Kings Arms

The room was basic, with the bathroom off the hallway, but the price was good and the location handy. It’s a busy pub, so music and people from the bar carry up to the room. It wasn’t loud for us, though we could clearly hear it. If you’re easily disturbed or want an early night, this may not suit. The bar itself is good.

I was glad I picked this quirky old room instead of a modern chain hotel. It’s an old inn in the heart of Ulverston, and the room was spacious, clean and full of character. I knew when booking that the bathroom was shared at the end of the corridor. I was up early and in bed early, so that arrangement worked fine for me. The bed was comfortable, with plenty of warm bedding and pillows. There was a washbasin, tea and coffee, and hooks behind the door for my key and dressing gown. No bedside tables or lamps, but a fold-out table and lamp were provided and easy to set up. If I’d been travelling with my husband, that lack would have bothered us. The bathroom had a shared hand towel, which another guest had left in a heap on the floor. I did wonder what they’d used it to mop up, and thought it showed little respect for other guests. Parking is available, but hard to find, so speak to the inn before you arrive. The car park is off a side street through an old coaching arch, which is nearly invisible in the dark and extremely narrow, clearly built for a horse rather than a car. The ground is rough, and turning in is a challenge. Bring a torch if you’re arriving at night, and clean your reversing camera. There’s also a very steep, narrow stairway without a rail leading down to the hotel, so you’ll need that torch. It may be easier to walk around through the archway. This place is part of the town’s history, and staying here feels like an adventure.

The food was fantastic and very reasonably priced, and the room was second to none for the price. Everyone was incredibly friendly, from the landlady to Sofia, the accommodating, polite and beautiful barmaid. When I’m back in Ulverston, this is the only place I’d stay.

We asked for spicy Thai food and got exactly what we hoped for. There’s a good selection, and the pub is very dog friendly with plenty of outdoor space. I liked that the Thai menu sits alongside English classics at weekends. The beer was good, but most had run out, leaving very little choice. It was the day after the Euro finals.