Union Tavern, Kendal

The final pub of my enjoyable crawl around Kendal, this is a quality ale house near the top end of town. You enter into a wide, carpeted room with the servery directly opposite the entrance. The bar has a simple, boxy, dark wood counter and a relatively plain, but well-stocked bar back. There are lots of nice padded chairs in the two seating areas to either side of the entrance, with a few tub chairs as well to the right. These were arranged in front of a much needed, lit stone fireplace, with details of some of the pub's many CAMRA awards listed above, although there was no sign of the actual certificates. A TV screen here remained switched off for the duration of my stay, despite locals watching some live football from their laptop in one corner, whilst indie tunes played in the background. Beer and cider boards on far right-hand wall were a handy reference point, whilst other interesting items included a whisky box collection in a window sill and an upright piano to the rear right, with a pile of old Good Beer Guides on top. After having just visited the Indie Craft Bar in the town centre, this turned out to be another pub with a bit of a Mancunian fixation, thanks to a small group of Man United fans watching the football and an Oasis-dominated sountrack playing in the background. . The pub must have one of the best cask ale ranges in town, with options on this visit amounting to Fyne Ales Jarl, Barngates Goodhew's Dry Stout, Milestone Little John and Lakes Brew Co Pale Ale. In addition to this, there were three craft keg brews from Lakes, Kernel and Fyne and no less that nineteen cider and perry options. The lone barman was supremely personable and served up an outstanding pint of the Pale Ale. By some stroke of good fortune, my onward train was still some time away so I was able to stay and sample the equally excellent Dry Stout as well. I loved this pub, which felt like a real stand out in the town's strong pub scene. The beer quality alone would be enough to get me back through the doors every night, but the comfortable, relaxed environment and super-friendly service topped things off nicely, making this an absolute 'must-do'. Date of visit - 14th January 2024

My wish, seven years ago, that this pub would improve from what I perceived as a bit of a low point, has been fulfilled. Externally, it's still pretty scruffy, and still says Union Tavern rather than New Union, but if they can't be bothered to paint the building it's a bit much to expect them to rename it too. However, since 2019 it has been a regular winner of the local Camra branch's pub of the year and cider pub of the year. My recent visit was my first for a long time and it has definitely improved. My half of Westmorland Copper Dragon - nothing to do with the old Copper Dragon brewery, but I've not been able to find out anything about Westmorland except that it started in 2015, with a lapse caused by the Storm Desmond floods - was a very good beer, very well kept and presented (NBSS 4). The guy behind the bar was very keen and so enthusiastic about beers that I had no time at all to look around and certainly didn't make any notes, so this review is entirely based on memory. It looks like I might have to go back again soon.

Camra's National Cider Pub of the Year 2019 https://www.camra.org.uk/press_release/newly-re-opened-pub-in-kendal-wins-national-cider-award/