Herdwick Inn, Penrith

Blue Scrumpy left this review about Herdwick Inn

Latest Visit 4/9/24:

3½ years on since my last attempted visit, I found the Herdwick Inn open on a Thursday afternoon. The pub has changed hands since I was last here and apart from what I assumed to be the landlord and a cook, there was nobody else present. So, I was probably lucky to find it open this time around mid-afternoon and midweek.

At least lights were on in the pub this time. So, I could get a better look around. There are a couple of rooms - a bar and a larger lounge with an adjoining area containing a couple of dartboards. There is an outdoor terrace to the rear and tables outside at the front of the pub too.

The pub is carpeted throughout. There is a TV in the bar area and music was playing. A fireplace contains a wood burner, above which was a specials board promoting a minted lamb shank for £21 or a 10oz ribeye steak for £25.

Cumbrian Ales Loweswater Gold is the regular cask ale. Timothy Taylor Boltmaker was a guest beer, with a third handpull unclipped. Sharp's Atlantic was a keg option. The cider was Orchard Pig.

I was glad to have found this pub open and opening times do now appear to have been published. Whilst I probably visited at one of their more off-peak times, the pub lacked any kind of atmosphere.

Original Review 27/4/21:

Once again, I'm thwarted from visiting a pub because they cannot seem to communicate their opening hours.

I parked up in the car park at the rear and walked down the steps into the rear entrance of the pub. Somebody was around, but the bar was quiet.

I waited patiently, but nobody came. Wainwright was the only real ale. I was about to call the pub's number, but somebody beat me to it. However, the phone rang off the hook.

Eventually the person upstairs came down. She turned out to be the cleaner and she wasn't sure if the pub was open or not! She went looking for other staff for me, but to no avail, stating that she believed the winter opening hours were in effect and they weren't serving until 4pm.

I'd actually planned my visit here to be on a Friday as the pub's website and Facebook page states that they open at midday on a Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Seemingly they were both wrong and the pub now doesn't open until 4pm on any day of the week.

All terribly disappointing and I wasn't about to return considering I was heading well away from the pub, I knew that Wainwright was the only ale option and the weather was about to take a turn for the worse with the onset of Storm Arwen.

How pubs like this stay open is beyond me.

On 8^th September 2024 - rating: 4
[User has posted 3040 recommendations about 3038 pubs]