Kings Arms, Barrow-In-Furness

Three room/area local, rooms are laid-out one after another. Main bar to left is in the nicest one, wallpapered with padded fabric banquettes. The other two are a bit more utilitarian in grey and yellow with the football on during my visit. Six pumps with four ales on, the presence of Wainwright and Brakspear made me think this is some sort of Marstons tie-up. The other two were of more interest - Moorhouse and a local one in Great Corby Blonde which, despite being a pretty mediocre brew, was in great shape (NBSS 4). So merits the GBG place and it’s worth the bus journey (No.1) up the hill. 7.5

Having visited the wrong King's Arms in Barrow town centre, I headed out of town on the last bus of the night up the hill to Hawcoat to the correct King's Arms, or at least the one listed in the Good Beer Guide that I wanted to visit. After a brisk 10-minute walk from the bus stop, I arrived to find a two-roomed local with mainly elderly customers. Although there were a couple of youngsters in one corner. The barmaid did seem to look at me a little suspiciously as a stranger to these parts. However, I was soon served a Kirkby Lonsdale Monumental, one of 2 permanent beers, the other being Cumbrian Legendary Ales Loweswater Gold. Guests were Bowness Bay Swan Blonder & Marston's Wainwright. I'm not quite sure that this pub was worth the bus journey out of town, or the walk back down the hill to town. But I can imagine that it's a valuable asset to have if you live locally.