Black Swan Inn, Ravenstonedale, Kirkby Stephen

This hotel is a very attractive stone building, dominating a corner in the centre of the village. Smart without and within, this upmarket establishment nevertheless features a more homely entrance to its public bar, which forms a meeting place for village regulars of the drinking persuasion. Staying nearby on the night of the Euro 2016 football final, I joined them to watch the match, the tedium of the play being ameliorated to some extent by the excellent beer, the enjoyable company and the friendly bar staff. There are four hand pumps, with Timothy Taylor Boltmaker and Black Sheep Bitter joined by guests from Independent Lakeland Breweries. I went for the Boltmaker, which was well kept, and Strands Dark Night, which became more and more appropriate as the clouds came over and the rain came down. It was also a pretty decent drink, and I reluctantly declined another as extra time loomed, preferring to return to my tent while there was still enough light to identify the rapidly deepening puddles in the roads. Date of visit: 10th July 2016

Official site of the Black Swan Hotel - www.blackswanhotel.com

Official site of the Black Swan Hotel - www.blackswanhotel.com