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Beer of the Week (w/e 27th April 2025) with Thuck Phat
on the Pub Forum

Image posted by Will Larter
Submitted on Sunday, 24th December 2023
With picture contributions to 12229 other pubs
View all this pub's pictures (20 more images)
Detail Pages
Unicorn Inn, Ambleside
Ambleside
LA22 9DT
Served areas
Reviews of Unicorn Inn (Average Rating: 6½ of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Will Larter left this review about Unicorn Inn
Not much changed despite more than a decade since my last visit. It's perhaps a little brighter, and the collection of unicorn plates has vanished, but there are five hand pumps on the bar, still featuring Cumbria Way. In December there's also Old Tom, the 8.5% winter beer from Robinsons, which was in very good condition (NBSS 3.5). Priced at £3.250 a half - the same as in Stockport - this seems quite a bargain in Ambleside where ordinary bitters can be £5 or more for a pint. Now open all day, seven days a week, with a quiz on Monday and live music Thursday.
On 24th December 2023
- rating: 7
[User has posted 4273 recommendations about 3935 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Will Larter left this review about Unicorn Inn
This traditional old inn is a warren of rooms in an old building behind the main street through town. A former Hartleys pub, it still features XB and Cumbrian Way, though these are both brewed by Robinsons these days; the other two hand pumps had the parent brewery's product on. As well as the usual pub paraphernalia, there is a display cabinet in one corner with plates featuring unicorns in the design, some based on the Tapestry Cycle, an ancient series of six Flemish tapestries depicting the senses, some just modern sub-Disney kitsch. This is a friendly and welcoming local, well worth seeking out.
On 5th January 2012
- rating: 7
[User has posted 4273 recommendations about 3935 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Graham Coombs left this review about Unicorn Hotel
Traditional sort of town local. One large room, with pool area to side. Beams and horsebrasses. Beers from Robinsons range seemed in good order. Food lunchtimes and evenings. Fair enough.
On 23rd August 2011
- rating: 7
[User has posted 3641 recommendations about 3576 pubs]
View more reviews of Unicorn Inn (4)
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- Official site of Unicorn Inn - www.robinsonsbrewery.com
- Facebook page of Unicorn Inn - www.facebook.com
- CAMRA WhatPub :: Unicorn Inn - whatpub.com
Staveley, 8.57 miles, 2 hr 45 min walk (show)
Burneside (Cumbria), 11.45 miles, 3 hr 41 min walk (show)
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 22 February 2023 by paulof horsham
- Child Friendly : Yes last updated 18 December 2023 by Will Larter
- Dog Friendly : Yes last updated 30 May 2008 by Quinno _
- Hot Food : Yes last updated 22 February 2023 by paulof horsham
- Live Music : Yes - Thursday - last updated 18 December 2023 by Will Larter
- Micropub : No last updated 22 February 2023 by paulof horsham
- Quiz Night : Yes - Monday - last updated 18 December 2023 by Will Larter
- Real Ale : Yes last updated 29 July 2013 by Will Larter
- WiFi : Yes last updated 18 December 2023 by Will Larter