Lakers Bar (Castle Inn Hotel), Keswick

This is a hotel bar with no character about it at all. The textured wallpaper was matched by the curtains, and there were low leather chairs and sofas, a modern light wood floor and bar to match. If it hadn't been for the wind outside overcoming the latch and sending a Cumbrian gale into the room from time to time, I could have been in any Great Western hotel in the land. I approached the bar and asked for a half of bitter. The person who appeared to be a manager rather than a barman asked which one I would like. As Theakstons Best was the only beer on the bar, I thought this displayed a remarkable ignorance, though to be fair there were other hand pumps (empty ones). I was the only customer here on a Saturday afternoon (for half an hour between buses), and when the barman locked the door to keep the wind out he joked that it was more important to look after the customer he had than to worry about the possible customers who might turn up. Whoever turns up in future, I think it's most unlikely to be me.

Official site of the Castle Inn Hotel - www.castleinncumbria.co.uk

Official site of the Castle Inn Hotel - www.castleinncumbria.co.uk