The Royal Oak, Keswick

Formerly the Keswick Lodge, now given some marketing man's idea of a really good name for a pub ... not. This is a Thwaites house at the top of the pedestrianised area in the centre of town. Entry is via a tiled lobby with a dining room to the left and another area with tables crowded together haphazardly to the right. This is an awkward room, with a feel more like a tea room than a pub. The bar is through the lobby to the rear, with a small table or two and standing room for drinkers. The five hand pumps all hand Thwaites beers on, though there's a sign outside that suggests they also have guest ales. Also on the outside wall is an offer to barter beer tokens for local produce, which is an interesting idea. This was a difficult pub for me to feel comfortable in, with stressed-out Christmas shoppers and the too-loud-to-ignore piped music adding to the uncongenial seating arrangements, so that I felt that drink-up-and-go was my best bet.