Twa Dogs Inn, Keswick

The Twa Dogs is probably not a pub I'd have headed out of town for normally. However, I was staying the night here and thought it would be rude not to stop for a quick half before heading to the centre. Whilst it is a Marston's pub, they also had a non-Marston's beer which also helped sway my decision. The main bar is L-shaped, with an adjoining room at one end containing a pool table and dartboard. There is also a second dartboard in the main room along with a couple of TVs. Dog treats on the bar suggest that canines are welcome. Although, none were present on my early Wednesday evening visit. There were however a few customers in, along with several outdoors to the front of the pub. Most of the customers were fairly young locals. By the time I'd checked in, had a drink and was about to leave, numbers had already begun to thin out. By the time I returned at about 10:45pm, the pub was closed and in complete darkness. So much for the pub's advertised 11pm closing time and it was a good job I'd sussed out how to get back in the pub and to my room after time. The two cask ales on were Banks's Bitter & Keswick Thirst Quencher. A third handpull was unclipped. Neck Oil was the best of the keg options, with ciders represented by Inch's & Strongbow Dark Fruits. A few had ordered some fairly basic pub grub, whilst my room was fairly sizeable and good value for the town. So, I wouldn't hesitate to stay here again. As a pub, it was nice to have a local Keswick beer, but with so many better options in town, I wouldn't choose to drink ( or eat) here again.

I found the Twa Dogs at what the landlord told me was the quietest time of year: the pre-Christmas lull. The area around the pub has numerous guest houses, it seems, and in season the pub can get quite busy. It's a good ten or fifteen minute walk from the town centre though, so it is understandable that holidaymakers come here rather than going into town for their food and drink. By the same token, no one except a pub reviewer had bothered to walk out of town this night: I was the only customer. There are two banks of three hand pumps with Jennings Bitter and Cocker Hoop the only beers. The Bitter was getting a bit old, but with the pub being so quiet I wasn't going to complain. The landlord was a pleasant chap, and we watched the darts on TV together for a few minutes before I walked back into town. Date of visit: 17th December 2017

Official site of the Twa Dogs Inn - www.twadogs.co.uk

Official site of the Twa Dogs Inn - www.twadogs.co.uk