One of the largest restaurants in the Lake District, this is a busy, bustling place with the action taking place on three levels, including a mezzanine floor. For such big premises it really is quite an achievement to provide consistent good quality Modern European food, which appeals not just to tourists but the locals as well.

They also tailor what they offer quite cleverly from the Lite Bites at lunchtime like Cumberland sausage with mash potato and pickled red cabbage or tagliatelle with smoked chicken, blue cheese and walnuts, to an early evening menu offering exceptional value, and finally the full 'a la carte'.

The choice on that could include: crispy duck salad with watercress and coriander or taleggio and pomegranate risotto to start, followed by marinated seared fillet of salmon with deep fried celeriac and cumin sweet potato, lemongrass and lime dressing; braised Herdwick lamb with gratin dauphinoise or roast breast of Lakeland chicken, walnut cous-cous and basil cream.

Not only is the menu interesting, but so is the wine list, with most of the choices under £20 a bottle, presenting excellent value for money. No children under 5 years.