The Crafty Baa

The AA Pub of the Year (England) 2018-19 can be found in the heart of Windermere at the Crafty Baa. It’s a quirky, but welcoming place that will certainly leave you full of cheer. Opened in 2016, the Crafty Baa is the brainchild of Vincent and his wife, Lisa, who previously ran a window-cleaning business.

Their dream of running a pub came into fruition when they transformed a second-hand bookshop into the Crafty Baa, with materials that were almost all either recycled or upcycled, including the bar that is made from old pallet boxes.

Inside, there’s an eclectic mix of furniture and ornaments spread over three floors that all adds to the appeal and creates a unique style and atmosphere. The pub is incredibly popular, thanks to the huge range of craft beers available, and the delicious platters and hot sandwiches.

Food & Drink

The Crafty Baa is a craft beer mecca. Starting with real ale, the pub usually serves around ten varieties, sourced from a mixture of national and local breweries. The selection changes regularly, with a good choice of ale styles, including stout, porter, strong IPA, and real lager. In addition, the bar stocks well over 100 bottled craft beers from around the world.

There are some unusual varieties, including Scottish brewery Brewmeister’s Snake Venom that boasts of a 67% (not 6.7!) ABV. The bar also stocks a fantastic range of ciders, both real and bottled. Wine drinkers are spoilt with an amazing array of over 70 varieties that are regularly added to, and the bar stocks over 100 whiskeys from around the world, plus an amazing selection of flavoured gins and mixers. The bar also has a wide selection of soft drinks, as well as tea and coffee.

Food

Food is served all day, every day, from 11am until 10.30pm. If you’re after traditional pub grub then you will be disappointed, but the cuisine at the Craft Baa is definitely worth trying. The pub focuses on nibbles, platters, and hot sandwiches. If you just want a snack then choose a scotch egg or nachos.

If you’re feeling a little indulgent, then the baked camembert is truly divine, and there’s a choice of accompaniments. For something a little more substantial, diners can opt for a Crafty Slate, with a choice of meats and cheeses served with crudités and artisan breads. Alternatively, for those with larger appetites, the grilled sandwiches come with generous portions of crisps, coleslaw, and chutney.

Other Features

Dogs are welcome throughout and the pub even has its own resident dog to greet them. They also occasionally host live music events.

Map