Harden's survey result
Summary
This famous Lakeland watering hole, a 17th-century inn at a remote crossroads with views to distant Windermere, has long been a favourite for hikers, tourists and locals (including Tom Barnes, former executive chef at L’Enclume, who has been quoted tipping its “cosy” interiors, “beautiful food and amazing beers” – the latter from its own microbrewery). The robust meals are priced to a pleasingly straightforward formula: at lunch, starters are all £15, mains £25, sides £7 and puds £14; dinner is £45 for two courses, £65 for three courses, coffee and petits fours.
Summary
This rural gastropub-with-rooms in prime Lakeland tourist territory is “still good after very many years”. The concise menu has “a strong focus on vegetarian and fish dishes” (although one visitor’s husband “had a hankering for a few more meaty options”), but in any case it’s all “very tasty” and “the bar with the on-site brewery (Barngates) is excellent” too.
Summary
Also home to the Barngates Brewery – whose brews are on tap – this rural pub is a popular destination on the Lakeland tourist trail. It didn’t generate much attention in our annual diners’ poll this year, but such as we received was ‘all good‘ (although some feedback suggested “mains aren’t as good as the starters and puds”).
Summary
This “out-of-the-way gem” in a “wonderful rural location beyond Ambleside” is a “brilliant pub with terrific food and very tasty ale” from its own Barngates Brewery, out the back. It gets “very busy” at holiday times, but – even when “full of tourists and short of staff” – “the food is well prepared and presented”.
For 34 years we've been curating reviews of the UK's most notable restaurant. In a typical year, diners submit over 50,000 reviews to create the most authoritative restaurant guide in the UK. Each year, the guide is re-written from scratch based on this survey (although for the 2021 edition, reviews are little changed from 2020 as no survey could run for that year).
Have you eaten at Drunken Duck?
Barngates, Ambleside, LA22 0NG
Restaurant details
Prices
| Availability | 2 courses | 3 courses |  |
 |
 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dinner | £45.00 | £65.00 |  |
|
 |
Traditional European menu
| Starter | Main | Veggies | Pudding |
|---|---|---|---|
| £15.00 | £25.00 | £7.00 | £14.00 |
| Drinks |
|
|---|---|
| Wine per bottle | £35.00 |
| Filter Coffee | £3.00 |
| Extras |
|
|---|---|
| Bread | £4.00 |
| Service | 10.00% |
Barngates, Ambleside, LA22 0NG
Opening hours
| Monday | 12 pm‑2 pm, 6 pm‑8 pm |
| Tuesday | 12 pm‑2 pm, 6 pm‑8 pm |
| Wednesday | 12 pm‑2 pm, 6 pm‑8 pm |
| Thursday | 12 pm‑2 pm, 6 pm‑8 pm |
| Friday | 12 pm‑2 pm, 6 pm‑8 pm |
| Saturday | 12 pm‑2 pm, 6 pm‑8 pm |
| Sunday | 12 pm‑2 pm, 6 pm‑8 pm |
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