Food and Drink – Where to Eat
There are many restaurants, pubs, coffee shops and tea rooms, in and around the Western Lakes, which are worth a visit. So here is a selection, ranging from small cafes, up to fine dining. Some of the detail has been provided by us and some has been taken from the web sites, to give you a better idea of what is on offer at each establishment.
Cockermouth (and Surrounding Area)
LG' s Cafe & Bistro - Recently re-opened and serves lovely breakfasts, light bites, sandwiches, cakes etc. Expect a really warm welcome. They also now have a Saturday night Bistro, but you need to book.
Tel: 01900 826644.
Bamboo Chinese and Thai Restaurant
Is a very popular, modern and stylish restaurant with an extensive Chinese and Thai menu.
Tel: 01900 829308.
Beatfords Restaurant & Tearooms
Provides light lunches and meals, with disabled access and family friendly.
Tel: 01900 827099
Carlins Bar and Bistro
Is a family run business passionate about bringing you great food with a relaxed dining experience. Their menu includes British classics, local favourites and seasonal specials with their produce sourced from local farmers and growers.
The Front Room
Very friendly small Bistro, serving quality mediteranean cuisine.
Tel: 01900 826655
Jordan's Jungle Fun House is a new cafe/Takeaway and adventure play area in Cockermouth that lets children get loads of active fun while parents relax in the cafe area. Free WI-FI for customers.
Tel: 01900 826115.
Great Escape Coffee Shop (Moota)
Is a 5 star rated coffee shop, located next to the Moota Garden Centre and serves a tasty selection of locally sourced, homebaked food, for both breakfast, lunch and afternoon tea.
www.mootagardencentre.co.uk
Hundith Hill Hotel
Comfortable dining room offering a fine selection of home cooked food prepared to your liking. The food is traditional and varied and the portions are not for the faint hearted.
Sunday lunches are a big local favourite and again the food is traditional and plentiful. Reservations are recommended to confirm your table in the restaurant.
Children are welcome, with a wide selection of meals to choose from.
www.hundith.com
Junipers
Serves contemporary food, which is fresh and imaginative, being prepared by one of the owners and his team. One of Junipers specialities is Tapas.
www.junipersrestaurant.co.uk
The Lakes Home Centre - Tea Rooms
Is a popular venue, which is light and airy. The tea room staff offer you a Cumbrian welcome and offer a great selection of home made fayre of soups, sandwiches and desserts. They have a wide selection of teas, together with Taylor’s of Harrogate coffee.
www.lakeshomecentre.co.uk
The Melbreak Country House Hotel (Great Clifton – Workington)
Has a comfortable lounge bar and excellent restaurant set in an attractive conservatory, with fantastic views, ideal for enjoying a relaxed meal. It forms part of the family run motel style country house hotel, set in 3 acres of grounds, with panoramic views looking towards the Loweswater valley and mountains beyond, including the imposing Melbreak. It is ideally situated close to the A66, the route through to the North and Western lakes.
www.melbreakhotel.co.uk
Old Postings House (Deanscales)
A 16th century coaching inn situated on the edge of the Lake District, specialising in good food and real ales.
www.oldpostingshouse.co.uk
Quince and Medlar (Vegetarian)
Offers fine vegetarian dining, creative food, organic wines and interesting fruit drinks.
www.quinceandmedlar.co.uk
The Spice Club Indian Restaurant
Provides a first class menu and prides itself on great food that is prepared freshly in their kitchens together with great service, to ensure their customers enjoy the best experience possible.
www.thespiceclubcockermouth.co.uk
Squirrels Pantry Tea Room
Is named after the Red Squirrels that visit there to feed and is a restored Victorian greenhouse and potting shed. Everything served in the Pantry is made on the premises, including afternoon tea with traditional scones and home made cakes.
www.squirrelspantry.co.uk
Trout Hotel
Is surrounded by award winning gardens and sits on the bank of the River Derwent. The hotel offers three dining experiences; award winning cuisine in the Derwent restaurant, Terrace Bistro & bar and luxurious lounges and bar.
www.trouthotel.co.uk
Wellington Jersey Ice Cream & The Old Stackyard Tearooms
The cafe combines the Old Stackyard Tea Rooms with the ice cream parlour, together with the farm shop. The tea room, offers a variety of drinks, as well as freshly prepared food, such as sandwiches, home made cakes and much more; which can be eaten either in the indoor cafe or on the terrace, which has stunning views of the Lakeland fells.
www.wellingtonjerseys.co.uk
Keswick
Armathwaite Hall
Offers a number of options as follows:
Lake View Restaurant takes advantage of a wealth of local seasonal produce and Cumbrian specialities to create a variety of gastronomic delights. The dishes draw inspiration from both traditional English fayre and classical French cuisine refined to reflect the expectations of their guests.
Afternoon Tea which can be enjoyed from 2pm-5pm. Diners choose from a selection of homemade sandwiches, scones with jam and clotted cream, selection of cream cakes, tray bakes and homemade biscuits, along with a refreshing lemon posset. The tea menu includes speciality leaf teas such as Earl Grey and Darjeeling.
Spring, summer, autumn or winter are all perfect times for dining in the Conservatory or lounges during the day. This is a great informal option to dining.
The Courtyard Bar and Brasserie is the most recent addition to which opened in 2009. Offering contemporary and informal cuisine it is the perfect option for anyone looking to enjoy an informal drink, a morning latte or a two or three course relaxed dinner.
www.armathwaite-hall.com
Bar 26
Café Bar 26 is a relaxed and stylish wine bar, serving great Illy coffee and a superb range of beverages. Perfect after a day on the fells or simply a stroll around the shops.
Feeling peckish? They offer delicious continental style lunches between 12.00 and 14.30, freshly prepared, using only the finest ingredients.
Join them in the evenings for interesting wines, continental beers, a wide selection of champagnes and cocktails.
www.cafebar26.co.uk
The Lakeland Pedlar (Vegetarian)
Their foods are prepared with unrefined ingredients and combined with the finest, freshest fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds and grains, to create delicious, nutritionally balanced meals. They also have a range of organic cakes, breads and slices.
www.lakelandpedlar.co.uk
The Pheasant (Bassenthwaite)
The new dining room overlooks the gardens, forest and fells to the rear of the hotel, and is fully air conditioned,with its polished silver cutlery, gleaming crystal glassware and stiff white napery sets the scene for a memorable experience.
The new Bistro (formerly the dining room which has been completely redesigned) is primarily designed to cater for lighter and less formal dining.
www.the-pheasant.co.uk
Thornthwaite Galleries (Thornethwaite)
The Gallery offers light refreshments and some of the warm comforts of home to those who make the journey, where they can relax in it's gentle restful atmosphere and refresh their spirit. Anne and Ron Monk are the owners and they, together with their staff, aim to make your visit a stimulating and memorable experience. The Gallery is pleased to offer exclusively Fairtrade coffee, tea and chocolate.
www.thornthwaitegalleries.co.uk
The Silk Road
The Silk Road is a Chinese restaurant and crafts trade store located in the beautiful Lake District. Embroidery art and garden art add radiance and beauty to each other. It is an ideal place for viewing, admiring, choosing and ordering embroidery works of art.
www.thesilkroad.co.uk
Whitehaven
Anna’s
Anna’s, is a new café in the newly built Pears House at the harbour front in Whitehaven, which opened in September 2009. It is a perfect place to relax with a cup of coffee, whilst enjoying the sea views. Both the coffee and food are very popular. They have recently opened for evenings as well and serve food till 9pm and also have wine, cocktails and beer available.
www.annas-cafe.co.uk
Orchid Manor
Is a modern Chinese restaurant situated on Strand Street and serves excellent food. The staff are very friendly and if there is nothing on the menu that you like, or can’t eat, you only need ask and they will try to put something together for you.
Tel:01900 692676
Rum Story – Courtyard Cafe
The café,set beside the courtyard offers many perspectives. Inside the converted stables snug stalls cater for up to six persons at a time whilst the airy glass covered courtyard feels like being outside. There are also balcony tables, which is a wonderful place for people watching or for keeping an eye on the famous Rum Story kinetic clock.
www.rumstory.co.uk
The Georgian House Hotel & Restaurant
This is a comfortable and elegant restaurant, with a relaxed atmosphere, friendly service and top quality cuisine. The dishes are prepared using only the freshest of ingredients. They cater for as many different tastes as possible with a varied menu providing a selection of meat, fish, pasta, poultry and vegetarian dishes as well as tasty meals for children. Together with an extensive selection of fine wines and champagne. www.georgianhousewhitehaven.co.uk
Wellington Bistro - Beacon
The Wellington Bistro at the Beacon enjoys the best harbourside situation in Whitehaven. With an extensive menu, it’s the ideal venue for visitors to relax and re-energise. You can get to the Bistro from both inside the Beacon as well as straight in from the harbourside.
www.thebeacon-whithaven.co.uk
Zest Restaurants
Has two restaurants, each restaurant has its own style and flavour. At Zest Restaurant they specialise in modern British food with the emphasis on local Cumbrian produce. At Zest Harbourside Café Bar, they offer an ultimate snacking menu designed to enjoy on your own or to share with friends.
www.zestwhitehaven.com
Solway
Dunes Coffee Shop & Bistro (Bank Mill Nurseries)
The Dunes is open all year round and everyone is welcome. Whether you are driving along the coastal road enjoying the beautiful scenery of the Solway coast, taking a tour of their Butterfly House or choosing some plants from their Nursery.
The Bistro is open on Friday and Saturday evenings in the winter only, other evenings are by special arrangement. It gives you the opportunity to relax in a friendly and tranquil atmosphere for a few hours to enjoy a delicious meal made with fresh local ingredients. www.bankmillnurseries.co.uk
Past & Present (Allonby)
Is a very quaint little teashop serving afternoon tea, set in the original conservatory of the house. There are only a few tables but it really is worth a visit.
Tel: 01900 881576
The Codfather (Allonby)
This is the take away Fish and Chip shop by the Post office. There are some wooden benches outside where you can sit and eat and is a stones throw from the beach.
Tel: 01900 881436
The Wave Cafe at The Wave Centre (Maryport)
The Wave Café/Bistro offers light snacks, lunches, refreshments & a bistro menu before performances and events, in a pleasant light modern eating area. All food is fresh and homemade on the premises. There is a fully stocked licensed events bar and a catering service for special events. Open 7 days a week 10.00am til 4.00pm.
www.thewavemaryport.co.uk
Penrith
Cafe Oswalds @ Cranstons
Café Oswald’s, located above the Cumbrian Food Hall, and accessible by lift, offers a large, light and airy environment in which to relax and enjoy some of the fresh local produce for which Cranstons has become famous. Every Sunday between noon and three, they offer a Sunday Carvery but, booking is essential.
www.cranstons.net
The Rheged Centre
From a relaxed family lunch to a quick coffee and cake, Rheged's three cafes offer fresh food, using the best local ingredients.
Choose from their waitress service rheged café, quick bite in their self service café pod, or treat yourself in their taste café.
www.rheged.com
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