The Swinside Inn (Keswick)

Nestled deep in the Newlands Valley, an area very popular with walkers, the Swinside Inn has been welcoming passer-bys with muddy boots since the 19th century. Located close to the foot of the ever popular Cat Bells fell, this recently refurbished pub is a fabulous place to enjoy a pint of real ale and some wholesome, filling food after a long day walking the fells. The Swinside is a dog friendly pub with a small number of guestrooms that offer spectacular views.

Outside, there is a large beer garden, and the pub regularly hosts live music nights with a marquee erected in the grounds. The pub underwent a full refurbishment that completed in 2017, creating many more spaces for dining to meet the rising demand from walkers and campers in the area. The pub’s buildings were originally a number of separate farm cottages and thus, today, it has several enclosed, cosy spaces that offer a more intimate dining experience, along with the larger bar areas.

Food & Drink

Following the pub’s refurbishment, the Swinside Inn now has six cask ale pumps. Regular ales are supplied by the Theakston Brewery, including Double Sunset, a pale ale brewed especially for the pub, with a name that references the double sunset that is experienced in the valley thanks to the positioning of the fells. Guest ales are sourced from a number of different breweries, including many based in Cumbria.

There are several lagers and ciders available on draught. The wine list is acceptable, and the pub also has a gin menu with around 12 gins and a range of mixers. You will also find the usual choice of whiskies and other spirits here. For non-alcohol drinkers, there is an excellent choice of cordials and other soft drinks.

The Menu

Food is generally served between noon and 2pm and then again between 6pm and 9pm (8pm on Sundays), though during the summer months, service times are expanded to all day on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays if staffing numbers allow. The lunch time menu has an excellent choice of sandwiches, salads, burgers, and some main meals. If you are off on a long walk and don’t want to make your own packed lunch, the pub can prepare these for you providing you order in advance.

In the evenings, the main menu features all the pub classics you might expect, as well as options for vegetarians and dishes for children. On Sundays, between noon and 2pm, a Sunday roast dinner is available. There’s a choice of three meats, or if you prefer, you can opt for all three on one plate, with a nut roast for vegetarians.

Other Features

In the newer part of the pub, in what is known as the Middle Bar, there is a television with a subscription to Sky Sports. The pub has marquees that can be hired for special events, such as birthdays and wedding receptions with catering available. The marquees are also used to host regular live music events, as well as other events, such as the pub’s annual mini beer festival. In November, the pub has one of the largest fireworks displays in the area.

History

The building that is occupied by the Swinside Inn dates back to the 16th century when it was originally used as a tenanted farm house with the car park being the site of an orchard. Parts of the original building remain in situ, particularly around the main entrance where visitors can see the original thick stone walls that were part of the living accommodation and the animal barn.

In the 17th century, the farm buildings were partly rebuilt to create a row of cottages, presumably in response to the rise of mining work in the area and the need for accommodation. It is unclear when the building became an inn, but it is known that there was an unlicensed beer house operating from the building throughout most of the 19th century. It later became an official inn, and a large extension was added to the property in the 1960s. The inn was fully refurbished in 2017.

Accommodation

The Swinside Inn offers accommodation with some of the best views in the Lake District. Surrounded by the fells of Cat Bells, Barrow, Causey Pike, and others, the inn certainly has one of the best locations. The inn’s six rooms all take advantage of the fine views, and are all equipped with en-suite bathroom facilities, televisions with satellite channels, free Wi-Fi, and a hospitality tray that includes biscuits.

A full cooked breakfast is included in the room rate, and dogs are permitted to stay in some rooms. Most rooms are doubles but family accommodation with a double bed and bunk beds is also available.

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