The Embleton Spa Hotel has been listed in the CAMRA Good Beer Guide for the past two years. They keep a good quality pint of beer and the hotel has a brilliant outdoor drinking area with great views of the fells.

Ali Dixon and his wife Jo, who live in Keswick, took over the lease of the Embleton Spa in 2013 and they have built up an enviable trade, offering fresh food along with decent beer. Current price of a pint is £4.10.

They recently purchased the freehold of the Royal Hotel in the hamlet of Dockray which is about halfway between Keswick and Penrith and just a mile from Ullswater, which is regarded by many as the most beautiful lake in the National Park. Ali spent a lot of time in the Ullswater area as a child and even worked at the Royal as a 16 year old. The Royal Hotel dates back to the 16th century and both Mary Queen of Scots and William Wordsworth visited the hotel.

When Mary Queen of Scots stayed there on 13th July 1568 it was then called The Cross Keys and was originally a farmhouse. The Cross Keys became the Royal Hotel round about 1860.

During the quieter winter months Ali has Coniston Bluebird on handpump at the Royal and as the weather warms up he intends to add Loweswater Gold and a variety of local guest ales.

Ali has a very useful talent for a hotel owner. When required he can rattle the pans in the kitchen as he can ‘chef’ with the best of them.