The Bridge Inn

We didn't stay overnight, so I can't speak to the rooms, and the location really is lovely. We were staying around the corner and gave the place two tries, once for dinner and once just for drinks. The building in santon bridge is beautiful, and the inside is nicely decorated. That's about where the positives stopped for us. The prices were steep for both food and drinks, even soft drinks, worse than Windermere or Ambleside in summer. Dinner was especially disappointing: a small, dry, tasteless chili that seemed microwaved, with most of the plate covered in nachos. None of us finished it, and at around £20 per meal the food needs to improve. With good bars and pubs only about a five-minute drive away, the food and bar service really need work. We got the impression it might be someone's first time running a bar or restaurant. We wouldn't return, and I'd recommend The Kellbank around the corner instead.

The back room worked perfectly for watching live sports. We came in with friends for drinks a few times over New Year’s since we were staying nearby, and the service was quick and friendly. Best pub in the lakes. We'll definitely come back!

I’ve eaten in hundreds of pubs, and this was the most expensive one I’ve been in. A pint was £7, pizza £14, and a double cheeseburger with chips £25. Pure greed, Michelin prices. We stopped for one night hoping to get tea and take a long walk in the morning, but after reading the menu, and the bad reviews about the food, we decided against eating here.

The lack of notice about breakfast disrupted my work trip. We weren't told in advance that there was no chef, so we had to go to Irton Hall to eat, but its serving times didn't fit our schedule. For the prices here, the service has fallen far short. A pint costs £6.50, while the nearby Kellbank charges £5.20 and has much better food. The room had serious practical problems too. During my five-night stay, the bedding was never changed, and the single roll of toilet paper wasn't replaced. The floor was so uneven that the bed sat at an angle, and the bathroom door only opened partway because it was so close to the bed. The kettle was ancient and took about 10 minutes to boil, which isn't much help when you're in a hurry. I was also concerned about safety and security. There was no lighting on the landing or downstairs at night. When I stepped outside for a smoke, I had to hold the front door open so the high winds wouldn't lock me out in pitch darkness. There's no night call option or porter in an emergency, and allowing campers to park overnight made me worry about my car. I'd stayed at the Bridge Inn before and used to find it reliable. The standards have slipped badly, and between these hazards and the poor communication about breakfast, I don't consider it fit for purpose anymore. I won't return.