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Detail Pages
Badger Bar@The Glen Rothay Hotel, Ambleside
Rydal
Postal town: Ambleside
LA22 9LR
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 8½ of 10) see review guidelines
Pub SignMan left this review about Badger Bar@The Glen Rothay Hotel
A charming roadside hotel bar famed for its nocturnal badger sightings, the Badger Bar is a quintessential Lakeland stop full of character. You enter into a corridor with bare boards, leading to a compact central bar and several offshoot dining and drinking areas. First on the right is a beautiful, carpeted room with dark wooden panelling, rows of simple tables, a few pews, and a glorious fireplace flanked by horse brasses and old photos – one of the most atmospheric pub rooms I’ve seen in a long while. The central bar has a neat, traditional counter and specials board opposite, with a small area of bar stool seating that gives way to another busy drinkers’ room abuzz with conversation. This space leads out to a very pleasant beer garden, where I assume the nightly badger feeding takes place. The main dining room, to the left of the entrance, contrasts somewhat with a slightly glitzy feel – big decorative flourishes and some grand, if overdone, touches. The toilets, curiously, have large chunks of exposed rock built into them for no obvious reason, adding a final dose of eccentricity to a memorable visit. We drove here and all I can say is that parking can be a bit of a scramble – get there early to be assured of a spot.
The beer choice on cask was excellent: Barngates Goodhews Dry Stout, Bo’ness Bay Swan Gold, and Lancaster Red made up a good selection, from which the Swan Gold was in excellent condition, with throughput looking pretty consistent across all three pumps. Service was warm and efficient, and the packed car park meant a packed pub and a pretty decent atmosphere considering a lot of folk were there to eat.
I thought this was a cracking pub with a truly memorable interior, great beer and food, friendly service and a warm atmosphere. Sure, it can feel like a bit of a tourist trap and some rooms are better experienced if you’re dining, but this was by far the pub I enjoyed the most from my time spent in the Lakes and I’d have no qualms recommending it, regardless of your enthusiasm for badger spotting.
Date of visit: 12th April 2025
On 8th September 2025
- rating: 9
[User has posted 3387 recommendations about 3387 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Will Larter left this review about Badger Bar@The Glen Rothay Hotel
A recent visit reinforced my impression of this pub as one to keep coming back to. If only the opportunities were more frequent. An additional highlight, as if any were needed, is the way the toilets have been designed to incorporate the bare rock of the adjoining hillside (see photos) - worth an extra point!
Date of visit: 20th December 2015
On 14th January 2016
- rating: 9
[User has posted 4492 recommendations about 4123 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Will Larter left this review about The Glen Rothay Hotel and Badger Bar
The spooky carved badger referred to in my earlier review has moved to a different part of the bar, but otherwise things are much as before. Beer quality and choice continue to impress, and have been recognised by the local Camra branch, who made it their pub of the season for Autumn 2012. On my recent visit there were Loweswater Gold and Grasmoor Dark from Cumbrian Legendary Ales, Ulverston Lonesome Pine and Winster Best Bitter. There's a 10% discount on production of a current Camra membership card. This is one to keep coming back to.
On 31st December 2012
- rating: 8
[User has posted 4492 recommendations about 4123 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Graham Coombs left this review about The Glen Rothay Hotel and Badger Bar
Seventeenth century inn with a large dose of Victorian gothic thrown in, with the general feel of a run-down small hotel coming back to life as a pub. Quite splendid however. Four good local ales and excellent food. Large outdoor area. 10% discount on ales for CAMRA members. Recommended, and potential to get even better.
On 30th August 2011
- rating: 8
[User has posted 3817 recommendations about 3750 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Will Larter left this review about The Glen Rothay Hotel and Badger Bar
The building dates from 1624, the fireback has the date 1627 on it, and the wood panelling above the mantel piece is dated 1679. The main room, which is to one side of the bar, has obviously been altered at some time as the fireplace is not symmetrically placed, but there is still a genuinely old feel about the place, which is not dispelled by the slightly spooky carved badger in the corner.
There are four real ales on the hand pumps, and the friendly bar attendant was able to describe them knowledgeably. All are from Cumbrian breweries, including Cartmel Hurdler, Cumberland Corby Ale and Blonde, plus Dent Ramsbottom from slightly further afield. I had the Ramsbottom, which at 4.5% is slightly strong when driving, but the others were all on the pale and hoppy side for my taste. Anyway, it went down a treat and I was able to navigate safely back over Kirkstone Pass afterwards, so no harm done.
On 13th July 2011
- rating: 8
[User has posted 4492 recommendations about 4123 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Gary Seymour left this review about The Glen Rothay Hotel and Badger Bar
Interesting wood paneled bar in the hotel. Four local real ales from micro breweries. Dogs welcome.
On 12th February 2009
- rating: 8
[User has posted 38 recommendations about 38 pubs]