The Hare & Hounds (Levens)

Located on the south-eastern edge of the Lake District, and an ideal stopping point for those travelling from the M6 to the southern lakes along the A590, the Hare & Hounds is a welcoming inn that serves food all day, every day. The pub is owned and operated by a young couple who purchased the long neglected inn in 2013.

The original inn has been tastefully refurbished in a style that is in keeping with its status as a 16th century coaching inn, however, the couple have also renovated a former barn to create a light, airy, and contemporary dining space. The Hare & Hounds will happily host dogs, children, and walkers with muddy boots, with locally brewed real ale available on tap.

Food & Drink

The Hare & Hounds is a free house and is therefore able to pick and choose a broad selection of ales. There are five hand pulls available for real ale. There is one regular ale, local favourite Bowness Bay Swan Blonde, whilst the other four offer a regularly changing selection, usually sourced from local breweries. If there is a particular ale patrons would like to see, they can make a note on the chalkboard and the owners will try and source it. In addition, the bar stocks a selection of craft bottled beers from across the world. The pub has a reasonable wine list of around 15 different varieties, as well as a tempting array of cocktails, spirits, whiskies, and gins, including the local damson variety.

Food is served all day from noon until late. On Mondays to Fridays, there is a lunch time menu available from noon until 4pm with a choice of sandwiches, sharing boards, and light bites. The main menu is available all day, every day. When the couple first opened the inn they focused solely on serving pizzas and burgers, and these still feature heavily on the main menu. The pizzas are prepared from scratch with a wide choice of toppings, and for those bored of beef burgers there are a number of alternative choices.

In addition, the contemporary menu has a good number of British and internationally inspired dishes. There is a dedicated gluten free menu, and on Sundays, the pub serves a three course traditional Sunday dinner with a choice of meat, fish, or vegetarian dishes. There is a children’s menu that has a good number of favourite dishes. Furthermore, it’s worth leaving room for dessert, with locally made luxury ice cream available.

Other Features

The pub welcomes dogs into the bar area where there are plenty of tables available for dining. Dogs can be provided with water bowls and biscuits are occasionally available.

During the low season between October and March, the Hare & Hounds hosts a weekly quiz on Wednesday evenings, starting around 8.30pm. There is a small entrance fee and cash prizes are available. The inn also has a raised beer garden to one side of the building with views of the Lyth Valley in the south-eastern Lake District.

Accommodation

The Hare & Hounds has just four beautifully presented rooms available for overnight stays. Each room has been individually styled with luxury furnishings and fabrics, and all are named after the pub’s previous landlords. All rooms have an en-suite, two with baths and showers, and two with showers only.

Along with standard amenities, such as televisions and free Wi-Fi, there are extra special touches including designer DAB digital radios, locally made luxury toiletries, and a hospitality tray that includes fresh milk, fresh coffee, and homemade brownies.

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