Our pick of the pubs in Ambleside
There’s no shortage of pubs in Ambleside to get a thirst-quenching drink or a hunger-busting meal after a day’s exertion on the fells, a cruise on the lake or an exhausting session at the shops.
The many Dog friendly pubs of Ambleside
Here’s our pick of the best spots to relax, unwind, eat some good grub and have a drink before you head back to your holiday cottage.
Long-gone are the days when your canine companions were made to sit outside when you went out for a drink or something to eat.
Ambleside is full of dog-friendly pubs that will welcome your pet. Some pubs even have special doggy menus.
Golden Rule
The golden rule when you visit Ambleside in search of a proper, old-school pub is that you must go for a drink at Golden Rule.
They don’t serve food, there’s no background music, no big-screen televisions and no games machines to disturb the hum of conversation, beer supping and board game playing.
Serving a wide range of cask ales, draught lagers, fine wines and spirits in a traditional setting (there’s a log fire for chillier days and nights), everyone’s welcome – including your four-legged friends.
The Wateredge Inn
As its name suggests, The Wateredge Inn enjoys an enviable position on the banks of Windermere. In the warmer months you can sit out on the waterfront terrace or in the beer garden to relax with your drink and watch the world go by on the lake.
It even has its own private jetty if you decide to arrive by boat. If you’re feeling hungry, you can enjoy a tasty, home-cooked meal from the seasonal menu, which has all the usual pub classics you’d expect, along with hand-rolled pizza from the stone pizza oven.
And there’s plenty of space for your pooches (or children) to run around outside too.
The Lily Bar
Styling itself as Ambleside’s only independent pub, The Lily Bar also has live music every weekend, hosts a comedy night every couple of months, and puts on a quiz night every Wednesday. Count us in.
Serving local ales and tasty food, you can also sip a cocktail or two in this lively bar. The regularly changing menu is short but interesting, with dishes like Chicken saltimbocca, and Spaghetti with king prawns and squid rubbing shoulders with reliable pub classics like Beer battered fish and chips, and Rump steak.
The Flying Fleece
Formerly a fulling mill (a place where woven cloth was cleansed) this grade II listed building is now a relaxed and welcoming traditional Lake District hostelry – although you can still see the working weir, millrace and other bits of machinery.
Serving taste bud-tempting seasonal food using locally sourced ingredients, a thirst-slaking range of real ales, fine wines, premium lagers and spirits, The Flying Fleece is dog-friendly, child-friendly and has an open fire too – in short, everything you’d from a decent boozer, including great service.
The Ambleside Inn
You can find The Ambleside Inn in the centre of, you guessed it – Ambleside, where it’s been around for more than 300 years.
Rustic, welcoming and cosy inside, it also has a terrace for al fresco supping in the summer months and welcomes muddy boots and muddy paws alike. It’s a place where perfect pints are pulled, excellent wines are poured, and colourful cocktails are mixed.
And the menu is top-notch too – with pub classics the order of the day, along with seasonal and daily specials and a choice of roasts on Sunday.
The Drunken Duck Inn
Sitting on an isolated crossroads (yet only a short drive from Ambleside), travellers come from far and wide to visit The Drunken Duck for a drink and a bite to eat. When you get there, you’ll see why.
In a picture-postcard setting, with dramatic views of the surrounding fells, it’s been a pub for most of its 300 years, and even has its own micro-brewery – Barngates Brewery.
Given a nod from the Michelin guide for its food, you can rock up and eat in the relaxed bar area or book into the more formal restaurant.
Either way, you won’t be disappointed – though booking ahead is recommended if you want to get a table.
The Unicorn
The welcome is warm, the food is hot and tasty, the beer is perfectly pulled – sounds about right. The Unicorn does exist. You can find this cosy and traditional gem of a Lake District pub down a side street in Ambleside.
A former coaching inn of over 300 years standing – making it the oldest pub in town – it serves up a menu of home-cooked pub classics, including a cracking Sunday roast by all accounts, a selection of ales (there’s always at least four on tap), and wines, spirits and soft drinks for designated drivers.
They also host a regular pub quiz and live music nights. And yes, it’s dog-friendly too.
The Royal Oak
Everyone’s welcome at the Royal Oak, and that includes your precious pooch – there’s even a doggy menu from Mr Woofchester’s.
A family-friendly pub at the heart of the community, there’s regular live music to tap your toes (and paws) to, quiz nights to test your knowledge, and a tasty menu of pub classics to fill you up after a hike – we’ve heard good things about the goulash.
A seating area out the front makes a lovely spot to enjoy a craft ale or two while watching the world go by. Looking for a feed on a Sunday? You’ll find a great choice of roasts.
Cottages in Ambleside
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