Sun Inn, Penrith

Pub SignMan left this review about Sun Inn

This popular spot in the heart of Pooley Bridge offers a family- and dog-friendly experience, with a slightly corporate feeling bar to the rear and a huge beer garden out the back. The main bar space is a compact room with tongue-and-groove panelling on the counter and a modern, somewhat sparse bar back. Seating is limited to a few standard tables and chairs, arranged around a fireplace and dartboard. A corridor to the side leads off to the toilets and appears to connect with further rooms, which were not possible to explore on this visit, which given that it was a roasting hot day in the middle of the summer holiday period, makes me wonder if they ever get any use. Outside is where the pub really excels, with a patio to the side and a grassy garden at the rear, which boasts an impressively equipped kids' play area and plenty of tables. There’s ample parking too, and a menu that’s geared towards classic pub fare at sensible prices.
Beer-wise, there was Martsons Pedigree, Courage Directors and Thwaites Wainwright on cask, with one handpull unclipped. Service was friendly and brisk, and the crowd a mix of locals and tourists enjoying the warm spring day. As more and more people flocked to the pub, a queue for the bar began to form, eventually snaking its way out of the door, making it very hard for waiting staff to bring food out to the garden, which is really stupid when everyone in the queue could’ve easily have been accommodated by lining the bar instead.
We dived in here out of convenience rather than any other consideration, as we just wanted a quick drink in the sun and their garden looked perfect. I thought it was a modest pub with a fine garden, so fine on a hot day but maybe an entirely different prospect in the middle of winter.

Date of visit: 10th April 2025

On 8^th September 2025 - rating: 6
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