Kirkstyle Inn in Carlisle

Five star country luxury in North Pennines. Stated with extended family & children, had a great and memorable time. Will book again for next year

Eating and drinking at the Kirkstyle is a very pleasant experience, made more so by the very welcoming and attentive staff. The wines on offer are from an impressive range and each one we tried was excellent, accompanying some inventive and well cooked dishes - the game terrine was really good.. The room we had (Armstrong) was comfortable and spacious with top quality bedding, which I think makes all the difference. During our stay, we visited Hexham races (45 minutes drive) which is the highest course in England so expect to be wind blown and absolutely freezing! However, returning to the Kirkstyle and enjoying a drink in front of their blazing log fire rounds the day off nicely.

Our first wedding anniversary could not have been better spent, than anywhere other than the Kirkstyle Inn. The Tasting Menu was utterly amazing! We savoured every single course, and loved how the waiter/waitress described every dish. We will be returning again in the near future.

We came for a roast dinner and whilst that was absolutely delicious, I was absolutely blown away by the desserts, in a league of their own. The rhubarb and custard souffle was one of the most beautiful things I have ever seen, and the caramel tart also exceptional. My little girl also enjoyed her sausages and chips. DO NOT SKIP DESSERT!!! This is well positioned to visit the Lambley Viaduct for a nice trail walk afterwards.

Amazing place, amazing food, amazing staff and gorgeous rooms, every small detail thought about, will definitely come back

First time at Kirkstyle but certainly not the last. Stunning location with fabulous views. Everywhere was spotlessly clean and the staff were helpful and efficient. Very classy Inn and whilst we didn't have the evening meal breakfast was superb.

The staff were so accommodating I was travelling with my 4 month old baby and was offered a cot and they carried my bags up for me. I had the Sunday roast which was probably the best I’ve ever had or certainly had in a very long time. The room was immaculate. Obviously recently refurbed to a really high spec. Beautiful antique pieces, a very comfy bed and a Samsung Frame TV. Never switched it on, just watched the art on it! Breakfast was lovely (though only filter coffee no chance for a latte). It is really remote but beautiful countryside. I will definitely stay here again.

Warm hospitality and very comfortable room with everything you would need for your stay - proper coffee; good selection of teas ; lovely soaps and shampoos etc - and wonderful views - very dog friendly. Delicious dinner and superb breakfast cooked to order. Would highly recommend and very much look forward to returning.

Made the trek across from North Shields for lunch and had an excellent meal again - this was our second visit (the first was in February and we knew we'd be back sooner or later). We had the a la carte lunch, and the food is of really high quality and prepared and presented with obvious care. Service is friendly and efficient, and there's a nice, welcoming atmosphere. A perfect way to celebrate an anniversary! There's also some interesting memorials in the adjacent churchyard, if you've a spare 5 or 10 minutes for a wander. (Photos are from our February visit, in case the light looks odd for mid-September!)

We are a couple with a dog- we had a wonderful night away in this rural inn to celebrate our anniversary and took advantage of the dinner bed and breakfast deal. The dinner was delicious and the atmosphere at the inn was great. Our room was a very high standard. In the morning, we went out for an excellent muddy dog walk right from the front door (there was a helpful book in the room).

Very attractive bar and dining room. Well presented throughout. Great attention to detail.

Excellent from start to finish, the best Sunday lunch for a very long time.

The food here is exceptional worth a detour

Outstanding. Beautiful rooms. Excellent food and service. Superb surroundings. Can you ask for more?

Another fabulous Sunday lunch, with great service and atmosphere. You must try the rhubarb and custard souffle x

The most fantastic Sunday Lunch! We were lucky enough to get the last 3 beef on Sunday evening and were not disappointed. Good portion size without being huge just for the sake of it. Fantastic quality, it's nice to be able to have the meat cooked to your liking rather than just sliced roast beef. Nice place to sit with great views out of the front. Priced well for a gastro pub and great quality.

Beautiful food and brilliant service

A bit of a bad experience for us to be honest We made a booking for 6 on the 2nd June for my mother's 89th birthday We were really looking forward to it The starters were lovely, but the 3 main courses of beef had sinew running right through it was terrible My main course was the sweet potato, that too was inedible due to the amount of balsamic vinegar over it My relative did send an email to the chef as she did not want to put the review on here We recieved no reply hence our comment on here A lot of money for a disappointing meal for my Mother's 89th birthday

Fourth visit since the Inn reopened and food and service are consistently very good. However one really annoying issue, since they gained recognition by Michelin the portion sizes have progressively got smaller each time we visit. To the extent that a Sunday roast beef lunch with two tiny slices of beef around 1/4” thick x 1.5” wide x 2” length is completely underwhelming. The same mini portion issue also applied to my partners hogget dish. Ridiculously small amounts of the key ingredient, the highlight of the dish, yet increasing prices charged will have only one result if continued as a policy—-zero business! We shall not be returning to be treated this way, its simply taking the Mickey too far.

Outstanding food. Our only criticism was that the portions are preposterously small (except for the Sunday roast). Grateful they let us sit and eat at a table by the bar when I’d booked the wrong Kirkstyle Inn. It’s rightly a really busy restaurant (not a pub in reality) so need to book ahead at weekends. The complimentary sour dough to start left us in no doubt how high quality the food was - to die for. I then shared venison haunch & a Sunday roast. Both meats were as good as they come & cooked to perfection. But to only have a single mushroom & piece of the other veg with the venison just isn’t a complete meal. The price isn’t silly for this quality of food so maybe they should just encourage you to order sides. For dessert I had the raspberry soufflé with rhubarb ice cream - sweet, fluffy perfection. Still 5* & highly recommend

Have dined here half a dozen times since it reopened after the transformational refurbishment. It's the best restaurant in the immediate Alston area. Menu is pretty much fine dining with quite delicate measures, so order plenty of sides. They use local ingredients where they can and the food is all the better for it. I will return again later this year.

Very enjoyable lunch on a busy Easter Sunday , with lots of entertainment for the grandchildren

We booked in the recommendation of a friend. Took our little Cockerpoo. We had the Churchstile room. Lovely and spacious and even a bag of treats for the dog. The view across the valley was amazing. Lovely attention to detail. The food was really high quality one of the best meals ever, again great attention to detail. To top it all though all the staff were so lovely and friendly at all times. Can't recommend highly enough.

A fantastic place. Food was amazing, staff were excellent and rooms were great. We'll definitely be coming back

We received a warm welcome from everyone at the Kirkstyle Inn today. The food was exceptional, and with a good choice. Well worth a visit.

Great place hidden away, well worth a visit

Excellent food, service sometimes a bit slow.

A delightful Sunday lunch with great food, nice beer, a warm fire and beautiful snowy views. There looks like there are some amazing walks nearby, so next time we'll be back for a hike & a meal.

Superb pub in a beautiful location, very near Hadrian Wall. The rooms are very comfortable and nicely decorated. The food mostly uses very local products, and the wine selection is excellent ! A new must-visit address !

Stunning location, great environment just a shame the food doesn’t match the former. Indeed there wasn’t quite enough food to make a judgement. My priority is always the quality of the food not the quantity but when you only have a couple of mouthfuls, for a main course that costs £25 with no complimentary vegetables or indeed complimentary anything, followed by a pudding that also leaves you wanting more, the only feeling I was left with was overall disappointment….and hunger!!! I would love to have made a plan to return but this will not happen… even the view is not enough…..

Went to a party there- great atmosphere.

Lovely meal to end our holiday in Slaggyford. Tasty food, nice ambience and good service. 3 courses for £30 is excellent value. Cucumber and Elderflower Collins cocktail was delicious!

Lovely building that has recently been tastefully refurbished. We had booked for lunch and they had no problem with fitting us in an hour early. The welcome was warm and the service was friendly and very efficient. Very tasty food with quality ingredients, and a very reasonable set menu. The house beers are also highly recommended. Would absolutely visit again, and considering staying in one of their rooms next trip...

Lovely night away. Really elegant, well appointed and spacious room. Beautiful food, with a great atmosphere and excellent service.

I am blown away, stunning location with incredible views as the sun began to set. This place is so far out of ‘the way’ yet local enough to return - which we will. It actually only took 38 minutes from Hexham to reach the venue and we were smiling all the way once we left the A69. Beautiful roads, that twist and turn through stunning Northumberland and then you happen across a lone pub. But this is no ordinary pub, from the immaculate exterior to the modern take on a barn conversion/meets country pub/meets cosy restaurant - all in one. Its perfection is reserved however for the very attentive and professional staff, who bring humour and warmth to the occasion. Then the food comes…. What a flavour explosion. Every mouthful of the delicately laid out plates takes on a new peak of taste explosion, teasing you further into the dish. A country pub might be expected to overload a plate to ensure that quantity over quality is assured - but this is a work of art, experienced by many eyes who watch master chef on the TV, yet here we are sat in Slaggyford!! I don’t really want to tell you all this as I can’t see being able to get a table again until 2024, especially since the Times and Observer glowingly reviewed this place too…. But I want the friendly staff and the incredible chef to get the merit they deserve. So yes, definitely the best meal I’ve had in 2023 and possibly of all time. Don’t take my word for it, but don’t delay as I can’t see the ‘£30 for three courses’ price tag staying much longer.

Just ate in the restaurant, food was very nice but a bit pricey for what it is

First class meal at friendly and welcoming Inn. Strong focus on local produce, meat and game beautifully presented and full of flavours.

Lovely premises, beautiful aspect, excellent service and delicious food

I booked for my family well ahead of time and asked specially for vegetarian options. We checked the published menus and there were various vegetarian options and a set menu for £30 . The menu we were offered provided none of these options. With a bill of over £500 including 3 children’s meals and 9 adult meals minus1 as my vegetarian son was initially offered no main meal. Then after some discussion roasted celeriac which when it arrived was uncooked , tiny and missing any accompaniments apart from a very little samphire - it should have had pickled walnuts . He was unable to eat it. This was not by any stretch of the imagination a main meal. Also, there were 3 side dishes available to us (as no vegetables included )and one of these was mash and unavailable.All in all It was disappointing and really spoilt our evening . We had read a very good review in The Week. It really isn’t acceptable not to provide any vegetarian options on your main menu when so many people are vegan or vegetarian. Also when referred to online menus we expect them to be available. Nor was any compensation offered to my son. Poor show!!

Absolutely rubbish. The chef couldn't make toast! I'd rather have my dog cook my dinner overpriced bilge!

Great food. Way better than typical pub food. Good ale from twice brewed brewery.

Great place, we live locally and have been several times. There’s a bar area with limited seating, a main dining room and a side dining room. The food is excellent and broadly well priced, with some pricier options for those who want it. Service isn’t fawning but is friendly and thoughtful. Beer options are fine, pretty standard, and cocktails are very cheap. They’ve been reviewed well by the Guardian and in Good Food lists so pretty full all the time now. Some odd reviews here - someone who didn’t like loud people drinking (spoiler: it’s a pub with locals) and someone who hated tipping 10%. Ignore them. It’s great.

If the stay is half as good as the service and the food here I'd still give it 11 out of 10. You feel like part of the family

Really excellent Sunday lunch, served in very relaxed way. Looking forward to a return visit.

Lovely building and setting but disappointing meal. Watercress soup did not look or taste as expected of cress and vegetables; not a light two toned appearance with flecks of cress, but a pea green puree which was indeed, I think, pea with a meat stock in the background, which I disliked. Two odd shaped gnocchi lurked below. Bread good but not generous. I would have guessed the guinea fowl breast was defrosted, served with interesting though vestigial dots of this and that. Not at all tender or tasty. Sorry to be negative but food did not match the surroundings.

Set in an idilic part of Northumberland. Great food and drink.

By chance, I saw the Grace Dent review of this place on the morning I was travelling up to Lambley for a boys weekend from Kent, so hardly local. Really lovely food, friendly service and facilities. The view out of the window is stunning too. Would highly recommend to anyone (and I have!). Astonishingly good value too.

We've been here twice recently and will definitely be back. Really tasty food is served here 😋 it's not the usual type of pub grub at all. It's great to have a place like this within driving distance. The service was top notch too. Extremely clean place. Recommended.

Second time I've been there, beautiful food, great staff and good service, we were told to eat outside cause they were fully booked, no problem, 4 of us enjoyed a good afternoon, all the best to the kirkstyle!

Just had a superb lunch. The crab with pea shoots for starter and halibut for mains which was cooked to perfection and really excellent, can't wait to go again, wonderfully.

My partner and I recently stayed at the newly refurbished Kirkstyle Inn, and it was absolutely amazing! The decor and overall design of the property is very tasteful, blending modern elegance with rustic charm perfectly. The evening meal was an absolute highlight. We dined with friends and all agreed the food was outstanding. The bar had a fantastic atmosphere, it feels like a really welcoming hub of the community. The attention to detail in the room design made it feel like a really luxury, boutique, romantic escape. We had a brilliant night's sleep in probably the most comfortable bed I've ever slept in. The Kirkstyle is a perfect choice for anyone who enjoys a scenic drive. It's 100% worth the journey. Whether you're seeking a romantic getaway or simply want to indulge in exceptional cuisine, this place is a hidden gem worth discovering.

Excellent fathers day treat at the Kirkstyle Inn. Really nice food, service and atmosphere. I would certainly visit again when in the area and would recommend to others.

Food was OK, but where was the Pub Classic menu on the Saturday? I think you are aiming too high in your clientele. Don't forget the locals guys.

We stayed here for 3 nights and the rooms are luxurious. Always welcomed with a warm friendly service and the food is fantastic. By far the only place to eat and stay in the area.

We holidayed nearby last week and decided to try the Kirkstyle Inn for a Friday lunch, expecting a normal country pub. What we got was an unexpected and truly magnificent dining experience! The place is new, but somehow keeps a rustic feel in keeping with the local countryside, but the food was absolutely magnificent. Really gourmet level stuff both in presentation and taste. Absolutely blown away. This is truly a hidden gem that needs to be found!!! Go there. PS - good drinks too including some of our favourite cocktails.

Food was nice enough, if a little pricey. Bun on the burger was a little stale and the lettuce had brown bits. Could do with a bit more isolation between the main bar and the dining area as the bar is noisy and it is a very different crowd to the diners looking for a fine restaurant meal. Service was fine but asking for a customer to select a tip between 10 and 20% when paying by card in the UK is not appropriate and just anoying, this is not the US servers get paid an appropriate wage. Removing a star just for that.

The 2 male Staff could do with some better customer service and try smiling. Its clear they are geared for food and dont want anyone taking up seating for just drinks, but just rude at making you feel uncomfortable about it. I have a bad back and knees, so cannot stand, but when asked if i could sit down, they only wanted to know if i was eating. We looked at the menu and there was nothing we fancied as quick bite, so asked if it was ok just having a drink. The look told us they did not want us just drinking, (unless standing at bar)even though were happy taking our money first, but reluctantly one of the staff said we could sit down. That was not the end of it, what looked like the owner behind the bar, starting talking about us and pointing to other staff, then bolted over and in an angry way, started clearing the table, with not as much as apology or word, making us feeling very uncomfortable. Manners cost nothing these days, but clear the greedy owner only interested in selling his high priced meals with his drinks and people with disabilities, meaning they cannot stand long, come last. Needless to say, won't be going back to such an ignorant owner, plenty choice of pubs about, who look after their clients.

Recently visited had the braised ox cheek and the chocolate parfait. My mother bought the fish and chips and all were amazing! Would have liked to stay for a cocktail as they looked amazing and Were made fresh to order. I will definitely be heading here again

Great to see this place open again. Loved the refurb, good food and friendly staff.

The Kirkstyle Inn has just been fully renovated under new ownership so ignore all of the photos on here! The food was really outstanding, small portions but if you have three courses and the incredible sourdough then you leave happy. I had the Chardonnay and have easily paid £15 a glass in most cities for a wine as good. Really exceptional food. Looking forward to eating more of the menu.

Lovely food and friendly staff. Looking forward to my next visit.

What lovely staff 😊. Warm and friendly ambiance. Perfect meal 💕.

Nice place, welcome & friendly staff, excellent Sunday roast. Highly recommend 👍

Passe by this superbly renovated pub & restaurant - the offer looks awesome -cannot wait to go there! If you are visiting the Alston/Slaggyford and surrounding areas be sure to put it on your go-to list!

Fabulous lunch at this newly refurbished/rebuilt inn. A long time coming but worth the wait! Gorgeous food, beautifully presented and good value. A warm welcome and good service. I wish I lived closer! But I'll definitely be back. I wish them every success. The area needs this.

Excellent small local pub serving good beer and food. Sunday lunch today was lovely and good value too.

Wonderful meal. Relaxed atmospere

Have just spent lovely couple of hours in Kirkstyle. Clean , bright and warm . Friendly staff made us feel welcome straight away. The service was excellent and the food was a true masterpiece. There was not one complaint from any of our party of six. Thank You Julie. We will be back

Tucked away warm cosy food for everyone cask ale very friendly amust for sausage lovers good choice

Visiting the area and popped in for Sunday dinner with the family. Two vegans, one vegetarian, one coeliac and four meat eaters, all catered for perfectly. May not be the smartest of pubs but certainly one of the most friendliest and accommodating.

Lovely meal excellent gluten free options including several cakes. Also catered for vegan 👍 ☺

Hidden away and very limited opening hours so do check before going. Brilliant simple pub with food that is anything but simple. Our family of 8 included a Vegetarians, Vegan, gluten free and meat eaters were all served brilliant food with out any fuss and at an extremely reasonable price. The pub is friendly, good beer and a fabulous location. Thanks for feeding our group of 8 at short notice on a Sunday lunch. Highly recommended as a traditional pub with great food.

Nice country pub, very pleasant place!

Great food, gluten free and friendly service

Small, friendly inn tucked away amid beautiful scenery. Food excellent and well presented. Would definitely visit again.

Very friendly and superb meals love going there.

Fabulous food. Recomend anything. Don't judge a book and all. Lovely friendly staff and dog friendly!

Having recently bought a holiday home at Lakehouse and Fell View the Kirkstyle Inn has become a regular and local stop for our family lunches and teas. The owners are lovely people, service is great and the food is superb at very reasonable prices too. Lovely wood burner at one side of the bar area and dog friendly too so our two pooches can tag along. So all in all this is a lovely country pub that we would recommend and will be going back to often when we're in the area. Edit. Just been for Sunday Lunch......best beef and Yorkshires we've had in a long while. All the extra staff today were very polite and all service with a smile...thank you.

We came across this place after setting off early evening to try to find somewhere to eat that was gluten free, it was 18 miles away from where we were staying but after reading the reviews we thought the drive could be worth it, we were not disappointed. There was an extensive menu available and just about everything on it was available gluten free, the food was superb, the portions generous and everything was cooked fresh, the staff were very friendly. I can`t recommend this place enough, we would definitely go out of our way to visit again in the future.

Great pub in the middle of nowhere ;) but make sure you book a table as it might get mega busy. We were lucky to get there just before it got super busy! The place is cosy and food was great - we enjoyed their speciality - sausages which were fantastic and portions were very generous! The staff is very friendly! And what’s most important for us - dogs are welcome! Defo recommend it! Thanks for having us!

This was our second visit about a year after the first and it was just as good as I remembered. It's a combination of their range of local Sausages, pub favourite meals and a varied selection of home-cooked specials. From the meals we and others around us we enjoying, the Sausages and specials seemed to be the favourites. The food was good quality, nicely cooked, presented neatly but simply and with generous portions. So generous that we didn't get to enjoy their desserts this time!Views from the front tables out over the valley beyond with newly born lambs playing in the fields made the food taste even better.

Fantastic food at brilliant prices. One of our party is coeliac and Julie was great, explaining what food was available etc. Getting gluten free apple pie and apple crumble was an unusual, and very welcome experience. Totally recommend.

Just used the bar but local people friendly and great fun. Dogs more than welcomed which was lovely. Did not eat on this occasion but menu looked excellent.

Went midweek last week. Huge portions that we couldn't finish and for a decent price. Came second in the pub quiz! Would recommend but check when they are open if you go at lunchtime as we found them closed when website said they were open.

We had a couples evening meal at the Kirkstyle Inn. We were warmly welcomed, staff were friendly and very accommodating. Food was great, catering for gluten free requirements in our party and the local beer hit the right spot. Presentation of meals was good, portions were large, and well-cooked steaks were accompanied by delicious sauces. We timed our visit to coincide with the monthly fun quiz night, so got entertained as well.

We visited this pub as it was recommended in our holiday cottage guest book. It was a lovely country pub with friendly, welcoming staff and the food was excelllent. We enjoyed our evening meals so much that we booked to return the following day for Sunday lunch and that too was very enjoyable. We would definitely recommend eating here!

We set off at 9.30 a.m. and by 2 p.m. we are drinking our second pint in the Kirkstyle Inn. So if it really is eleven miles from Greenhead to Knarsdale we must have been walking at a military pace - from Simon Armitage's Walking Home

Lovely dog friendly pub with excellent food

Friendly if a bit outdated country pub with good choice of food, smaller portions available for kids choices which is nicer than the usual 'kids menu'. Our meals were good and tasty but not outstanding. Beer was well kept although only one choice for my husband and son in law who prefer blond beers.

Decided to try this perfect pub after reading positive comments in the Visitors Book in our cottage. Only went as it was the halfway point on our walk, but the reception we received, the great location and fluffy delicious chips made our decision to return for Sunday Lunch an easy one.

Food was amazing, service was great and the staff were friendly.

Five of us booked to celebrate my parents 50th wedding anniversary - we were not disappointed. This is cosy little pub in excellent surroundings. We received a very warm welcome, from the owners and the roaring fire, on a chilly autumn day. There was plenty of choice on the menu and everything we had was cooked to perfection and delicious.

Simple but lovely food and local beer

Amazing food with great service..

12 of us were staying in the area for a 40th birthday and stumbled upon this little gem of a pub. Super friendly welcome as soon as we walked through the door. Good selection of drinks for a small pub. Food was excellent can't say a bad word, all the girls enjoyed there meals. Plenty of variety for everyone. Would highly recommend this place if your in the area. Thanks for making us so welcome. From the Geordie girls.

We enjoyed a delightful Sunday lunch here whilst staying locally on holiday in July. The food was fresh and homecooked and tasted amazing. The young barmaid was managing to wait on 7-8 tables, run the bar and engage in friendly banter with everyone with ease! Something that is rarely seen down our way in the South. A lovely experience.

Iv been a local for all my life and this is for me one of the best places to eat in the area. How some people have given negative feed back on the food is quite baffling. Very friendly staff, polite and helpful. Its warm and cosy. The food is of high standard, homemade food, good portions and tastes delicious. Highly recommended visiting this inn. Specially for food.

Lovely simple pub food. Beer great as well, Friendly Atmosphere

Staying down in Slaggyford and wanted a family Sunday lunch.. 2 minutes drive down the road and found this lovely pub. Wow the best ever roast beef I have ever had !

Goede maaltijden en leuke bediening. Zeer gastvrij en spontaan. Aanrader !