Brackenrigg Inn, Penrith

A roadside inn with superb views across and to the head of Ullswater. The bar has been refurbished in modern style with plenty of wood (tables, chairs, floor, partitions - with stained glass - and panelling on the walls). The tables and chairs are crammed in very awkwardly with very little elbow room. There were six hand pumps, four available serving a cider and three ales: Tirril Brackenrigg (a rebadged house bitter), Loweswater Gold and Coniston Bluebird, all in the pale and bland or fruity modern style. There was subdued 70s music on the CD player and a notice on the wall promised "new menu coming soon", but this referred to food, I believe. Soup was available for £4.20, and for those with a bit more of an appetite there was sausage and mash for £12.95. Vegetarians (like me) could look forward to butternut squash and blue cheese risotto for only £11.95. Beer was well over £3 a pint.