The Boot & Shoe Inn (Greystoke)

The Boot & Shoe Inn is a beautifully presented traditional style pub that is located in the small village of Greystoke on the eastern edge of the Lake District, close to Penrith. Family owned, this friendly inn serves delicious home cooked food along with real ale. The inn benefits from a large beer garden and it offers bed and breakfast style accommodation.

The Boot & Shoe is a former coaching inn dating back to the early 16th century and is brimming with period features, such as exposed beams and snug corners. The quirky name of the pub allegedly relates to the unusual habit of a former Duke of Norfolk who reportedly wore a shoe on one foot and a boot on the other foot due to gout pain.

Food & Drink

The Boot & Shoe Inn has three hand pulls for real ale. It has two regular ales: Lancaster Blonde from the Lancaster Brewery, and Black Sheep Best Bitter from the Yorkshire based Black Sheep Brewery. The third ale changes regularly and features beers from a range of breweries. The small and cosy bar has a reasonable choice of fine wines, as well as a small selection of beers and ciders. The pub has a particularly good selection of whiskies and the local Whisky Club uses the pub as its meeting venue.

The Menu

Food is served twice a day, every day at the Boot & Shoe, and booking a table is highly recommended as the pub is very popular with both locals and visitors. Doorstop style sandwiches are available during the lunchtime service alongside the main menu with a choice of fillings. The main menu changes regularly and is quite limited, but the addition of an extensive selection of daily specials gives a wide choice of meals that would suit most appetites and tastes.

There are traditional favourites, such as Cumberland sausage & mash, as well as imaginative choices for vegetarians, such as Butternut Squash tagine. There is a children’s menu with several options and it’s worth noting that children must vacate the pub by 8pm.

Other Features

The Boot & Shoe has a large beer garden to the rear of the pub with a good number of tables and chairs. There are a number of outdoor games for families to play and a covered BBQ for the summer months.

Dogs are welcome in the bar room and in the beer garden. Dogs can enjoy their own meal from the dog menu washed down with a dog beer. The pub has live music events, usually every other Sunday at 4pm. In addition, the pub hosts a weekly quiz night on Thursday evenings from 9pm.

Accommodation

Located on the edge of the Lake District the Boot & Shoe Inn is an ideal base for those seeking to explore the eastern fells around Blencathra and Ullswater. The inn has just four rooms, so you won’t feel crowded here, but it’s worth noting that some noise from the busy pub is to be expected. There are twin and double rooms available, and all have en-suite facilities, televisions, free Wi-Fi, and tea and coffee making facilities.

Rooms are fairly spacious with period features, and they offer excellent value for money. The inn is located on the C2C cycle route and secure cycle storage is available. Dogs can be accommodated by prior arrangement.

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