The Punchbowl Inn & Restaurant

Now owned by the people behind the much-loved Drunken Duck at the other end of the Lakes in Ambleside, the handsomely renovated rambling stone building sits back off the road from Kendal to nowhere, overseeing the stunningly lush Lythe Valley. Inside, it’s Farrow & Balled up to the hilt, the slate floors & chalkboards familiar gastropub kit– but there’s nothing ubiquitous about the food. The kitchen scrupulously sources local ingredients, bringing to the table braised pig’s trotter with seared scallops & quail’s egg, then fillet of halibut poached in duck fat with oxtail, carrot purée & turnips. To finish, rhubarb & custard tart with gingerbread ice cream is astonishingly good. The Punchbowl is a classy, practiced operation, but nonetheless warm & welcoming, serving Westmorland Gold from the Drunken Duck’s Barngates microbrewery, & the tiny operational post office in the pub is a nice touch. Should you wish to make a weekend of it, there are nine individually decorated bedrooms upstairs.