The Pheasant Inn, Bassenthwaite

We stayed here on the first night of a week-long motorcycle tour heading to Scotland from the southwest. After a long 8-hour ride, we were welcomed by really friendly staff, checked in with no hassle, and were back down in the bar within 10 minutes! There was plenty of parking for our group of nine, and they kindly offered some extra space in the laundry room to help us dry off our wet motorcycle gear. The bar had a great atmosphere, and the food was excellent – exactly what we needed after a long day in the saddle. They were very accommodating with our group, spread over five rooms. A brilliant stop with great service – would happily stay again.

Stayed for the weekend and cannot fault the service and hospitality. We've been going for years for the food which has always been great but have noticed under new management a sustained improvement of quality and service of food. Loving the homemade pies, please keep them. Had a lovely weekend stay. The room was beautiful and a great en-suite. This place is set in beautiful grounds of the Lake District National Park. So sorry to be leaving but we'll definitely be back soon. A special mention to Stuart, Richard and the team. All the very best Ed and Vicky and of course Colin ❤️

Absolutely beautiful! Such a peaceful and relaxing place to stay. Well appointed and renovated rooms. They upgraded my room to a larger room which overlooked a spectacular garden. The staff are also very lovely people. The buffet breakfast was delicious but I wish I had known that my room rate included the full breakfast - the front desk refunded me that portion. Going up the stairs with my luggage was a bit of a struggle for me but front desk helped me with I really appreciated. The inn is dog friendly as well….a nice bonus for those traveling with dogs. This was a business trip for me but I hope to return and stay here for an actual vacation.

It's over 30 years since we visited The Pheasant and things have changed tremendously. The room was clean and well decorated. The shower room was clean and large. The staff were pleasant, polite and welcoming. We got a good nights sleep on the comfy spacious bed. We had an excellent and relaxing impromptu visit and will definitely visit again. We would recommend this hotel.

Our stay at The Pheasant Inn, Bassenthwaite (Cockermouth, United Kingdom) was fantastic. The charm and beauty of the Inn along with the welcoming staff made it a perfect overnight. Dinner was delicious and spending time in the pub was a great way to unwind after a day of travel. Thank you to Richard and James, two employees that made our stay extra special.

Had a pleasant evening dining in the pheasant. It’s my first time there since the takeover several years ago and it was a nice experience. The best part was the quality of the staff all kept busy and moving quickly all night. Food was good and really swift.|Dogs are welcome and to my liking they are allowed in a separate area away from the likes of me that thinks they should be in a kennel not a restaurant.|Will definitely return and it’s so close to home.

A Mixed Experience for a Large Family Stay – Some Great Highlights, but Also Some Letdowns We stayed here as a family group of 11, spanning ages 18 to 88, across six rooms for a two-night break. Positives: Lovely Rooms: Our room was beautifully presented, with a fantastic en-suite featuring a powerful shower. It was located on the first floor at the rear of the hotel. Some other rooms on the ground floor were nice as well, though they didn’t quite match the same standard. Stunning Gardens: The hotel grounds are beautifully maintained, with plenty of seating areas to relax in. There are several walking routes starting directly from the garden, which made it ideal for morning dog walks. Dog Friendly: The hotel is very accommodating to dogs, which was a big plus for us. Good Breakfast: Breakfast was well-prepared and enjoyable each morning. Great Service from Richard: Richard, one of the managers, was excellent—friendly, professional, and genuinely focused on ensuring guests have a good stay. Well-Stocked Bars: The two bars offer a good selection of drinks, and the atmosphere was pleasant. Peaceful Location: The hotel is set in a quiet area, which is exactly what we were looking for. Negatives: Uncomfortable Pillows: Unfortunately, the synthetic pillows were extremely uncomfortable, which was a real shame given how comfortable the mattresses were. Poor Quality Dinner: The evening meals were a major disappointment. Not one member of our party enjoyed their dish—every piece of meat served was severely overcooked and incredibly tough. Billing Error: Our final bill included snacks and drinks that weren’t ours, which added unnecessary hassle at checkout. Unprofessional Attitude from One Manager: While Richard was excellent, the other male manager lacked any sense of customer service. One of our party, who hadn’t brought ID, was rightly refused alcohol. However, the manager then proceeded to threaten to eject the entire group if he suspected that individual was drinking. Considering we spent over £3,000 for the two-night stay, this response felt overly aggressive and unwarranted. His cold and dismissive attitude continued the next morning, and at checkout, he didn’t even ask for any feedback. It’s unfortunate he doesn’t take cues from Richard’s exemplary approach to hospitality. Summary: This hotel has a lot going for it—beautiful grounds, lovely rooms, and a peaceful setting. However, our overall experience was marred by poor dining, billing issues, and a disappointing interaction with one of the managers. With a few key improvements, this could be a fantastic destination for large groups

We stopped for lunch here after the place we had decided on was closed for lunch. It was quiet when we got there so we didn't know if they were serving lunch. We spoke to a very nice lady who recommended sitting in the garden which was a lovely sun trap. The food was lovely and light lunches were great value. Plenty to eat and everyone enjoyed their meal. The place is lovely and peaceful. Service great and staff really welcoming and helpful. It allowed dogs too.

My wife, dog and I came here for a delightful afternoon tea to celebrate our first wedding anniversary. This place clearly was an old coaching inn and you can really sense the history and age of the place. There are many different rooms which cater for different things, a lovely bar, a larger dining room and some smaller ante-rooms for things such as afternoon tea which I would definitely recommend. Well worth a stop en route to Keswick!

Great meal! Highly recommend the duck. The atmosphere is cozy and warm, perfect for a rainy day. The food could have come a bit faster and some mix up with the check at the end. All together the food was worth it. Ps try the toffee dessert

Wonderful and amazing choice of whiskey. Cider choice poor. The food is good, small quantity, quite expensive and the food is bistro/gastro pub. Would rather have had good basic food.