Masons Arms  

Set in beautiful countryside of Cartmel Fell, the view is breathtaking in its scale. Plenty of seats outside for those summer days walking and to view the dramatic scenery.

The pub (with a 1920's feel) is on a tight bend in the road, so drive slowly round here. The building is very old with low beamed ceiling, copper objects hanging from it. Years of use and the rigours of the weather have seemingly made the building tilt and all the rooms seem to lean down the hill! Service comes from a two roomed bar, the first with a real range fire to warm your bones, the second with a real lit range you can cosy up against in winter. Seating starts behind the door to the left with good views of the road and hillside. Tables and chairs are all rough cut wood giving it that rustic feel.

The second room is benches, tables and chairs. Floors throughout are stone/slate flags. There is also a TV, not satellite - yet! Towards the toilets along the corridor are large glass cabinets which seem to contain a near perfect record of bottled beers over the years.

Toilets are difficult for disabled to navigate, but male urinal divides are rough cut stone/slate.

They no longer brew beer here, but were famous for their Damson Ale. This is now more of a bistro pub than a real ale pub, but that doesn't detract from it.

Food is served 12-2 & 6-9 and all food is home-made and plentiful and superbly cooked. The beef casserole had nothing but beef in it (alright, a few veg too) - good choice of veggie food too.

Disabled access to all but toilets.

Accommodation comes as self-catering flats, but why bother cooking when the food's this good. Ordinary B&B available up the road from Windermere side of hill.

The pub has recently been refurbished but retained the traditional bar and terrace features and there is now a new fifty seat dining room. This reflects the new direction of the pub. In addition there are now canopies and heaters to the outdoor terrace area.

Comments
 

I make an annual pilgrimage to this pub for its fine selection of well kept ales. Drinking there IS a treat. However, the food is another story. Two years ago it was ok, last year it was disappointing and this year (27/12/00)

the wild mushroom special was inedible and the bean cassoulet special uninventive and very dull. My co-diners support these verdicts. Unfortunately a food review is only as valid as the residence of the chef. Next year I will stick to a bowl of chips until I can be persuaded otherwise! (AD, 2000) 

 

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