The Farmers Arms (Ulverston)

The Farmers Arms, known as simply the Farmers, is a family run pub that is widely considered one of the best places to eat in the market town of Ulverston, serving up home made food using locally sourced ingredients. The pub has previously been a finalist in the Cumbria Food & Drink awards, and it has been run by the same family for over 20 years.

The Farmers dates back to the 16th century, and more recently in 2018 the pub underwent a significant refurbishment that added a cocktail bar and a formal restaurant area, whilst keeping a traditional style pub bar at the front of the building. During the winter months, you will find roaring fires, whilst in the summer you can enjoy a cocktail or two in the beer garden overlooking Ulverston’s cobbled streets. The pub is located in the centre of Ulverston and is popular with local residents and visitors alike with a quiz night each Thursday evening.

Food & Drink

The Farmers is a free house and has a fabulous selection of locally brewed real ales from a number of Cumbrian breweries with six different types usually available. The pub offers a good selection of reasonably priced wines, with many available by the glass, as well as a particularly impressive gin selection. In the cocktail bar there is a tempting array of exotic cocktails, with the menu updated regularly, and the pub offers a selection of nibbles to accompany your drink.

The Menu

The pub serves meals three times a day. Breakfast is served between 9am and 11.30am with a delicious choice of hot breakfasts, including various styles of eggs, Canadian style pancakes, and the traditional full English. Lunches are available from 12 noon until 3pm, with a selection of hot and cold baguettes, sharing boards, healthy salads, and home-made pizzas. The main menu is also available at lunch time, and in the evening from 5pm until 8.30pm. Food can be enjoyed in the bar, or in the formal dining area, and in the cocktail bar.

The menu features modern British cuisine with a fine selection of dishes to suit most tastes, such as slow cooked beef brisket, Cajun chicken, and a very popular dish of mussels and langoustines in a creamy sauce. You will find pub favourites, such as pizzas and burgers here, whilst the specials menu is updated daily, often including the best of the day’s catch. On Sundays, there is a delicious Sunday roast dinner available with a choice of two meats. There are choices for vegetarians, vegans, and those on gluten free diets. The pub also offers a good choice of children’s meals, including a mini roast dinner on Sundays.

Other Features

The Farmers Arms hosts a well-attended quiz night each Thursday evening. The pub also has a small outside seating area at the front of the building that is partly covered and has views of the bustling town centre. Dogs are not permitted anywhere inside the pub, but they can accompany you at the outside seating.

History

The Farmers Arms is thought to have been built in the 16th century, and the pub was originally known as “The Pack Horse”. This name derives from an era when travellers through the town would arrive on horses piled high with belongings. The horses would be tethered to the exterior of the pub, still wearing their packs.

Accommodation

The Farmers Arms does not have its own on-site accommodation, however, the family that own the pub have several self-catered properties in Ulverston within walking distance. No two properties are the same in this Dickensian town, with an old pub, former town jail, and a barn house amongst the buildings that have been converted.

All of the properties are beautifully presented with modern amenities that include large televisions, comfortable beds, equipped kitchens, and complimentary Wi-Fi. Sleeping between 2 and 6 people, the accommodation is comprised of a mixture of apartments and cottages, all of which are fully serviced during your stay.

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