The Lily, Ambleside

This is a nicely presented modern bar with, as Old Boots noted two years ago, "stone and wood walls, flag floors and big clear windows". On the bar were three hand pumps with just two beers on at the time of my Monday evening visit in December. I went for Cumbrian Esthwaite Bitter, a beer I'd had earlier in the year at one of my favourite Lake District beer houses, the Brook House Inn in Eskdale, and I'm pleased to report it was equally as good here (NBSS 3.5), and I told the server what a nice drink it was as I returned my glass, which got a good reaction. There's a good feel about this place, and it's not often that I note how good the background music was, but that's what it says in my note book.

Exactly 12 years to the day since my last visit to Ambleside, I returned yesterday to try another couple of this lakeside town's hostelries. The Lily Bar was my first stop. It's quite a modern bar, with a single room and 3 real ales on handpull. Cumbrian Ales Loweswater Gold was on, along with a couple of guests both from Bowness Bay - Raven Red & Swan Blonde Director's Cut. I initially ordered the Raven Red, but it was clearly off. The barman changed it without any fuss, admitting that it was near the end of the barrel. Instead, I opted for the other Bowness Bay beer, brewed to celebrate the brewery's 10th anniversary. It was a very good choice indeed and far superior to their original Swan Blonde which I was to try again later in the evening. A number of large groups were in, which made the atmosphere quite rowdy. But I wouldn't rule out a return visit if ever this way again.

Modern bar with stone and wood walls, flag floors and big clear windows. Four pulls of local beers, ok quality but I’d had a few by then so don’t take my word for it.

Official site of The Lily - www.thelilybar.co.uk

Official site of The Lily - www.thelilybar.co.uk