Four in Hand, Keswickback to pub details please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Formerly the Four In Hand, in the late eighties this pub was mysteriously adorned with pictures of Gloria Hunniford. Now renamed The Wainwright and a CAMRA West Country Pub of the Year.
Seven handpumps including, on my visit, Bowness Bay Steamer IPA, Barngates Goodhews Dry Stout, Fell Brewery Tinderbox IPA and Ennerdale Horseshoe. I had pints of the latter two. When I asked if the sparkler could be removed, the barman responded with 'You're hard work aren't you?' When told that the sparkler kills the beer he replied 'THIS kiils the beer'. I wondered what this charmless individual was doing working in a pub, especially a CAMRA affiliated pub. He's bald, heavily tanned and a Scouser, if anyone is wondering who I am referring to. Hopefully he no longer works there.
Needless to say, the pint was crap. I won't be rushing back.
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As has been said, this much-changed place is now one of the best in Keswick (though I still prefer the Dog & Gun, but that is usually VERY crowded). A v pretty good food as well. A very good selection of beers, many local, and good food in enormous portions. 8/10
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Another re-visit from last years holiday and boy has this place changed, when we were here a year ago the pub had just reopened and was having a few teething troubles, its certainly grown since then.
Another pub that does a very good trade on food, but the Wainwright has more about it than just food. Its got a full wooden floor, the walls are wooden panelled and adorned with pictures, drawings and maps of the locals hills, walks and fells.
All of the doors internal and external have coloured stained glass panels.
The pub prides itself on selling Cumbrian ales with 6 available on this visit from the 8 hand pumps. A quick check of the pumps and I can report that the ales were from within a 50 miles radius of the pub.
I had pints of Stringers (from Ulverston) The North will rise again @ 4.9% and Cumberland Breweries (from near Carlisle) Great Corby @ 4.5%, both very well kept ales. All ales are 10% off with a Camra card, that'll do for me.
A good buzz about the pub now, it really has established itself as a top quality real ale outlet. No fruit machines or quiz machines, music played softly with the most noise coming from chatter.
The men's toilets are fully tiled & resemble a Victorian washroom, they are mightily impressive.
Scores highly for me for the ales and the impressive interior.
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As has been mentioned, this pub is now called the Wainwright pub. We were passing by and saw on the beer board outside that they had a 6.5% American Pale ale on. Prices weren't too bad - and the 10% CAMRA discount helped too. The beer was in very good condition. My only complaint is that when our pints were being pulled, the two girls serving carried on their conversation with each other almost as if we'd intruded on them having a chat.
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****Re-opened in early May 2015 as The Wainwright Pub****
This review is from my visit on 12/7/15.
Billed as Keswick's newest pub the Wainwright is a free house at the top of the High Street. Only been open 10 weeks when I visited on a Sunday afternoon and it was pretty busy.
6 hand pumps with 5 ales from the lakes and 1 from Lancaster. I went for a pint of Tirril Brewery Borrowdale Bitter @ 4.2%. Camra card holders get a 10% discount which is always nice.
Wooden floor's throughout & neutral decor with prints and maps on the walls of the local area.
The young lady behind the bar who was possibly the manager was very nice and was serving everyone on her own while the lad who was hanging around seemed pretty useless.
A good start to my holiday in Keswick, lots of pubs to visit here & I aim to do as many as possible!
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Currently closed and up for sale (for "offers greater than £129,500"). With the new 'Spoons opened last week in Keswick, I doubt this place will see the light of day again.
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I don't recognise the pub that I visited from the negative comments below. Good range of Jennings beers at a price charged elsewhere in the country plus friendly and welcoming staff. Didn't eat as we got in too late for food. Pub was very comfortable. Plus very handy for George Fishers.
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This is a pub which basically takes the p**s out of drinkers. During Easter I went in for a drink with my girlfriend and was amazed to see Jennings Snecklifter at �3.30 a pint. Needless to say I didn't order any and shan't be going in again. At prices like this it's no wonder the pub trade is in trouble. If you fancy a decent (and cheaper) drink in a relaxed atmosphere try the Square Orange around the corner.
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Agree about the price of drinks. �2.95 for a pint of bitter is a bit over the top although the Sneck Lifter was served well. Food we had was OK. Pub certainly needs a refurb as it was looking a little worn on our recent visit.
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On Saturday the 18th October 2008, my partner and I went to the Four in Hand pub in Keswick for a meal and to dry out after a wet walk. The interior had a dog-eared, under-maintained feel to it, but it was lovely and warm and everywhere else in Keswick was full, so we decided to stay as we only had a couple of hours before the theatre. I was charged over �6 for 2 drinks and then we ordered food - a bowl of mushroom soup each and tachos to share. The tachos had some nondescript bland cheese sprinkled over the top which had been superheated in a microwave, resulting in rock hard cheese holding together a large lump of soggy tachos. This was served with half a tub of mayonnaise, salsa out of a jar and 2 large onions, roughly hewn. This, however, was a delight compared to the mushroom soup! First impressions were of a bowl of watered down tar, with some curdled streaks of white liquid slowly sinking into the middle. Anyway, always ready for a challenge we tasted it. It was disgusting. Completely disgusting. We suspect the "soup" had been made by pouring boiled water into 2 bowls, dumping in a handful of dried field mushrooms, then throwing in half a jar of black pepper. It was tasteless, watery and very very peppery. After several attempts, we gave up and my partner sent it back to a shrug of indifference from the waitress and no offer of a refund. Do not go to this pub, even if you're cold, wet and hungry. You will waste your money. This is clearly a pub whose only goal is to rip off the tourists. Cumbria doesn't need boozers like this, with no concept of Customer or Quality.
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should be the best in keswick but something has gone very wrong a this once great pub,when it was the firs to go smoking it did well but now they all are it is unforgivable ope something changes cos i miss going in there
Amigo - 11 Jan 2008 19:18 |
Bar staff seemed a little disinterested and I would describe the decor as "having seen better days" rather than grubby. These are the bad points.
On the up-side, the beer was very good, Jennings beers plus excellent Black Sheep. The food was also good, particularly the pies which were homemade (or if not, very good imitations of homemade). Chicken goujon starter was average but the main courses and deserts were very good and generous portions too.
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I don't know what's happening at this place, the staff look depressed and demoralised. The pub is grubby, sticky, and worst of all - the food is absolutely awful, the worst I've had in years. The only think I could stomach on the plate were the chips, which isn't saying much as frozen oven chips are hardly difficult to cook.
I ordered a vegetable kebab, which consisted of a couple of massive clumps of soggy onion, some rank old shrivelled mushrooms, a few sliced peppers, and a lot of new potatoes - who serves new potatoes with chips (and on cold kebab skewers)? Maybe the cook doesn't know chips and potato are the same vegetable, or more likely they don't care. The accompanying pitta bread was like a piece of dried up cardboard.
Putting a few boiled tasteless vegetables on a cold skewer does not a kebab make. Avoid the Four in Hand at all costs as there are some smart and welcoming restaurants in Keswick.
anonymous - 9 Sep 2007 17:53 |
well wot can i say about this pub!? the best in keswick by far!!
staff were excellent,clean and friendly!
pub was clean and polite!
food was outstanding!!
smoke free environment is 10/10, just like the rating i give it!!
as for the smell all i could smell was lovely homecooked meals!!
beautiful!!
anonymous - 7 Jun 2007 16:59 |
i have been to this pub several times and since it went none smoking abount 2 years ago it is a loveley place to eat the staff are really nice, lovely uniforms, i know what you mean abount the smell of draines but if you had been botherd to ask abount it you would of find out that the smell is coming from the street underground.i was told that the water bord had been informd and thay are still waiting for them to sort it out.all i can say is what a shame the authorites in keswick take so long..anyway i always enjoy my meals there and it is one of few pubs in keswick that really do do home cooking fresh veg e.t.c
anonymous - 3 Jun 2007 23:56 |
Yep, the smell of the open drains and the barely alive bar staff had the same affect on me as it did on Tina. So depresseed by the whole plce i cn hdly spek.
What a dump this pub is.
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iya i fink d pub iz wiked spec sum1 who works in d kitchen n dat lee hawkins he rulz1 luv ya lil t
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