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Detail Pages
Tower Bank Arms, Ambleside
Near Sawrey
Postal town: Ambleside
LA22 0LF
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 8 of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Will Larter left this review about Tower Bank Arms
I've known about this pub since I was a very small boy, as Beatrix Potter included her drawing of it in one of her books - Jemima Puddleduck, if I'm not mistaken. And I've been here many times since, though this was my first visit for well over 10 years. If the author's illustration is accurate, the pub has been extended since her day, though the bay window that used to be beside the front porch has been recreated to the left. It's still a fairly small pub, and I was a little surprised that they had five hand pumps on the go very early in March when few tourists are about. All beers were from local Hawkshead and Barngates, and I went for an old favourite, Brodie's Prime Porter, which didn't disappoint. The bar is fairly cramped for those working behind it, and an object to admire for those of us sitting outside it, being made from beams held together by pegs. The walls are adorned with old photos and paintings of local scenes, and there is lovely old furniture and a real fire. I must try to come back before so long.
Date of visit: 3rd March 2022
On 26th August 2022
- rating: 8
[User has posted 3740 recommendations about 3477 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about Tower Bank Arms
Splendid little pub, a stiff walk up the hill from the Windermere ferry, but you also pass the Cuckoo Brow halfway so the two can be handily combined. Anyway, this one adjoins Hill Top, Beatrix Potter's house, so it is doubtless a popular spot in more normal times. However, it is small inside the bar area so if the rear dining room isn't in use then the compact terraced beer garden and a few wooden benches out front also help. Four cask beers on the five handpumps when I visited, with a pair from Hawkshead and two from Cumbrian Ales - Loweswater Gold and Langdale (£3.90).
On 1st October 2020
- rating: 8
[User has posted 8117 recommendations about 8117 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Soup Dragon left this review about The Tower Bank Arms
A brilliantly quirky and irregular-shaped detached cottage pub that also does accommodation. It claims to be 17th century and has a patio area. The pub itself is in cream, with green paintwork around the door and windows. There is a bay window downstairs, the rest being a mix of sash and casement, and there is a nice porched entrance with a clock mounted above. There are a couple of rooms inside, which i saw briefly (as i took my beers out). Ther backroom seemed laid out for dining and was in cream. The front bar room, also had a dinig area. This room was in wood and white panel. There was is old kitched range, old photos, plates, fishing rods and lots of other ephemera to keep you interested - and a grandfather clock too - all good fun. There was no TV that i saw and no music played. The service was friendly and the usual tourist crowd moved in and out. Beer; usual tap stuff with Barngates Catnap and Cracker Ale, Cunbrian Loweswater Gold and Hawkeshead Bitter and Brodies Prime. I tried them all, they were well kept and I enjoyed them greatly. It is a place for tourists, of course it is, but it has great service and the beers are excellent - go, if you can get in!
On 7th May 2013
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 3067 recommendations about 3062 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Graham Coombs left this review about The Tower Bank Arms
Small and historic pub next door to Beatrix Potter's cottage. One bar room, with dining room off to side. Good selection of local beers, and food, but not all day. Here's a tip if visiting cottage at busy times - park in main car park down hill, obtain timed admission ticket there and wait your time in the pub!
On 7th September 2011
- rating: 8
[User has posted 3339 recommendations about 3276 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Will Larter left this review about The Tower Bank Arms
A tiny pub with low beams and slate floor, which has the distinction of featuring in a drawing in one of Beatrix Potter's books (The Tale of Jemima Puddleduck). There are a couple of benches outside, but most customers squeeze into the very pleasant interior, where in winter a very welcome fire is to be found to the right of the bar.
Beers from local breweries feature on the five hand pumps, including Barngates and Hawkshead. I had the excellent Brodies Prime from the latter. As it was lunch time, I also had a cheese sandwich made from local cheese on chunky granary bread, which was very good. We may have been lucky finding a parking space, as the Beatrix Potter house was temporarily closed for maintenance. If you're staying in Windermere or Bowness, this pub is easily accessed via the ferry across the lake, unless you want to go all the way round through Ambleside and Hawkshead.
On 13th July 2011
- rating: 8
[User has posted 3740 recommendations about 3477 pubs]