Dockray Hall, Penrith

hmm, weird. Pleasant old pub with some interesting features in both the bar and side rooms, but they need to sack their interior design team. Weird garish coloured furniture, limited seating due to a very poor use of space, and an absurd picture of a cat with sunglasses. This is Penrith, not Shoreditch. Two decent local ales on, Windermere IPA and Loweswater Gold, and service was okay but it felt a little pretentious to me.

Interesting looking building that thankfully still has a characterful interior. The bar area in the centre has a slightly raised dining area to the right, one dining room to the left and another to the rear. Loweswater Gold from Cumbrian Ales and Tirril Windermere IPA (£3.80) from two of the three handpumps.

This was the best of the three pubs I ventured into in Penrith back in October 2017 in terms of real ale. Four hand pulls at the bar, all offering Cumbrian Legendary Ales - Vanilla Oatmeal Stout, Esthwaite Bitter, Mosaic and Loweswater Gold. I tried the Vanilla Oatmeal Stout and the Esthwaite Bitter, both at £1.75 for a half. About the same price as the Board & Elbow but much better beer. Service was friendly. There does seem to be a focus on food but drinkers are also welcome. There are additional rooms to the left and rear of the pub which I did not investigate, so it's bigger than it initially looks. Always good to try something new on the beer front, and with that in mind I would happily return to the Dockray Hall when next in Penrith.

My first visit for more than five years and first since the change of name, too. Four ales from Cumbrian legendary Ales, as per previous reviewer, with the line-up on this occasion being Vanilla Oatmeal Stout, Mosaic, Loweswater Gold and Esthwaite Bitter. The pub seems food oriented to me, with not much atmosphere of an afternoon. My notes written at the time say "No background music. Feels much classier." Possibly the latter is the consequence of the former - who knows? Date of visit: 5th May 2017