Brackenrigg Inn
691 Reviews
About the Business
Brackenrigg Inn |
Contacts
Website
Call Us
+441768486206
Watermillock, Penrith CA11 0LP
Hours
Features
- Debit cards
- NFC mobile payments
- Credit cards
- Delivery
- Wheelchair-accessible entrance
- Wheelchair-accessible lift
- Wheelchair-accessible toilet
- LGBTQ+ friendly
- Transgender safe space
- Wheelchair-accessible seating
- Wi-Fi
- Dine-in
- Takeaway
- Alcohol
- Beer
- Cocktails
- Coffee
- Free water refills
- Spirits
- Vegan options
- Vegetarian options
- Wine
- Dinner
- Catering
- Dessert
- Seating
- Bar on site
- Toilets
- Romantic
- Family friendly
- Groups
- Accepts reservations
- Good for kids
- High chairs
- Kids' menu
- Dogs allowed
- Late-night food
- Lunch
- Casual
- Great tea selection
- Brunch
- Upmarket
- Outdoor seating
- Small plates
- Great cocktails
- Live music
Recommended Reviews
Brenda Thomas
28.02.2024
Brackenrigg Inn
Booked a meal for 7 in May 2023 for 27 July to celebrate birthday and wedding anniversary with visitors from Canada. We had a booking confirmation. However, when we arrived a rude Barman told us that there was no booking for 7. Showed him the booking confirmation and he still said there was no booking. Eventually he opened the diary and there was a booking for 7 with no name. He then said how do I know its for you! After further argument he finally begrudgingly agreed we could go in the restaurant and showed us to our tables. These were a disgrace with scratches all over them and dried food in them. After further argument he finally agreed to put some other tables together for us. At no point did he apologies that he got it wrong. He was rude and really unaccommodating. The toilets also left a lot to be desired - the ladies had no light on it, the floor was wet through and I did not want to touch the sink - luckily I had hand sanitiser with me. Such a shame because the food was good - well done the chef for saving our night. Never again!
Ant Shotit
09.01.2024
Brackenrigg Inn
Great place to stop for a pint or 3 :)! Stocked up on local bottled beer too, to take up to the mountains with me! Great staff and scenic location! I’m a professional photographer/videographer Instagram/YouTube @ant_shotit check out my content my specialty is weddings!
Martin Little
07.01.2024
Brackenrigg Inn
Food was greatService was poor and the barman shocking.Not only was he sarcastic to us and almost everyone that he served during the time we were there.But the crown achievement was that when one of the party had asked for non alcoholic beer he served up a bottle of the alcoholic equivalent. We didn't notice this till he brought the second bottle over to the table. Considering I was there with my pregnant girlfriend and someone that hasn't drank for over 3 years and wanted to keep it that way it was a massive mistake.However when I pointed this out rather than apologising he just blamed whoever had stocked the fridge and took no responsibility at all.If he had used his eyes rather than blundering though the evening trying to be smart with everyone at the bar in a failed attempt to be funny/charming he might avoid near catastrophic errors like that.Again food was great but the bar staff need to be refreshed or pay to have someone there with a bit of modern customer service skills.There are way too many alternatives around Ullswater to be giving such poor levels of service as evidenced by many reviews before this it would seem.
John Tobin
04.01.2024
Brackenrigg Inn
Excellent food, abysmal service.We went for an evening of food and drinks. Despite a reservation online they didn’t have our name and argued we didn’t have a booking, despite an anonymous reservation for 7. We had called in the day to confirm too, and no one had called back. However we were seated in the restaurant in the end, the only people there.Despite coming for a sit down meal we had to go to the bar to order drinks every time. The bartender was possibly the most unhelpful fellow in all of England. No question was well phrased enough that it couldn’t be left unanswered. Despite a full bar, no kind of cocktail was an option. What Gin did he have? Oh these ones, pointing at bottles. I don’t think he knew anything about the alcohol he was serving other than the beer. Even then he didn’t seem to care to be helpful. He didn’t listen very well, so requests were left hanging, and he never bothered to inquire what we might want from the options available.The waitress was quite nice, but obviously hadn’t been trained at all. She had no knowledge of the menu, and while trying her best she didn’t check on us, or answer questions well. She did remember who had ordered what though. The bar tender came out to take desert orders and got one of four wrong.Whoever is running the place had clearly never run or been in a decent restaurant. That old adage of the customer is always wrong, however, is probably on a plaque over his bed.The food itself was very well prepared overall. The steaks were bland, but everything else was well done. Some very tasty starters, such as the interesting black pudding scotch egg, were great; and the mains were well balanced overall. The steak and ale pie was huge and very tasty. Deserts were also very good.The toilets were old school pub ones, complete with smell, cold running water, dirty, and nothing to dry your hands on.I wouldn’t have minded the prices if the service was anything close to restaurant quality, but sadly it was not. Seven people and a £280 bill, where I had to get up to fetch and clear drinks, was unreasonable. No one ever checked on us, cutlery was missing, and the service was slow.Generally I wouldn’t recommend going for a meal, perhaps a pint. We didn’t stay in then rooms there. I understand this is new ownership in the past few months, and clearly they’re not sure what they’re doing.
Marie Round (Rie)
23.12.2023
Brackenrigg Inn
Only stopped for a quick lunch but it's a lovely country pub. Service was excellent & the meals were great - big portions,nicely presented & beautifully cooked. Views across Ullswater were gorgeous.
Zoe Johnson
23.12.2023
Brackenrigg Inn
Booked this as a 2 night stay but contacted the hotel 4 weeks before to add another night. This was no issue and payment was due on arrival. We arrived and the bar member knew our names and that we were checking in. Fantastic breakfast. Cooked to order and can pick and choose items if wanted. The food in the evenings was also fantastic. We ate 2 nights and had different items and were not disappointed at all. Bookings not taken for evenings but staff reserved the best table in the bar for us both nights which was a lovely touch. Very happy with the room with a beautiful mountain view for us and our dog. We were looked after from the moment we arrived until we left. We will be back next year after the shut down over the winter. Can't wait to go back
Jenny
20.12.2023
Brackenrigg Inn
Excellent food. We popped in and were made to feel very welcome. Fantastic menu, not over pricey, but definitely delicious. Wonderful owner, very helpful . Good beer too!
Ian Culshaw
18.12.2023
Brackenrigg Inn
We first visited here for food, after a walk to Aira falls, twelve months ago. At the time the food was decent, although we only got chips for the kids as a snack.We arrived today and felt lucky to get a couple of tables as it seemed really busy. All I can say is that I was severely disappointed and wouldn’t bother returning again. The burgers were clearly low quality (think frozen economy burgers). The chips weren’t much better. I’m pretty sure they were frozen oven chips... Ok but not what you expect when you pay £17, especially for chips only…When asked how the meal was (given there was a full burger on my plate), I politely provided feedback that the burger was of low quality. The waiter did not respond to my feedback and walked away. Preferring to gossip to the barman regarding my feedback.I won’t be revisiting this place and can only advise others not to spend there money here either,
Dato Aronia
17.12.2023
Brackenrigg Inn
We were staying at the campsite behind the pub. Popped in for some drinks. Bartender (Jeff I believe) had great sense of humour and indulged our strange request to have a 5-liter canister filled with local ale. Charged us more than fairly. Definitely looking forward to coming back.
Jamie Wilkinson
17.12.2023
Brackenrigg Inn
Stopped in for a few pints over a couple of days whilst staying at a local hotel. The ales were well-kept, decent local beers.The bar is a lovely old country pub with a fire (not on when I visited in July), some characterful furniture and a very funky modern point-of-sale cash register!There are great views from the front over Ullswater and I liked that there was a local brewery attached to the pub.On the first visit I overheard the barman being less than helpful to a couple wanting coffees. There was a new coffee machine apparently which he himself described as ‘rubbish’ and he clearly didn’t know how to make a decent coffee, or what an Americano was. Maybe this is a badge of honour for this typical ‘no-nonsense’ bloke’s bloke, but it just makes people feel unimportant.I returned a second time because the beers were definitely better than the hotel I was in.On the second day there was a different guy serving at the bar. He spent the whole time singing along, badly, and out of time, to the music playing in the bar. There were a couple of people inside clearly looking for a quiet pint and some poor karaoke from the barman was not appreciated by any of them. I see in other reviews reference to this as well- it’s not a massive thing, but it does completely ruin the atmosphere in what is an old country pub. I would have sat outside had there been space. When his colleague finished for the day he went and turned off the 90s stuff to put on some Northern Soul music more for his own enjoyment than the punters!So in summary- good beers in a lovely old building; but grab a table away from the singing barmen outside on a sunny afternoon!
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Watermillock, Penrith CA11 0LP
Brackenrigg Inn