Wheatsheaf Hotel, Kendal

The rather scruffy outward appearance of this pub hides what might almost be classed as a hidden gem, because this is probably one of the nicer pubs in Kendal, just shaded perhaps by its near neighbour the Ring O'Bells. The Kendal one-way system, which rivals in shape, complexity, narrowness and speed the Grand Prix circuit at Monaco, sends congested traffic hurtling by at a million miles an hour, and it's doubtful if as many as one in a hundred of the people in their tin cans are even aware of the existence of this pub (even the Ring gets more attention, being on the slower outside of the bend by the church). Being at the far end of the main street, away from the shops and the tourist traps, and the wrong side of the road from Abbot Hall, the Wheatsheaf suffers a triple whammy of deprivation. All the above being said, it's remarkable that there's a bit of a real ale scene going on here. It's even mentioned in the local Camra newsletter that there's a discount for members, though I didn't see this advertised in the pub (and my card's out of date anyhow). There were only two beers on here on my Tuesday evening visit, but I was assured that there are more at busier times, and there's testament to this in the large number of pump clips amongst the bottles on the bar back. Just Lancaster Blonde and Hawkshead Bitter to choose from, then, but I would say worth coming back to in hope of a broader choice another time.