It was mentioned by a member at our recent CAMRA monthly meeting how good the beer and service is at The Kings Head at Thirlspot, which is on the main road between Keswick and Grasmere.

Along with the Travelllers Rest near Grasmere these two hostelries have been owned by the Sweeney family from Windermere for many years. They trade as Lake District Inns Limited.

The former Cellar Bar in Keswick (see article on this website) was also acquired by the family company and became Sweeney’s Bar for a few years, but was subsequently granted planning permission and turned into self catering holiday flats.

The Kings Head and the Travellors Rest both have traditional bars and are attractive historical inns.

About the time that bright ochre coloured pollution from historic coal mine workings started pouring into Whitehaven Marina from the drainage system of the nearby Whitehaven Railway Tunnel in November 2022, it was announced in the Whitehaven News that the John Paul Jones pub, near to the Marina entrance, was to be demolished with immediate effect.

Fast forward 2 years and nothing whatsoever has been done to curtail the pollution problem and the John Paul Jones pub (named after a former locally employed young man, often referred to as the Father of the mighty United States Navy) is boarded up but still intact.

It should be added that Captain John Paul Jones sailed from Brest, France on the USS Ranger in 1778 in a mission to harass British shipping during the American Revolution on the British homeland and having captured or sunk a few ships in the Irish Sea he headed for Whitehaven with the intention of destroying a fleet of over 400 merchant ships that were grounded in the harbour on low tide, but his efforts caused little damage.

John Paul Jones (1747-92) was born on the Scottish side of the border and was famed for his capture of the British vessel HMS Serapis. He was also famed for the phrase 'I have not yet begun to fight !'

He was celebrated as a hero in America but excoriated as a villainous pirate in England. The John Paul Jones Memorial is situated on Independence Avenue in Washington, DC

Phil Wooly of the West Cumbria branch reports that Crooked River Brewing have just opened a bar in Packhorse Court in Keswick. Brewers Phil and Ian are seen here in their new bar.

These two guys are in the process of taking over Tractor Shed Brewery as the current brewer Mitchell Krauss retires shortly.

This new beer outlet features mostly keg beers plus a couple of real ales on handpump.

Phil Wooly of our branch visited the Yew Tree Pub and Eatery in late October. It was built in 1647 and is situated in the hamlet of Seatoller which is in the very 'jaws of Borrowdale'.

Phil says it has been refurbished to an amazing standard, with lots of Honister slate used from the nearby quarry.

There was a single real ale on sale, namely Honister IPA from Tirril Brewery.

This completes a trio of excellent real ale pubs in the upper reaches of this beautiful valley, as the Glaramara Hotel and the Langstrath Inn are nearby.

The Briery at Stainburn was advertised for lease by Trust Inns earlier this year.

Those of us old enough to remember may recall that the founder of Trust Inns was the late Trevor Hemmings, who was also a wealthy racehorse owner.

The Briery has reopened as a gastro-pub but with a spacious public bar.

Wainwright beer is on handpump at £4.40 a pint.

The Briery is a fine old building and has been tastefully refurbished to a high standard.

I called in shortly after it reopened and the bar staff were friendly and welcoming.

Stainburn is an attractive suburb of Workington and it is to be hoped that this pub does a roaring trade.

The monthly members' branch meeting was held at The Globe public house, Main Street, Hensingham on Saturday 5th October

It was well attended and productive, including voting for the next Pub of the Season. To be announced shortly.

Our Treasurer, Brian Maudling, has copies of the 2025 CAMRA Good Beer Guide for sale which he will bring to branch meetings.

The branch welcomes new members.

The meeting discussed the advantages of joining CAMRA and the consensus was that these include socialising with like minded beer drinkers, volunteering to do pub surveys for beer guide entries, occasional branch bus trips visiting pubs and sometimes breweries and most importantly being part of a consumer pressure group that is dedicated to saving not only real ale but also our precious pubs and breweries. Members can also attend and vote on motions at the CAMRA national AGM weekend, which is held at a changing venue each year and also incorporates a beer festival.

It’s all change at The Pheasant as their unspoilt public bar is now manned at all times.

Owing to acute staff shortages since the Inn Collection Group bought this old coaching inn, most of the time drinks have had to be purchased in the restaurant bar, with the public bar being open but unstaffed.

This lovely old hotel used to be right on the A66, before it was by passed. It even had a petrol pump outside many years ago.

The route of the current A66 near there is built on what used to be the railway line between Keswick and Cockermouth.

The Pheasant had sold draught Bass for as long as anyone could remember, until the previous owners took it out.

Currently, the house ale is Loweswater Gold plus a changing beer. Both real ales are currently priced at £5.50 a pint.

This business in Packhorse Court in Keswick has expanded by taking over the shop unit next door.

Real ale is always on sale in the form of changing beers.

Trading hours are 12 noon to 8pm and 9pm closing on Friday and Saturday.

Packhorse Court now has three licensed premises, including Robinson’s Packhorse pub plus a popular wine bar.

It was named Packhorse Court as it used to be the site of Packhorse Steel, a successful local company which moved years ago up to a farm premises beyond the Castlerigg Stone Circle.

It would appear that the Waverley Hotel, which is empty and up for sale, still remains unsold, despite being auctioned twice online.

However, in early October 2024 the pub is rumoured to be under offer from a local buyer.

Perhaps there is indeed an opportunity here for an energetic young buyer to pick it up at a very good price.

It has great potential. Lovely old building. Great location. Plenty of lucrative bedrooms.

Just needs the right operator in place.

It was run by the same family for many years until about 4 years ago when they sold out to a company who turned it briefly into an asylum hostel.

When run as a hotel it was popular for both food and drink with local clientele. Swan Blonde real ale was their house beer.

It would need a new bar installing as this was ripped out by the current owners.

This could be a golden opportunity for someone who wants a challenge in this fine old Georgian town.

TUESDAY 2nd July there is an informal branch social get together at 7pm at the Candlestick pub on Tangier Street in Whitehaven.

Prospective new members welcome.

The Candlestick is listed in the current CAMRA Good Beer Guide and it serves at least 3 handpulled beers.

The former Jennings Brewery site remains unsold, despite prolonged attempts to sell it on the open market and also by online auction, with a low reserve price.

A sad end to one of Cumberland’s finest breweries.

Gone are the days of smelling the sweet aroma of boiling hops in Cockermouth.

But that might change for the better in the near future when the new brewery at The Bitter End pub on Kirkgate starts brewing.

Since the Castle Brewery was closed by owners Carlsberg Marstons, part of the old Court House opposite it collapsed into the river. Not a pretty sight.

The 26th Keswick Beer Festival is held on Friday and Saturday of this week on the rugby pitch, which is just 2 minutes walk from the bus terminus next to Booths supermarket.

It is held in big marquee tents, with real ales being dispensed straight from the barrel by volunteer staff.

This not-for-profit annual event raises a huge amount of funds for local charities and good causes and is run by Keswick Rugby Club along with the Keswick branch of The Lions.

A few tickets are still available online on the festival website and there is still the opportunity to sponsor a barrel for £125

There is plenty of live entertainment plus food.

A free programme can be downloaded from the website and more information about the beer festival can be found on Facebook.