Foundry 34

The restaurant is popular with locals and worth a visit for the good food. Just be aware they give you a set time to eat. If you arrive too early, there are no seats at the bar and they don’t seem to know what to do with you while you wait. We didn’t stay, so I can’t comment on the hotel.

The food and setting were so good that we’d happily come back. The place had a relaxed feel, and even at a table under a speaker the music was at a comfortable level. We had two mains, two puddings, Prosecco, cider and coffees for £62, excellent value for how busy it gets. The steak was cooked perfectly medium, just as requested, and the draft cider and Prosecco came in spotless glasses. The cutlery was clean, and the table wasn’t sticky, which matters to me because of my OCD. The service at the start put a bit of a dampener on things. Our first server was polite but seemed low in energy and a little sullen. We were shown to our pre-booked table, but shortly after I had to go to the bar and order drinks myself, instead of being asked if we wanted any. That offer came later after the server changed. We were the only diners then, and it almost felt like our arrival was an inconvenience. It took a while to shake off that first impression, and we both remarked on it to each other. Thankfully, the replacement server was warm, attentive and genuinely caring, which did a lot to lift the meal. Everyone has a bad day, but after more than 30 years in retail, I learned to leave personal baggage at the door. I felt it was worth mentioning here. We’d been eating around Penrith town centre for four months and had been meaning to try Foundry 34. Not sure why we hadn’t come sooner.

The team made our two-night anniversary break a lovely one, and we’d thoroughly recommend the place. We had dinner at the hotel on the first night, with very nice, well-cooked food, though I ate too much and that was my own doing! Our room was well prepared and appointed, with a great shower and facilities. It’s near the town centre, which was lovely to walk around, and there’s plenty to see and do. We walked a lot and drove to a few local places of interest we’d planned to visit. We booked the Foundry through booking.com for our wedding anniversary. The information before arrival was spot on, it was easy to find, and the advice about local parking was very good. The staff were kind and helpful throughout.

Such a great place, and the food was absolutely beautiful. The portions are generous too.