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Beer of the Week (w/e 27th April 2025) with Thuck Phat
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Detail Pages
The Sportsman Inn, Ambleside
Ambleside
LA22 9DR
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 5½ of 10) see review guidelines
Will Larter left this review about The Sportsman Inn
After a period of closure and refurbishment this has now reopened under its old name. The interior paint job is white, grey and beige - the exterior is worse. The bar has six hand pumps with three beers on, two from Thwaites (Original Bitter and Gold) plus Rydal Pale "brewed specially for the Ambleside Tavern", which I guess is also Thwaites. My half of the Gold was in fine condition (NBSS 3.5) though a little bland. Service was friendly and enthusiastic. The background music was a bit heavy on the computerised drums, but who am I to complain? During my short stay the most poured drink was Madri, but I saw enough cask being drunk to suggest they won't be taking those hand pumps out any time soon.
On 13th December 2024
- rating: 6
[User has posted 4273 recommendations about 3935 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Will Larter left this review about Ambleside Tavern
Not to be confused with the nearby Ambleside Inn; both pubs used to be called something else, so why they've chosen their current names is a mystery to me. It's probably more than 10 years since I was last here, and it seems smarter than I remember it. I was only really here because there was a football match I wanted to watch and this seemed to be the only pub in town that was going to be showing it. Even here the TV had no sound, and I was redirected to the basement sports bar, where the sound had been enabled and I was able to watch Luton Town beaten in the FA Cup 3-2 by Chelsea (after having led 1-0 and 2-1) in glorious isolation. The Jennings Cumberland Ale was in pretty good nick, and service was friendly and helpful.
Date of visit: 2nd March 2022
On 26th August 2022
- rating: 5
[User has posted 4273 recommendations about 3935 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Al Bundy left this review about Ambleside Tavern
Small pub. A bit untidy but quite acceptable. Drinks were fine.
On 3rd March 2015
- rating: 6
[User has posted 3487 recommendations about 3390 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Graham Coombs left this review about The Sportsmans Inn
Fairly turgid town pub. Has a couple of passable ales on, but not much else to commend it.
On 23rd August 2011
- rating: 5
[User has posted 3641 recommendations about 3576 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
BEN UNSWORTH left this review about The Sportsmans Inn
A younger drinkers pub set up for games and tv sport.
On 9th July 2010
- rating: 6
[User has posted 75 recommendations about 69 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Gary Seymour left this review about The Sportsmans Inn
Soleless plastic pub but did have 3 real ales and dogs welcome.
On 30th May 2008
- rating: 4
[User has posted 38 recommendations about 38 pubs]