening.

Visitors to The Brown Horse may like to note that donations are welcomed for Laila’s Steps Fund, a charity personal to the co-proprietor and head chef.

The Black Bull, Sedbergh

The Black Bull in Sedbergh is a restored 17th Century coaching inn situated in the south-east corner of the county, closer in fact to the Yorkshire Dales than the Lake District.

It holds 2 AA Rosettes and features in the Estrella Damm Top 100 Gastropubs in the UK.

Chef Nina Matsunaga celebrates the best of British ingredients with an occasional European or Japanese twist (she was born in Dusseldorf to Japanese parents) that gives rise to some interesting appetisers such as the fermented beetroot tartare, cured hens egg and IPA shallots.

My starter was a brief nod to Japan and an ode to foraging – Hen of The Woods mushroom parfait, Landlord crackers and wild garlic. Hen of the Woods mushrooms (also known as Maitake mushrooms), are deep and earthy in flavour, and native to the temperate hardwood forests of northeastern Japan, as well as some other parts of the world.

The Landlord pale ale, which is brewed just over an hour away at Timothy Taylor’s Brewery in West Yorkshire, makes another appearance in the mains with the Landlord British white beef pie, kale, red cabbage and mash – a hearty dish that would be worthy of any pub menu.

For something more Cumbrian, try the Lakeland venison with savoy cabbage, rhubarb and bone marrow, cooked pink, just as it should be.

No sides for us on this occasion but we could have chosen anything from chips cooked in beef fat through to purple sprouting broccoli.

I resisted the sticky toffee pudding for which Cumbria seems to have become famous for from most of our pub visits, but not on this occasion, favouring it over the Yorkshire forced rhubarb custard and almond. I was still in Cumbria after all… if only just.

The Brackenrigg Inn, Ullswater

Acquired by the nearby Another Place hotel group (read our now rather old review of Another Place at Ullswater here), The Brackenrigg Inn has undergone significant modern updates and improvements to make it the celebrated upscale foodie pub that you see today.

It has its own microbrewery, converted out of an old 18th Century stone barn that would have previously housed carriage horses, as well as characterful lounge areas within the main pub.

We started with the cajun spiced nachos with sour cream, salsa, cheese sauce and chopped chives, as well as the salt and chilli chicken with Asian slaw – both great dishes for sharing.

For lighter mains, it was refreshing to see a good choice of interesting salads, such as the avocado and bacon salad made with mixed baby salad leaves, toasted pine nuts, avocado, bacon lardons, red onion, boiled egg and a honey mustard dressing.

However, I’d recommend the pan roasted salmon – salmon fillet served with sweet chilli noodles, stir fry vegetables and sesame seeds – beautifully seared and with a crisp, crackling skin.

For something more substantial, you can’t go wrong with The Brackenrigg’s famous steak pie, packed with proper chunks of tender beef, which came with seasonal vegetables, gravy, and mash or chunky chips,

It was a shared dessert for us on this occasion – the seasonal crumble, homemade with dark fruits and a vegan vanilla ice cream.

Although we chose from the main menu, there was an extensive specials board which, at the time of our visit, included starters such as smoked mackerel pate with toasted sourdough and chive oil, and mains such as seabass served on a lemon and dill risotto.

The Yan, Grasmere

Perhaps more bistro than pub – although it does have a bar so we’re letting it on to the list – The Yan at Broadrayne Farm, just outside Grasmere, which we have previously stayed at, has earned a growing reputation for its food. Built on the site of a 17th Century farm, this family-run establishment has become a ‘number one’ choice with both visitors and locals, which is rather apt given that the word “yan” stems from the historic Cumbrian dialect word for “one” (traditionally used in sheep counting).

The word is incorporated into the names of several dishes, such as ‘Austri-Yan’ (Cumbrian pork chop schnitzel with a rich honey mustard sauce ), many of which are quirky Cumbrian fusion twists.

Try the curried hummus with Bombay mix, served with toasted tortillas, and you’ll never see hummus the same way again.

Or the chip shop croquettes – haddock and potato croquettes, with curry sauce, pea relish and crispy potato bits, finished with vinegar powder and tartare sauce; an elite chippy tea all wrapped up in the form of just one starter.

From the mains, I love the Scandinavi-Yan. It’s venison from Cartmel Valley Game and sausage meatballs with the butteriest mash potatoes, a creamy chestnut mushroom sauce, tenderstem broccoli, pickled fennel and blackcurrant and ginger chutney.

Our younger son – a pescatarian – absolutely loved the creamy saffron stew brimming with queenie scallops, mussels, crayfish, butterbeans, pearl barley and winter veg, topped with monkfish and finished with pickled fennel.

From the desserts, the jaffa mousse is The Yan’s classic chocolate mousse with a blood orange gel on a bed of sponge. To finish, dark and white chocolate shards and candied orange peel make this a real show-stopper.

Vegans will be pleased to note the plant powered pastry – a vegan puff pastry case filled with vegan chocolate ice cream and wild cherry sorbet from Three Hills Gelato. Blackberries, candied nuts, grated chocolate and kirsch cherries complete these black forest gâteau vibes.

The Old Bank, Carlisle

Billing itself at a ‘Gastro House’, The Old Bank in Carlisle is this year celebrating its tenth year in business. Housed inside a historic former bank building on Fisher Street in central Carlisle, where guests can even dine inside parts of the original secure bank vaults, it is founded and operated by local chef Matt Rayson.

The creativity and flambuoyance of the décor is also reflected in his cuisine, with dishes such as the treacle-brushed rump of beef (served pink) with haggis and neep quiche, potato and onion press, mustard glazed baby carrots, wilted greens, black pudding and sour dough crumb and a Bordelaise sauce. Make sure you come hungry as the portions are very generous.

Regular readers will know that I’m a sucker for scallops when I see them on the menu, so I was unable to resist the delicious pan fried Scottish king scallops with crispy braised pork shoulder and cheek press, sweet and sour rhubarb ketchup, fennel and apple slaw and a herb and roast garlic dressing.

My wife on the other hand had the ‘Pea and Ham’ to start – a pea veloute with crispy onion and parmesan sourdough crumb, served with a chive, pease pudding and black bomber cheese tartlet topped with a warm ham hock terrine and piccalilli.

From the ‘Pure Starving!’ section of the menu, I chose the flavoursome chicken Kiev stuffed with curry and roast garlic butter with Bombay style potatoes, cauliflower, red onion and almond salad and a butter curry sauce.

My wife avoided the ‘pure starving’ section of the menu and chose from the kebabs instead – hot honey and sweet chilli halloumi and mixed pepper with garlic brushed flat bread, salt and pepper chips and a hoi sin and 5 spice gravy – which was tasty but equally filling. Maybe the ‘stuff yourself!’ heading should have given it away.

No desserts for us on this occasion but the ‘sinful finisihers’ – if you can manage one – include delights such as the Old Bank ‘Snickers’ bar made from dark chocolate and a peanut butter ganache with a soft toffee centre and shortbread base, served with a banana and malt loaf pudding, candied peanuts and toffee ice cream.

This gem of a place in the heart of Carlisle was deservedly busy and thoroughly deserving of the recognition it’s receiving.

The Mason’s Arms, Strawberry Bank

Renowned for its extensive beer menu, The Mason’s Arms at Strawberry Bank also had one of the most extensive menus of all the pubs we visited, This pub can be found perched on the slopes of Cartmel Fell and, when the weather is favourable enough to sit outside, you’ll be treated to beautiful views over the Winster Valley.

From the ‘Much Loved’ section of the small plates, we particularly enjoyed the nduja prawns and the vegan-friendly sautéed truffled mushrooms – a mix of sautéed chestnut mushrooms, tossed in truffle oil and served on toasted sourdough with a sticky balsamic glaze.

The extensive menu includes a selection of pub classics, with a number of burgers to choose from, served with brioche-style buns, crispy fries and big flavours, to the timeless pub favourites such as the Dizzy Blonde beer-battered fish and chips and their best-selling Unicorn ale and steak pie (tender beef braised in a rich gravy made using their very own Robinsons Unicorn ale). Steaks are on the menu also – always British and served with triple-cooked chips, a crisp onion nest and a signature garlic mushroom gratin.

For an indulgent finish to your meal, try the silky dark chocolate mousse topped with Chantilly cream is light in texture but decadently rich.

And, if you should feel you’ve over-indulged a little, you’ll be glad to know you can walk a little of it off with a short, circular walk from the pub, without the need to drive anywhere first.

The King’s Arms, Hawkshead

The King’s Arms in Hawkshead – another property that we have previously reviewed – is set on the historic square of Hawkshead village, housed in a Grade II Listed 15th Century building.

The main bar and dining areas retain low, traditional wooden-beamed ceilings and there’s a traditional open hearth fireplace perfect for a real log fire in winter. It’s a place that would have likely been frequented by Wordsworth when he returned to Hawkshead on his Summer breaks as a Cambridge undergraduate.

The poached smoked haddock, saffron velouté, wilted spinach and hand-baked focaccia is a wonderful way to begin any meal at The King’s Arms. It’s silky, warm and luxurious, with the salty punch of smoked fish, yet also with the crisp freshness of the greens.

Or why not try the onion bhaji, jalapeno jam, spring onion and chive oil?

From the mains, you’d be hard-pushed to find a better dish than the beef brisket pie with an Eden sunset Cheddar crust, tender ttem broccoli, mash and beef jus.

For an utterly rich alternative, though, look no further than the slow cooked beef cheek, parsnip purée, roasted carrot and potato fondant.

If you can muster room for a dessert, the eyecatching Cranachan cheesecake, oaty snap biscuit, raspberry meringue and raspberry gelato steals the show.

The Dog & Gun Inn, Skelton

The Dog & Gun Inn at Skelton near Penrith is owned and operated by chef Ben Queen-Fryer who opened the pub in 2017. Serving high quality food without losing its unpretentious, local village pub feel has been rewarded with a Michelin Star. As a celebrated gastropub, The Dog & Gun Inn offers a dining experience shaped by exceptional locally-sourced ingredients, thoughtful craftsmanship, and a commitment to quality
that has earned global acclaim.

The twice-baked Torpenhow cheese soufflé is a firm favourite from the tasting menu,

Other dishes to look out for are the sourdough crusted cod with roasted lemon and a vermout butter sauce, and the herb-fed chicken breast with morel mushrooms and asparagus. Another soufflé – the Lyth Valley damson soufflé – is a signature dessert at The Dog and Gun Inn that is typically served with toasted almond or frangipane ice cream and amaretto custard.

Currently on the market, the property comprises of a ground-floor restaurant area, including a welcoming bar and back-bar, along with a professional, fully equipped commercial kitchen designed for the precision required of Michelin-level service, and additional space upstairs.

The Cavendish Arms, Cartmel

Cartmel has enjoyed a growing reputation for its food scene over the last 20 years, with the introduction of Simon Rogan’s L’Enclume which now holds 3 Michelin Stars. Somewhat overshadowed by this are the village’s four pubs; of these, the 450-year old historic stagining inn, The Cavendish Arms, is well worth a visit. Its interior retains original antique features, including stone flagged floors, an open fireplace, and low oak beams.

From the ‘Nibbles & Starters’ we recommend the duck and sesame sausage roll served with a plum and apple chutney or the salt and pepper squid served with a pink peppercorn aioli. The Korean steak tartare, toasted sourdough, saffron aioli, watercress, and pickled chillis, and the seared scallops, cauliflower purée, pancetta, capers and parsley, also both sounded interesting.

From the mains, I was tempted by the Moroccan spiced rare breed pork tagine with a chilli, lime and coriander couscous, harissa, almond and apricot, but instead went veggie and opted for the delicious spiced vegetable and apricot tagine with couscous, tzatziki, harissa and toasted almonds.

I have it on good authority that the roasted salmon with crushed new potatoes, a lightly spiced bisque, mussels and a herb oil was also excellent.

No room for dessert on this occasion but Cartmel sticky toffee pudding and the Cartmel Cheeses’ cheeseboard are regulars on the menu.

For those wanting to venture outdoors, The Cavendish also features a hidden, tucked-away riverside garden at the rear where guests can enjoy a drink beside the River Eea.

Paul Johnson

Paul Johnson is Editor of A Luxury Travel Blog and has worked in the travel industry for more than 30 years. He is Winner of the Innovations in Travel ‘Best Travel Influencer’ Award from WIRED magazine. In addition to other awards, the blog has also been voted “one of the world’s best travel blogs” and “best for luxury” by The Telegraph.

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