The Swinside Inn, Newlands, near Keswick Reviews
Latest Reviews
★☆☆☆☆
“What has happened to The Swinside?”
Written on: 21/07/2011
We went last year and had a wonderful time with local couple George & Judith, we tried to ring and make a booking this time but the phone was unavailable so we decided to go on the off chance to have a meal, wish we hadn't bothered. Bitterly cold, unwelcoming, with very few people eating. Our meal was average and we certainly won't be going back. Looks uncared and practically derelict, S & N should be throughly ashamed of themselves and so should RBS as they own the building! (read more)
★★★☆☆
“George and Judith have finally decided running a pub...”
Written on: 23/10/2010
George and Judith have finally decided running a pub is not for them and are leaving shortly. They maintain they have been defeated by poor support from the brewery - S and N. It is to be hoped that the next couple who run the pub can be given the prompt, active and financial incentives to return the Swinside to what it used to be ie a bustling and friendly countryside inn offering good basic fare and care. Currently the establishment is in a downward spiral. Is it to become another... (read more)
★★★★★
“Great place with stunning views and a superbly...”
Written on: 30/08/2010
Great place with stunning views and a superbly friendly welcome. (read more)
★★★★★
“My wife and i stayed at the Swinside in mid may 2010...”
Written on: 26/06/2010 by steverunner (1 review written)
My wife and i stayed at the Swinside in mid may 2010 for 2 nights whilst walking in the Borrowdale area.The Inn is in an unbeatable location with stunning views of the fells ,particularly Catbells and Causey Pike, and is in the Newlands Valley between Keswick and Buttermere.The new owners had only taken over the inn 12 weeks previously and were working hard to upgrade the Swinside.The food was excellent fresh home cooking, and George Judith and the staff were very freindly making us feel... (read more)
★★★★☆
“Great place lovely food. Very oldy woldy”
Written on: 24/06/2010
Great place lovely food. Very oldy woldy (read more)
★★★☆☆
“We received a very warm and genuine welcome from...”
Written on: 20/06/2010
We received a very warm and genuine welcome from George and Judith and enjoyed their converation as well as their hill-walking advice over the two nights with them. Breakfasts were excellent and the local lamb chops were delicious. We hope their good reputation spreads, thus enabling them to refurbish the pub soon. Our ensuite room was clean and perfect for our needs as walkers and we would certainly return. Excellent value for money. (read more)
★★★★★
“We stayed here last week and the couple were very...”
Written on: 03/05/2010
We stayed here last week and the couple were very friendly. Judith showed us to our room and then we came to sit by the fire with a pot of tea. George made a very good breakfast which set us up for the day ahead. The food was very accomodating and the sweets are just to die for!!! It was very hard to find a pub that took dogs where we could just step outside and go for a country walk. On brilliant sunny days the bear garden is a brilliant place to be after a long walk in the hills. I have... (read more)
★★☆☆☆
“The couple are friendly and welcoming. The pub is...”
Written on: 19/04/2010
The couple are friendly and welcoming. The pub is lovely inside and has a roaring fire and comfy seating. The only problem is the food. Tiny portions - the smoked trout starter was minute and not good value at £3.95. The main courses came with a tiny amount of chips and they were the 'leftovers' in the bottom of the bag ( frozen) little bits of chip.the cheese board ( 4.95) had four crackers, 8 grapes, a small piece of smoked cheese,brie and stilton. No side plates, no cheddar or similar... (read more)
★★★★★
“We ate at the Swinside Inn twice during our stay in...”
Written on: 12/04/2010
We ate at the Swinside Inn twice during our stay in Catbells and had a really enjoyable time each night. George and Judith are fantastic - really chatty and helpful. They were very accommodating for our group of ten; the food was very tasty and, even though we were a big group, came out on time, all together and piping hot. Would definitely go back. (read more)
★★★★★
“George and Judith went out of their way to make us...”
Written on: 12/04/2010
George and Judith went out of their way to make us feel at home, were genuinely friendly, great for a chat, and provided an atmosphere where we had two really lovely evenings.
The food was wonderful and true value for money, and the service was quick even with an almost full pub. They've not been in the pub that long, and you can tell it's really important to them to constantly improve, so personally I would discount the earlier reviews.
Will definitely be going again when we're next in...
(read more)
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Showing 1 - 10 of 26 Reviews
★★★★★
“Very friendly couple who run this pub. Made us all...”
Written on: 12/04/2010
Very friendly couple who run this pub. Made us all feel very welcome and at home. The food is good quality, with some locally sourced produce and the menu includes food to suit all. There are usually two vegetarian mains.
I would definitely recommend this pub to anyone in the area who is looking for good quailty food at a low price with excellent service.
Would make the effort to visit here again when next in the area!
(read more)
★★★★★
“We stayed at the Swinside on our way North for a...”
Written on: 03/04/2010 by sarahdinnage (1 review written)
We stayed at the Swinside on our way North for a holiday. George and Judith were lovley and went out of their way to introduce themselves and make us feel comfy - even getting up early and cooking us breakfast before our long trip.
Dog friendly, our two dogs were made very welcome - and you might get to meet the resident dog who was also very sweet.
As George and Judith have just taken over you will be aware that there are changes in progress and I'd love to see what happens as time goes...
(read more)
★☆☆☆☆
“Visited with friends on the 27th March 2010 as we had...”
Written on: 03/04/2010
Visited with friends on the 27th March 2010 as we had heard that the pub had changed hands.
The food was very poor indeed. It was quite expensive and the poritons were absolutely minute. I've seen bigger children's meals. Two of us had the steak pie which was very small served with about 12 chips (frozen)and a tiny portion of vegetables. One of our friends had the Lamb Henry which was very overcooked and tough. Being still humgry we all had desserts which were a bit better. The bill,...
(read more)
Sarahdinnage's Comment
Written on: 03/04/2010
I don't think £78 for a two course meal plus drinks is that expensive. As you are speaking in the plural I am assuming more than 3 of you..thats about £20p/h for 2 courses plus drinks..don't think you would get anything cheaper anywhere else in that area from what I saw.
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<br/>Of course I can't comment on the quality you mention but the meal I had on my way South was lovley and the biggest Cumberland Sausage I ever had.
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★★★★☆
“Under new ownership. George and Judith have a mission...”
Written on: 22/03/2010
Under new ownership. George and Judith have a mission to return The Swinside to its former glory of good clean accommodation, excellent traditional food and a friendly atmosphere. Its location is stunning and what is more it is dog friendly. Enjoyed a lovely five day stay in March. Have booked up for two more visits later in the year. (read more)
★★★★☆
“Traditional country inn, good beer, good food and...”
Written on: 10/02/2010
Traditional country inn, good beer, good food and friendly efficient staff.
Great location, within 5 minutes walk of the foot of the Catbells ridge, also within 5 minutes of Keswick by car. We've just been in the winter and enjoyed ourselves but the beer garden in the summer would be wonderful.
(read more)
★☆☆☆☆
“a sandwich - made in ordinary sliced bread - average...”
Written on: 29/11/2009
a sandwich - made in ordinary sliced bread - average cost £5.95 !! accompanied bya pile of chips - very uninspiring ones - and dull salad - coleslaw was mentioned but did not appear. The ham in the £5.95 sandwich was thin packet supermarket ham - the prawn and salmon tasted only of bottled marie rose sauce. £5.95 for a sandwich is taking advantage of possibly captive audience in this stunning area and should in my view be mentioned to the tourist board. (read more)
Sarahdinnage's Comment
Written on: 03/04/2010
Sorry but £6.00 for a sandwich, salad and chips in any cafe or restaurant is more than reasonable in Oxford where I live..as for the chips being "uninspiring"..not sure how a chip can become a beacon of inspiration - a chip is a chip.
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<br/>If you think you were fleeced there - you should have had the afternoon tea I had in Scotland which consisted of 2 pieces of white bread (no crusts) 1 x Scone, 1X Coffee and cost me £19.95..I have to say I think you did well..Id have taken the uninspiring chips any day.
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Sarahdinnage's Comment
Written on: 03/04/2010
I found this review not helpful because...it'd unrealistic to expect a food to be less than £6.00...what do they expect..whats the point in saying a chip is uninspiring..for £6.00 I don't expect to be inspired just fed..
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★★★★★
“Just moved to the area and this is without doubt one...”
Written on: 06/10/2009
Just moved to the area and this is without doubt one of the best pubs and eating establishments around Keswick. It makes a perfect ending for the nearby fell walks and has views to die for. Good beer, good food and friendly staff - what more could you ask for?
Highly recommended.
(read more)
★★★★☆
“A lovely old couple run The Swinside Inn now and they...”
Written on: 17/06/2009
A lovely old couple run The Swinside Inn now and they are very pleasent. I would recommend it to anybody and our dog loved it. (read more)
★★★★★
“I dont know how everyone can slate The Swinside Inn. ”
Written on: 05/05/2009 by nikki0256
I dont know how everyone can slate The Swinside Inn.
I stayed here last week and had an amazing time, the staff were really friendly, the food was great, yeah the drink was served in plastic glasses but that is understandable as we were sitting outside, would you like to go around picking glasses up from outside coz im sure i wouldnt!
We stayed for 3 days and we really enjoyed our stay.
(read more)
☆☆☆☆☆
“We too have had a series of poor experiences at our...”
Written on: 04/05/2009 by TrevorWhite (1 review written)
We too have had a series of poor experiences at our beloved Swinside Inn over the last couple of years! It is without doubt the best Lakeland Inn but is being ruined by a series of temporary tenants and managers. Whatever would the previous tenants make of its current state? It was perfect during their tenancies.
The last straw for us came a couple of weeks ago - beautiful sunny day and looking forward to a relaxing drink at the end of a coledale round - drunken young adults in beer garden,...
(read more)
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Showing 11 - 20 of 26 Reviews
★☆☆☆☆
“We stayed at The Swinside Inn on 29th and 30th March...”
Written on: 05/04/2009 by jakerennie (1 review written)
We stayed at The Swinside Inn on 29th and 30th March for the fourth time. It is under temporary management and should be avoided at all cost. The Inn is in a great situation and has great views and is a potential gold mine. It is currently run down and the temporary staff are not up to the mark. I asked for a room with a view, naming Room 7 which has a 6ft bed which can be adjusted to two singles. I was told the room was taken for these dates. I agreed to another room (with a view). On... (read more)
★★☆☆☆
“The Swinside Inn is in a great location and the views...”
Written on: 08/03/2009 by smifffy (1 review written)
The Swinside Inn is in a great location and the views from our room would be hard to better but the Inn when we stayed in March 2009 was under temporary management , friendly but seemed to me to be inexperienced in running an Inn of this kind.
Cleaning and hygiene did not appear to be high on the agenda though potential new owners were looking at the place while we stayed there so things might be different in a few months time. We could say more but to do so would be playing with the...
(read more)
★★★★★
“Reading other people's reviews, I'm wondering if...”
Written on: 08/07/2008 by chugh86 (1 review written)
Reading other people's reviews, I'm wondering if they're talking about the same Swinside Inn! I took my family for a meal last Saturday night, and, whilst quiet (but May & June ARE quiet months when the schools aren't off), the atmosphere was fantastic. The staff were hospitable and friendly, whilst the food... well, that was just to die for! (read more)
★★☆☆☆
“Having visited The Swinside Inn in Keswick 2 years ago...”
Written on: 24/05/2008 by john worthington (1 review written)
Having visited The Swinside Inn in Keswick 2 years ago when the food was superb, our visit last week was a disappointment. From a once heaving pub, it was too quiet. The food seemed to me like a microwave meal which was overpriced. We will not return in a hurry. (read more)
★☆☆☆☆
“We went up on the Friday night 07/12/08, and that...”
Written on: 10/12/2007 by Ian Cr (1 review written)
We went up on the Friday night 07/12/08, and that evening some of the staff came in drunk and were playing music and talking very loud until I went to see them at 1 in the morning. Even after that, loud talking on and off throughout the night woke us at 2.30 then 4 am.
Although it might have been a one off by one of their staff acting the fool, what made it worse is that the next morning the manager gave the impression she had heard the noise, but didn't do any thing about it at the time....
(read more)
★★★☆☆
“I ate at The Swinside Inn in Newlands, near Keswick...”
Written on: 20/08/2007 by Jen2007 (4 reviews written)
I ate at The Swinside Inn in Newlands, near Keswick because it was the nearest pub to where we were staying at Manesty - we walked there past Catbells, which was lovely. We would probably have been more critical if it hadn't been for the walk making us hungry and thirsty. (read more)
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Guest's Comment
Written on: 14/06/2011
Do s-n have any intentions of allowing anyone to make a living from one of their leased properties from an s-n lessee