Not already a member?
Join our community and
- Rate & review pubs
- Upload pictures
- Add events
JOIN for free NOW
Chat about:
Beer of the Week (w/e 27th April 2025) with Thuck Phat
on the Pub Forum

Image posted by Will Larter
Submitted on Thursday, 10th October 2019
With picture contributions to 12229 other pubs
View all this pub's pictures (7 more images)
Detail Pages
Kirkstile Inn, Loweswater, Cockermouth
Cockermouth
CA13 0RU
Served areas
Reviews of Kirkstile Inn (Average Rating: 8½ of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Will Larter left this review about Kirkstile Inn
A destination pub and former home of the brewery which became Cumbrian Legendary Ales (now relocated to near Hawkshead; responsible for Loweswater Gold, a champion in its class). A full range of their beers is available on the bar and in presentation packs, but I guess most people come here for the food. This was certainly the case when I interrupted my bike ride from Eskdale to Borrowdale for a well-earned beer: all the other customers were tucking into soup, sandwiches and whatever lunchtime food was available. I sat with my beer at the smallest table in the place that they had all shunned. My half of Grasmoor Dark Ale was not as good as the Bowness Bay Swan Black that I'd had at my previous refuelling stop in Ennerdale, but it was ok. The bar here is not part of the original hotel, which itself looks like it was added on to existing farm buildings, so this could have been some sort of outhouse, milking parlour or byre. Whatever, it's well presented, with whitewashed walls, dark beams, exposed stone, real fires, you name it. Definitely worth making the effort to get here.
Date of visit: 18th September 2019
On 11th October 2019
- rating: 7
[User has posted 4273 recommendations about 3935 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Ian Mapp left this review about Kirkstile Inn
Remote location but has everything you need - including Loweswater Gold. One of the finest beers found on the Inn Way to the Lake District.
Lovely beer garden, rambling rooms, food looked good.
Visit blogged at http://bit.ly/2qE6XMg
On 20th May 2017
- rating: 10
[User has posted 277 recommendations about 276 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Lloyd Llewellyn left this review about Kirkstile Inn
A pub of superlatives: unbeatable location, incomparable views, outstanding ales, exceptional food. Sadly, also surliest and most disagreeable staff (which comes unexpectedly when you've just put over £100 over the bar).
On 28th October 2010
- rating: 8
[User has posted 3 recommendations about 3 pubs]
Pubs Galore is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.
- Official site of the Kirkstile Inn - www.kirkstile.com
- Facebook - Kirkstile Inn
- Twitter - Kirkstile Inn
- CAMRA WhatPub :: Kirkstile Inn - whatpub.com
Pub Details
Pub details supplied by members of this site to the best of their knowledge. Please check with pub directly before making a special trip.
- Accommodation : Yes last updated 11 October 2019 by Will Larter
- Beer Festivals : Yes - April - last updated 29 July 2013 by Dave McNally
- Car Park : Yes last updated 11 October 2019 by Will Larter
- Child Friendly : Yes last updated 11 October 2019 by Will Larter
- Dog Friendly : Yes - Not during evening food service - last updated 11 October 2019 by Will Larter
- Function Room : Yes last updated 11 October 2019 by Will Larter
- Hot Food : Yes last updated 28 October 2010 by hondo .
- Live TV Sports : No last updated 11 October 2019 by Will Larter
- Micropub : No last updated 11 October 2019 by Will Larter
- Real Ale : Yes last updated 28 October 2010 by hondo .
- Real Cider : No last updated 11 October 2019 by Will Larter