please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
I have passed by several times recently and although the adjacent road is still single lane and controlled by traffic lights there appears to be no recent progress made at all. Nobody seems to be working on the building and I have seen no workmen's vans there at any time. According to the notice outside it should be reopening in early Summer 2015 but they seem to have got the year wrong. Such a shame, but I suppose the Mortal Man's takings must have rocketed in the last year or so.
|
After standing empty for months it is now finally being restored and is presently covered in a cocoon of scaffolding and plastic sheeting to protect what is obviously a sensitive and complex building project. I understand that the downstairs public areas including the four poster bar etc. were left relatively intact and hope that the phoenix will truly rise again in its old image. Having visited many times over the years, in my experience the ales and food were always top class and the service friendly and efficient. I look forward to walking over Wansfell from Ambleside and stopping there for my lunchbreak again before too long.
|
I have been meaning to make this post for a few months.
I was saddened to hear of the fire - I stayed at this pub in the middle of winter a few years ago and it was superb. The location, the food (fab lang shanks I recall), the service and the beer were top notch.
I do hope it can rise phoenix-like.
P-p
|
Sadly, the Queens Head was burned down on Saturday 7th June.
Totally ruined what was a very good pub.
57(!) Firefighters attended from Kendal, Windermere, Ambleside, Coniston, Milnthorpe, Staveley, Patterdale, Ulverston, Penrith and Barrow.
Nobody was hurt, fortunately.
|
Popped in after a climb on Sour Howes and Sallows. Lovely looking building and a claim to be the home of the four poster bar. Quick pint of XB, sat in front of a nice open fire. Bet the food is excellent.
|
Stayed here two nights - accommodation was good to be fair. Only meal I had was cooked English breakfast with coffee which was £12.50 supplement on top of room - steep but reasonable quality. Ales - Robinsons (yawn), why is Robinsons so prevalent in Lake District when there are so many quality breweries in the area? I went and drank Cumbrian ales at Mortal Man up the road but did have half pint of Old Tom on my return and it was in good condition.
|
superb olde front rooms - with bar made out of 4 poster bed. 8 hand pumps with large range of Robinson ales, although not all are in use. Ale pretty good for Robinsons but beware to bring a deep wallet - a pint of Cumbria Way and half a pint of Coke cost £5.50!!
|
The range of beers are still as in the review below this one, but I agree that they are well kept. Two roaring fires in the winter are very welcoming. Great centuries old inn and the food here is excellent. Always visit for lunch when I'm in The Lakes, which is almost once a month. Sausage and mash is very good as is the fish n chips - small portion of chips though but two large fish fillets make up for it. Well worth a visit!
|
This pub is now (has been for a while, in truth) a Robinsons pub and thus sells a range of their beers: XB, Cumbria Way, Dizzy Blonde, Double Hop, Old Tom etc. Whilst I am not sure that these are the best of beers in Cumbria, they are good enough and well kept, in my experience at the Queens Head, which remains one of my favourite post walk pubs.
|
Food was excellent, although the portion sizes were not exactly huge (good in the City, not so if you've walked for 10 miles earlier), and beautifully presented. Did think that �6.50 for Cheese and Biscuits was a bit steep. That said three courses plus a bottle of wine for �80 wasn't too bad. Hawkshead Bitter was well kept and the overall ambience was superb. Recommended by a former boss, we're still talking.
|
Visited this pub for lunch as part of a really nice circular walk around Wansfell Pike from Ambleside. As someone else has remarked, the portions could be bigger but the food was really nice, the best we had in the week we stayed in the area and only slightly more expensive than the other pubs we ate in. Also a decent selection of well kept real ale on offer. Definitely recommended if your not on a budget.
anonymous - 10 Jun 2007 17:03 |
After spending a glorious July Sunday evening on an empty Red Screes (empty by 7pm with the whole of the Lakes still spread before one), I picked the Queens for my post walk pint. There was a good choice of beer (Jennings Cocker Hoop perhaps the best on that evening but also beer by Hawkshead and Coniston available) and, sitting outside that evening, it wasn't very busy. The inside is surprisingly large but pleasantly broken up into smaller rooms. Asking a diner who was paying at the bar about the food, I got only a fairly cautious recommendation (portions perhaps rather small for the standardly high Lake District prices) but I will certainly try eating there myself.
|
One of the best lakeland pubs with excellent food and beer. Sunny garden and log fires inside.
Sid98 - 21 May 2006 00:44 |
It is in the good pub guide! I used to work at this pub and it has excellent food, excellent rooms and well kept drinks, as an ex live in staff member I believe it also has excellent staff! Well trained and dedicated chefs and management with a vast array of nationalities serving food and drink, the resturant area is lovely for a romantic night out
anonymous - 2 Mar 2005 15:20 |
First rate Lakes pub - great beer and food. Get there before 6pm on a summer Saturday to get a seat. Can't believe it is not in the guide as it must be close to a 10/10 rating - accomodation as well.
David Saint - 10 Feb 2004 10:37 |
