Middle Ruddings Country Inn

The village of Braithwaite lies west of Keswick and has a wealth of walking opportunities. From here, walkers can attempt to ascend the dizzying heights of Grasmoor, bag multiple Wainwrights by taking on the Coledale Horseshoe, visit the ruins of Force Crag Mine, or take a gentle stroll up the family friendly Barrow fell.

The village is therefore popular with walkers, which is why its three pubs are usually packed out in the summer. Middle Ruddings Country Inn is one of the three and is best known for its ever-changing selection of real ale. Don’t let the country chic style interiors fool you, as there’s no pretentiousness here with dogs, children, and muddy boots most welcome.

Food & Drink

A regular winner / runner up in the local CAMRA branch’s Pub of the Year award, the proprietors of Middle Ruddings have a passion for real ale. There are three cask ales available, and all three are frequently changing with almost all of them sourced from the numerous breweries operating within Cumbria. In addition to cask ales, visitors will find a fabulous selection of bottled and canned ales, again with Cumbrian breweries heavily featured. If you prefer cider, then there are eight real ciders available, with two available on pump.

Wine List

The wine list has been created in conjunction with Grapevine, a local wine specialist who source varieties from around the world. There are nearly forty varieties to choose from, with options to suit all budgets and tastes. Tom, the landlord, has a passion for whisky and in addition to stocking most of the well known single malts, Middle Ruddings has “Tom’s Selection”, consisting of more unusual and lesser known malts that he has personally selected. In addition, the inn serves an extensive selection of spirits, including the award winning Bedrock Gin that is created in the next village over.

Food Menu

Food is available in the bar and in the inn’s conservatory that offers a quieter dining experience. The menu changes with the seasons and showcases the best produce that Cumbria has to offer according to the time of year. It’s worth noting that any accompanying vegetables are only lightly steamed and that if you prefer them to be softer you can request this. A children’s menu is available and includes smaller portions from the main menu giving your child an opportunity to try some different dishes.

Other Features

This is a dog friendly inn, with dogs permitted in the bar where food can be served, but not in the conservatory dining room. If you want to dine with your dog, it’s best to book in advance to be guaranteed a table in the bar.

The inn hosts events throughout the year that celebrate real ale, wine, cider, and whisky, with each one providing patrons with opportunities to sample a plethora of varieties. Additionally, Middle Ruddings offers a takeaway service for its draught ales and ciders with two-pint growlers available to fill and take home.

History

Unlike many other Lake District Inns, Middle Ruddings is a fairly recent addition, built in the early 20th century. It’s unusual name apparently derives from the names used for the fields that the inn and surrounding buildings were built on. In the 19th century, there were three “Ruddings” fields, all used by the church for assessing stock tithes. The inn is built on what was the middle field.

Accommodation

Middle Ruddings is a large country inn with 14 rooms available. It’s worth noting that there are no ground floor rooms and no lifts. Single, double, twin, and family rooms are all available, all with en-suite bathroom facilities.

Rooms are adequately appointed with televisions, Wi-Fi, toiletries, and a hospitality tray that includes biscuits. A full cooked breakfast is included with the room rate. Children under 3 years old can stay for free and a small charge applies for older children. Dogs can stay for a charge of £10 per night.

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