Pork pies, Scotch eggs, nuts & crisps, the Rule doesn’t bother too much with food, but that doesn’t stop it from being one of Ambleside’s favourite pubs. Forget modish, fancy, gussied-up gastro-boozers, this place sticks to the time-honoured virtues that everyone expects from a proper sociable drinking den – open fires, the daily papers to read, a dart board, ‘strong stuff’ on the optics, & dependably good beer to sup. Six ales are on tap: four regulars including Hartley’s Cumbria Way & XB, Robinson’s Dizzy Blonde & Double Hop, along with two regularly changing guest brews. They will even make you a mug of tea, a latte or a hot chocolate. There’s no Muzak, & no sport on TV either – in all, the Rule is a true local’s local of the old sort.