The best restaurants in Derwent Valley Allerdale North West

This is full of dogs can't get a seat for dogs sitting on them ,food not that good for what you pay ,beer over 6 pounds a pint, xmas times you have to book a table for food only not a drink so drinkers have to stand not much room leather an mind you don't trip over the dog's

First date we’ve had in a while thought we’d come here as we’re not too far. Went in had a few drinks they were okay. Very small menu expected a decent meal with how little items they had to make. Starters we got Camembert and a salt and pepper chips Camembert good small but good salt and pepper chips good porting nice fried veg. Mains were shocking we got fish and chips it was just white fish and plain batter no salt and pepper in sight. Very greasy just tasted of vegetable oil. The Cajun chicken burger was bad the chicken breast was flat and dry bacon was 80% fat and far too much mayonnaise was just a very underwhelming time to say the least. All in all nice staff, okay drinks and bad food definitely not returning.

It's a nice place and the staff were friendly. However, the food is rather average, in my opinion. The dishes are well presented, but the taste isn't impressive. Some of the sushi rolls had too much sauce you couldn't taste the other flavours in the rolls. Perhaps a bit overpriced for the food taste.

Was so pleasantly surprised to find this famous cafe still open near the end of October. We were mid walk over to Dock Tarn and had a most enjoyable stop off with delicious coffee and the best home made ginger cake and tea bread cake you'll ever find. Just delicious 😋 😊👏

Lunchtime on a wintery day. Popped in for lunch on a cold day. Lovely and cosy, open wood fire, friendly welcome, good beer, delicious food. Lunchtime special Steak pie was superb (not as a previous photo here with a pot faux top) but a proper slice of pie. So tasty. Easily my favourite pub in Braithwaite. Great garden for the summer with wonderful views.

Recently, we dined here for an evening meal while staying in the village. The weather made it too wet to walk into Keswick, so we decided to give this place a try—and we’re so glad we did! The evening was truly enjoyable. The food was excellent, with a good variety to choose from. On top of that, the atmosphere was warm and inviting, with a welcoming vibe that made us feel right at home. It was a delightful experience, and we wouldn’t hesitate to return!

Fantastic hidden gem. We stayed over for a two night stay and we can’t wait to go back. Food is excellent, in fact the only thing I would say is next time I will go without a starter so I can try a dessert! Staff cannot do enough for you, warm, welcoming and nothing is too much. The atmosphere is pleasant and the way the dinning rooms are laid out is great it can be intimate or it can be more involved. Rooms are clean, spacious and the facilities are all there the baths are large and spacious as are the shower cubicles - if you want a place to stay I would HIGHLY recommend the Swinside inn

The festive lunch was ordered by all. Firstly the food for the most part was enjoyed by all 4 pax. However service was lacking both in care and in speed. A set 3 course lunch took 2.5 hours to complete. Dishes were delivered to table without suitable cutlery, serving tray left on the table, 3 pax finished their desserts before the 4th pax received theirs. Waiting staff had to be called for as they passed by, as all, except one, just ignored checking the table meal progress. It appears there is a shortage of staff, but in that case restrict the number of reservations to a level which can be coped with. That said the Brasserie was only a quarter occupied.

A fabulous hidden gem nestled in the sleepy village of Stonethwaite. Delicious food , fabulous service and very friendly staff ! The inn is very interesting with lots of ancient artefacts too .

This cafe is in a great position for walkers and cyclist exploring the Borrowdale valley and it's useful it if you want a quick coffee. We had coffee and cake which was ok without being excellent. But beware, the owners/staff have a very unaccomodating almost mercenary attitude to visitors to the cafe. Lots of smiles, but you can't use the loo or get some tap water for your water bottle unless you've bought something (expensive). My husband summed it up; "You can just hear Basil Fawlty saying "yes, well, that's cost me hasn't it!"". Also they don't allow dogs and any dog owner will tell you what that suggests. Sorry, some staff training is needed - Manuel has obviosuly left.

One year later from posting the last review. aJust back from another wonderful weekend at Portinscale. Nice old hotel very handy for walking into Keswick no worries about parking. The food was very nice again so big thanks to the chef. Nice grounds set on the edge of the lake. We had a lake view room again so that was a big plus for us. All the staff were very friendly a thank you to Pauline for being so kind. Going back again.

The Ladore Falls is a lovely old hotel which we have enjoyed a number of times over the years. My wife and I are an elderly retires business couple and booked a three night stay from September 8th 2020. Jane is recovering from major abdominal surgery and the trip was her first few days away after many weeks. We arrived after a 120 mile trip at 5pm tired and parked my wife’s modesty sized red sports car outside the main entrance while we unloaded our luggage. we queued at the reception desk and I asked if someone could help with 2 suit cases and 2 suit bags. A member of staff said she would try to accommodate us. At this point we were unfortunate enough to meet the General Manager although he did not introduce himself as such. “No we cannot help with luggage it may be contaminated” was his response. We moved towards the lift and he said “ I hope you are not going to leave your car there too long”. He was not impolite, just cold and totally disinterested. I asked how would people with more serious disabilities would manage. His response was “They simply wouldn’t come here”was his response. The lift holds 2 people and with luggage is very difficult especially as I have a chronic back condition. We arrived at room 331 and as we opened the door found another flight of narrow stairs to the room. By this time we were both exhausted. The room was comfortable but a little dated and there was a magnificent view over the lake. We found no soap in the bathroom and the shower tray had black mould around the edges. We found the bar area comfortable and the staff friendly and attentive if a little over familiar. As we sat there over a bottle of wine it was obvious that there was a training program. A number of people complained about wrong orders and excessive waits. Dinner on the first night was excellent. Food quality was good and the restaurant manager was first class. Dinner on the second night was also good but we waited 40 minutes between courses. Breakfast on both the mornings of our stay was first class. When we arrived back to the hotel after our first day we found dirty towels, dirty wine glasses, still no soap and an unmade bed. I tried for 10 minutes to contact reception with no response. We were eventually told that that because of COVID rooms were only serviced every third day. It was at this point we decided to go home and forego our final nights stay. We asked to see the manager and eventually a gentleman called Ritchie interviewed us and agreed to refund £320. He said COVID had presented great difficulties, which of course we understand. East European staff had returned home after lockdown. New summer staff had been recruited on the hotel reopening but with little or no time to train them properly. Government and head office policy was changing daily which was causing difficulty in running the business. Our conclusion is one of understanding, but also disappointment. £960 for a three night stay under these conditions is not acceptable. Had the general manager been more understanding and informative at the start we would probably have stayed the three nights. Our 6 star hotel in Beverley is the place we will remain for the foreseeable future. We did get one night refund for £320 for the night we didn’t stayRead lessDate of experience: September 2020

Amazing find! Ate here last night after staying in Rosthwaite and having limited options as we had not booked anywhere in advance. We were greater by really friendly staff, a cosy informal atmosphere and a great menu. I am usually a bit dubious about pub fish and chippy, usually preferring to go to an actual chippy, but WOW! They were amazing! We were both really impressed. Great portions after a day walking in Borrowdale and so so tasty. Good range of beers on tap too.

Having visited Grange River Cafe, I am at a loss to reconcile the poor reviews which I have read. I have visited this beautiful cafe on several occasions over a number of years both with my family/ children and as a solo walker, at the end of many a walk in the Borrowdale area, I have always looked forward to ending my walk sitting having tea and scones on a fine day or one of the excellent homemade soups on a wet one. I have spent many a good conversation with both the Lady and Gentleman owners who have always been not only courteous, but engaged in good conversation.