Nightlife in Penrith

If you’re heading out for a drink in the town centre, we recommend starting at the Board & Elbow just a short stroll from our Penrith hotel. It offers a strong selection of ales, wines and spirits, good pub food at a bargain price and sports TV. If you’d rather play than watch, it also has a games room with pool and darts. The low-beamed ceiling and traditional fireplaces give it bags of character, and the friendly staff and locals greet everyone with a smile.

On the outer edge of Penrith town centre is The Cross Keys, a recently revamped Kyloes Inns pub. It’s hard to say what this pub specialises in because it does everything so well. The selection of real ales and fine wines is up there with the best we’ve seen, the food is mouth-wateringly good and the atmosphere is second to none. In fact, the old cliche that you walk in as a customer and leave as a friend actually does carry some truth here.

If you’re visiting nearby Pooley Bridge to embark on an Ullswater ‘Steamers’ cruise, one of our top activities in Penrith, then you absolutely have to visit the Crown Inn. With stunning views of Ullswater, one of the best beer gardens we’ve ever seen and a well-stocked bar and kitchen, it is definitely one of the best pubs in the area.

Next to Arthur’s Round Table, a neolithic earthwork henge once thought to be King Arthur’s jousting arena, is The Beehive Inn. This quintessential British pub has events going on throughout the week. On Tuesday, it hosts a hotly contested pub quiz, Wednesday is curry night, Friday is steak night and on Sunday, the chefs serve up a traditional Sunday lunch. You’ll find The Beehive Inn two miles south of Penrith in Eamont Bridge, a popular spot for walkers exploring the Cumberland and Westmorland countryside.

If craft ale is your thing, head to Fell Bar on King Street in the town centre. It’s the brewery tap for Fell Brewery, a local artisan beer maker flying the flag for Cumbrian ale. You won’t find the usual imported lagers here. In fact, it’s likely you won’t have seen or tried any of the beers served here before. But don’t let that put you off; the enthusiastic staff will be happy to talk you through their selection and give you samples to try before you pick your pint.

If the pubs are closing, and you’re not ready to call it a night yet, The Warehouse on Burrowgate is open until the early hours on Friday and Saturday. It’s a bit of a tardis, with a small entrance leading to a large, modern club where DJs and live music acts entertain the locals and tourists alike. Drinks are cheap, especially when you take advantage of one of their drink deals, and there’s ample room to showcase your shapes on the dance floor or watch from afar in one of their comfy booths.