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Chat about:
New pub visits 2024 with Bucking Fastard
on the Pub Forum
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 8 of 10) see review guidelines
Pub SignMan left this review about The Factory Tap
This is a compact, modern bar set in an interesting old mill house building that now borders a small industrial estate. You enter into a bare boarded main bar area with the servery immediately to the right and a small, but cosy seating area opposite. The bar has a chunky, white wood panelled counter and cramped bar back that has been squeezed beneath a staircase. Banquette seating runs along the front and left-hand walls, with tub chairs in support and a rustic looking high table and stools on the back wall. Exposed stone walls and lots of modern beams crossing the ceiling, give the room some character, having been retained as original features. Decor is limited to a couple of old paintings, some blackboards and an unused TV screen, but it's worrh noting the nice stained glass pane above a back door that leads out to a rear, patio beer garden, with another such patio area also available out the front. The window sills are full of antique tat such as a carpet beater, an old radio, large vases and jugs, various lamps and so on. Stairs to the side of the bar lead up to an unexplored first floor seating area, which must be a decent size judging by the number of people heading up there.
I was surprised to find no less than six operational handpulls, dotted around the curved bar counter, offering a choice between Handsome Blonde and Blacksmith, Abbeydale Heathen, Castle Eden Bitter, Fyne Ales Jarl and one other that I failed to note. Service was prompt and friendly and my pint of the Blacksmith was in great shape and slipped down very nicely.
On approach, I wasn't too sure what to make of this place, but it turned out to be a pretty good pub, with a pleasant interior making good use of an attractive old building, some excellent ale on the bar and friendly service. It's clearly popular with the locals and was a real highlight of my time in Kendal.
Date of visit - 14th January 2024
On 7th April 2024
- rating: 8
[User has posted 3114 recommendations about 3114 pubs]
Ian Mapp left this review about The Factory Tap
Lovely Tap Room of (as far as I can tell) no particular brewery.
Seemed to split over two floors, with a mezzanine upstairs investigated. Downstairs brightly lit with a pubby feel.
Great beer choice and although our first round contained Fyne Jarl that was at the end of the barrel, those in our party that stuck with it were rewarded with a perfect representation.
It was a wrench to get my colleagues to leave, but there was much to explore in town for first time visitors.
On 27th February 2024
- rating: 8
[User has posted 1344 recommendations about 1330 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Will Larter left this review about The Factory Tap
No longer the brewery tap for Bowness Bay, which is now next door at the Barrel House, this is a proper pub that now features mostly local beers from the likes of Gan Yam, Fell and Handsome, with one interloper in the shape of Fyne Jarl when I was here last week. The beers I tried were in very good condition, with Fell Crag being the best I've ever had of this bitter (NBSS 4) and even the taster of Gan Yam Ken, a Kendal Mint Cake stout (which I only tasted out of politeness), was in great nick despite being pretty disgusting. Service was friendly and welcoming - if you're in a pub in the centre of town this one is well worth the short walk and dodging the traffic to reach.
On 13th February 2023
- rating: 8
[User has posted 3748 recommendations about 3484 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Will Larter left this review about The Factory Tap
This is the brewery tap of Bowness Bay brewery, which despite the name is situated on this industrial estate in Kendal. The whole range of beers appears on the bar - or at least seven of them did at the time of my visit, augmented by one guest. The pub is a basic work-in-progress refurbishment of what may have been a foreman's cottage, or some such. It's all bare walls and salvaged materials, but there's a lively atmosphere and an infectious enthusiasm from both staff and customers. My reviews of other pubs in Kendal have thrown up so many instances of beers from outside the area, that this place is a complete breath of fresh air. I hope that, rather than this being the only Kendal outlet for local beer, this example encourages other landlords and pubcos to look for local beers that will tickle the taste buds of their customers in the way that Bowness Bay's beer range clearly does for the customers I saw having such a good time at their brewery tap.
Date of visit: 28th May 2016
On 15th September 2016
- rating: 7
[User has posted 3748 recommendations about 3484 pubs]