Fish Hotel

Set in one of the most stunning locations in England, it's a shame that this place fails to live up to it in terms of looks. The bar is simply a very large room in old-school pub decor, and with no nooks or crannies has a bit of a canteen feel about it. The staff's friendliness did make up for the decor a bit, but unfortunately the beer was as uninspiring as the room - 3 of Jennings' standards, one national bitter, and just one from a local micro. The quality of the beer was a little sub-par too. The food was actually pretty nice - huge portions of heart home cooked grub, just what you need after a day in the fells. However, overall at present the Bridge Hotel bar next door is probably a slightly better bet (although I suspect that the title of best pub in the village switches between the two on a regular basis, so if you come here it's probably worth having a look in both to see which you prefer). Pleasant enough though.

Set at the junction of two mountain passes alongside the pristine setting of Buttermere this place has the draw of being situated within England’s best natural setting. The area is stunning and on a sunny day the terrace is a fantastic place to have a drink, despite being a slapdash concrete construction - the views however are amazing. The only piece of grass the pub owns is out of bounds to the public, as are dogs within the bar so on a lesser day the Bridge Hotel next door might be a better choice. The pub offers a good menu, but as options in this area are limited the prices are high. The same can be said for the drinks, but they do have a range of local real ales to choose from. The decor is traditional modern and comfortable enough.