Kirkstyle Inn in Carlisle

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

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.

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

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 !

Mid week supper par excellence! Black pudding to die for, feather steak cooked perfectly medium rare with an amazing pepper sauce .... wish we'd had room for a pudding, all of which sounded great. Other half wondered if we could stay in the area a second night so he could try a different sausage from their range so I guess that's as good a recommendation as we can give. Would definitely go again.

Great food and very friendly owners

My wife and I ate there tonight on the recommendation of entries in the visitors’ book in our holiday cottage. Our first course was fine. For our main course I had gammon egg and chips, and my wife ‘Whitby sea food basket’ with chips and salad. In both cases the chips were very soft - had clearly been hanging around too long and perhaps reheated - while the battered sea food had been deep fried far too long and was overdone. When we brought this to the waitress’s attention she took the plate back to the kitchen, only to bring it back to say that the chef said ‘It’s been deep fried, what do you expect.’ Frankly, we expected rather better.

This pub is a little gem and deserves to be number 1 in the area. The food and welcome were both first class. The location is stunningly beautiful, nestling on a hillside overlooking the South Tyne river. The locals were welcoming and generous with their knowledge of the area as well as their birthday cake. Thank you John!. The menu was interesting and varied, catering for a variety of tastes and preferences including veggies and gluten free options. The three of us ate their several times, and absolutely everything we tried was first class. Superb home made chips and potato wedges, salads were tasty, interesting and huge, steaks were delicious and the veggie curry was excellent. You would need to travel a long way to better this fantastic little pub. We will be back....Shame we live 6 hours away!

Great selection of food and don't let the outside put you off - inside is much larger than expected, and done out very nicely. Staff are extremely friendly and only too happy to help. Great quality pub nosh. It's a bit 'out in the sticks', but it's well worth a visit!!

Good quality local pub food. Delicious slow cooked lamb shoulder.

Visited during our stay after recommendation by locals and was not disappointed. Best peppercorn sauce I’ve ever tasted. Home made chips were to die for. This pub is just off the main road and is very traditional. Locals are friendly and the staff welcoming and thankful for your business. If you want proper pub grub and real local ale this is your place :)

Friendly and welcoming pub in a tiny village up in the hills which caters for locals and tourists alike. A really good menu and a chef who clearly understands coeliac gluten free. For starters, we had black pudding with french bread and chicken liver pate. The Lamb Henrys with gluten free chips (separate fryer) were lovely and tender. No room for dessert. Recommended.

Superb, best GF menu and accommodating welcome in 5 years of being GF Looking for late afternoon dinner for 4 people, including 2 Coeliacs and 1 dog. Fantastic GF selection and all food very tasty and well priced. Excellent staff

very welcoming landlord opens at 12 on the button good menu and very clean pub seating outside with a fantastic view will be back

Booked lunch today at short notice for 5 fantastic setting very nice beer and the Sunday lunch was to die for really top notch grub the deserts again were fabulous staff couldn’t be more helpful all in all very happy

Had another great meal here with friends, credit to the chef! I had the fish omg its cooked to perfection! Had a few meals here now and would recommend every time! Just your nice friendly country pub, staff lovely and helpful even have a great sense of humour which is lacking in some pubs!

We popped in for lunch on a cold and sleety day. Roaring fire & a quirky little pub. A good menu with a sausage menu too and a range of local sausages. Food good and the staff warm and welcoming. Not the best but one of the better ones we’ve found locally in a week nearby

Staying in Northumberland for couple of nights and thought we would try this establishment, particularly as they have a sausage menu made by a local butcher. A nice Olde Worlde type of place with church pews- log burner at one end. Everyone was very friendly and the chef and waitress/barmaid were very informative and pleasant. Menu had good selection as well as specials board. Food was lovely as well as being hot and well presented.

Planned a walk and checked website day before. Website clearly said it was doing food the following day. Walked 6 miles to get to the pub and found it was not doing food all week. How difficult would it have been to put this on their website? Very unimpressed.

Was walking the Pennine Way. Checked the Kirkstyle Inn website this morning, to see food being served at lunchtime today. Got to inn and barmaid said no food for the next fortnight, as owners gone away. No explanation as to why website was not updated to reflect no food. Didn't bother to buy a drink, because this might have gone off as well.

We ate here on a chilly February evening - pub was cosy and busy, mostly with family groups. We were seated near to the wood burner, and thoughtfully offered a table with extra space to the side for our rather large dog to be comfy.

Family bar meal for 6 was delicious. ..lots of choice, piping hot, really fresh and generous amounts, kept the whole family happy. The owner's are very friendly, ours dogs lounged by the woodburner, we had a lovely time, thank you!

Just had a great meal here with my children grandchildren and great grandchildren and the dog x all of us were made welcome and the food and service was excellent xx

The staff were very warm and welcoming when 13 of us turned up wanting to eat. The food was fresh and delicious. It was great value for money and the portions were incredibly generous. I would definetly recommend.

I can’t recommend this place enough- beautiful food and a fantastic welcoming service in a gorgeous cosy setting. We had a brilliant night- thank you!