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Detail Pages
The Borough, Lancaster
Lancaster
LA1 1PP
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 6½ of 10) see review guidelines
Rob Hunter left this review about The Borough
Visited in September 2025 and had heard that I was likely to find Lune Brew beers available here, but sadly this was not the case at the time of my visit. Five of seven hand pulls in operation, and one of the out of action pulls appeared to have a reversed Lune Bitter clip, so I guess I was unlucky with my timing. Of the available ales, two were by Handsome and two by Bank Top. My Top Knot by Handsome was OK but nothing to get excited about.
It's quite a fancy looking place and the barman was in overalls, perhaps suggesting a dining focussed establishment. There was a delay in someone coming to the bar to serve.
Furniture consists of sofas with low tables, high tables and stools, and low tables with chairs. There is a room to the rear, perhaps more for dining.
The old plasterwork detail in the front room ceilings was nice. The front space looked like it may have been two rooms at some point, but is now opened up.
Toilets are upstairs, as is a function room. A further floor above was not investigated. Disabled toilet available on the ground floor.
Nice to have tried it but not sure I feel the need to rush back.
On 9th January 2026
- rating: 7
[User has posted 882 recommendations about 690 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Will Larter left this review about The Borough
Eight hand pumps with seven clipped, mostly with beers from Gan Yam in Kendal. I went for their Yan, a 3.1% single hopped mild (NBSS 3.5), which was full of flavour. The barman did a double take when I asked for it, saying it was a new one. I said it should have been their very first, as in the Westmorland sheep counting system, "Yan, tan, tethera...", to which he replied, well you learn something every day. In all this kerfuffle I didn't notice that he'd poured me a pint rather than the half I'd asked for, but I didn't mind too much as it was very enjoyable.
On 14th December 2024
- rating: 7
[User has posted 4591 recommendations about 4205 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about The Borough
Upmarket bar / restaurant in one of many fine old buildings on Dalton Square. There are various seating and dining areas around the side servery, plus a patio beer garden at the back. I did eat, and the food was good, and despite the prices it was doing good business on a Tuesday evening so place definitely has its own market. Four (or possibly five, if the clipless modern Sharps Atlantic pull was operational) of the eight handpumps were in use, with the Dales Way (£4.00) being one of the three Dent beers available.
On 10th October 2020
- rating: 7
[User has posted 8985 recommendations about 8985 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Brainy Pool left this review about The Borough
they now take cash payments again, or at least they took my £5 note tonight, so looks like that one backfired on them. the in house brewery has also now ceased, so Lancaster’s premier brewpub is no more. However, this has made more space for other beers, of which four were from the ‘Westgate’ brewery, one from the rebooted Higsons and a further bitter from a vague handwritten clip. Nice pub, nice beer, still pretentious.
On 9th February 2020
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 1180 recommendations about 1141 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Will Larter left this review about The Borough
I can remember this place from the 1970s when it was called the Borough Club, so it would have been a club for council employees. The steward used to call in at the betting shop where I worked on the opposite side of Dalton Square, with his bets and those of several of the club members too. I only went in once or twice, and it wasn't anything like as smart as the present pub, which is modelled on an idea of a gentlemen's club rather than a council employees'. The bar is to the rear and placed sideways, with two groups of four hand pumps, and eight beers allegedly on, though my half of Horner Brothers Pavilion Pale was in fact off, as I discovered when I started to drink. It was replaced promptly, but this was the only real ale from the house brewery on the bar at the time of my visit, though two or three keg versions were available, so I had the Kirkby Lonsdale Stanleys, which was in good condition. (See photos for other beers.) I'm not sure this pub has the through-put to sustain eight real ales, and if they don't even taste or check the beers on pulling through first thing...
Date of visit: 23rd July 2019
On 16th August 2019
- rating: 5
[User has posted 4591 recommendations about 4205 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Brainy Pool left this review about The Borough
does absolutely nothing for me. majestic building and location... but ultimately it's a stately home selling overpriced food and beer to posers. there are enough good pubs in Lancaster to avoid this place...
On 16th April 2018
- rating: 4
[User has posted 1180 recommendations about 1141 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
custodian 42 left this review about The Borough
Took some time for a bar staff member to arrive at the bar to the right hand side. There were eight hand pumps, three of which were not on and the rest were weak in strength. One big room, very elegant.
On 15th July 2017
- rating: 4
[User has posted 1693 recommendations about 1691 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Old Boots left this review about The Borough
A bit posh this one, being an elegant building with portico the front part is described as like a gentlemen's club which is true up to a point given the décor and furnishing, including the chandeliers. Beyond the stained glass and wood dividing wall is the servery to one side and more seating to the other with the stairs up to the services in between. The pulls are split between the beers from the on-site brewery, at a rather large and most welcome £1 a pint Camra discount, and those of other small breweries. The beer quality and service are fine and it's in the GBG 2016.
On 6th March 2016
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 3836 recommendations about 3504 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Aqualung . left this review about The Borough
I turned up here in the dark on a Friday night wondering if I was at the right place as I could see no illuminated identification and it looked like a restaurant or hotel. Once inside it was the right place and was packed. It was difficult getting to see the beers on offer but I did get to see that there were three of their own beers on and also spotted Well's Bombardier. I went for one of their own called Kilimanjaro (£3.60) which turned out to be in good condition but very undistinguished and expensive (I missed the CAMRA discount). I wasn't too keen on this place and thought it was very poncy, it might be better at a quieter time.
On 30th November 2015
- rating: 6
[User has posted 2143 recommendations about 2143 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Al Bundy left this review about The Borough
Another lovely pub in Lancaster. The reviews below describe the place so nothing for me to add about that. The beer is quite good. As with real ale its either good or foul and you take your chances. Oh and Mr Camra was spot on about some of the knobs and knobesses that can be in.
On 4th March 2015
- rating: 9
[User has posted 3487 recommendations about 3390 pubs]