The Waterhead Inn, Ambleside

After seeing this landmark hotel having an extensive refurbishment on my visits to Ambleside last winter and early spring, I thought it was about time I called in for a beer. The original building was on the A591 but although there is an entrance there still, activity has extended to the rear which has almost turned the whole hotel around to face the lake. I entered by a corner door nearest to the pier which leads through a sort of lobby and into the bar, which is on three levels with a couple of steps and a slight turn between different parts of the extended building. Everything is very smart, very expensive and in very poor taste, the trademark of the Inn Collection Group. On the bar there were two hand pumps with Hawkshead Gold and Bowness Bay Fell Walker. I went for the latter, which was poured into a slightly warm glass which I reckon shouldn't have accounted on its own for the beer's lack of condition (NBSS 2) and taste, but it certainly made sure the beer was nearer to room temperature than the recommended 11 degrees. Not my idea of a good pub experience, but as I'd only ordered a half, it only set me back £2.50 and about 20 minutes.