Sour Nook Inn in Carlisle

Really enjoyable meal and pint. Friendly and informative hosts. We'll definitely return.

Comfortable, clean and great drinks

What an incredibly friendly and welcoming place. Arrived late but was greeted with a smile and a cool drink. Locals were very helpful in suggesting walks and activities to do in the area. We need more of these little gems!

Absolutely appalling! Customer service is a 0. Made to feel extremely uncomfortable. Not recommended at all hope new owners can do a better job

Stopped on route as was far too hot being on the bike so a nice cold refreshing shandy was calling our names. Lovly staff suoer friendly.

The staff was not friendly at all, food was disgusting, we ordered chicken curry and a soup and both were ALDI tins. Felt really unwelcomed all of us, no body was in the carpark so that says everything....

what a fantastic find. called on the of chance was doing food. even though there was a private function going on we had a lovely meal and great coffee. staff were fab very chatty. a rarity these days

Friendly service and fabulous home cooked food.

Lovely people very accommodating. Lovely food .Stayed over night in car park .Would definitely call again .Thanks from the campers from North Wales x

Cosy pub. Equipped with a games room. Small dining area - does have a larger dining room for busier times. Friendly service and wait for food not too long despite there being only one chef tonight. Food was very good and reasonably priced - much cheaper than Harvester and easily as good. We had chicken nuggets for the nipper which were very good. Ribeye steak for me and the wife each. Both were cooked very well and included chips, mushroom, peas and grilled toms. I was pleased to see sauce dianne as an accompaniment but sadly it let the otherwise great meal down being runny and bland.

Brilliant pub. Very welcoming. Al and Ian very chatty and helpful. Lovely home cooked food. Good beer. Dog and kid friendly. Great place.

Nice friendly people caravan welcome

Don't do a Sunday carvery but menu ok The cumberland sausage will take some beating. Excellent. The nut roast was brilliant but very filling. Selection of non alcoholic beers and cider. Pleasant people decent car park. Isolated location but good for travellers.

We went with family (6)all together in November 2017 absolutely lovely friendly people and lovely food good value for money we going to go again this year a+++++ thank you

Excellent food and atmosphere. Well worth a visit as the welcome was warm and heartfelt

Excellent motorhome stopover quite secluded parking free electric if you eat in pub. Good basic pub food excellent beer welcoming landlady fresh cooked food.

Stayed over night on a brit Stop! For Motorhomes 674 in the book Arrived later than expected but received a lovely welcome from owners Ian & Al. Fabulous real ale spacious gardens great parking failities and play area for children. Chatted to some of the regulars who were very friendly. We'll worth a visit. 10 miles off the M6. We'll be back. J & F

We love this place. Excellently kept beer, dog friendly, good food at a reasonable price and excel!ent chat with the owners. Never had a bad meal, but unlike others would have said if we had while we where there!! Best cooked steak I have had anywhere, and we love the Sunday Roast ☺

I travel for a living, so after a while - eating out becomes boring and distasteful (pun intended :o) This trip we traveled to Carlisle and the Lake Country for a true vacation. Some relaxation, sightseeing, and rub shoulders with the locals. Readers should note that the Sour Nook Inn location is *not* in Carlisle proper. It is on route B5305, 4 miles south of Rosley, Wigton CA7 8BZ. We passed the Sour Nook Inn on our way south on B5305 to Penrith for a daily tour and having passed it, decided to try it out for dinner on our way back. First thing US travelers may notice is the easy access into, and out of, a large car parking area. We were greeted by Alison, one of the owners, who was behind the bar. Her husband, Ian, and co-owner, was in the kitchen preparing for the evening's meals. We try to experience local fare, so we ordered two Haystacks Ales. A great draft. They had just opened and there was no else there so we got to chatting with Alison about the pub, its origins, etc. We eventually came round to order. I ordered the burger. My wife ordered the Gammon with pineapple. Ian delivered both meals to the table professionally and with little fanfare. The meals were excellent! And actually, too much food for one sitting. Ian packaged up the left-overs in a take-away container. After we had eaten, we had the opportunity to chat with both Alison & Ian in a relaxing, often laughter filled banter. Complete with story-telling and shared experiences. Comparing notes and perspectives on our two countries. After a while, other, regular patrons began to arrive. We felt as welcome with them there as we had with just Alison & Ian. Given its origins and refurbishment that Alison & Ian have put into it, the Sour Nook Inn is a relatively modern looking pub. However – it was the pub atmosphere, drink, food, and experience that we were looking for. And found. For those readers counting costs: our tab for the two meals, two pints, and a take-away desert was £29.00 Long story short – we’ll be going back to the Sour Nook Inn before we leave for home. If for nothing else, to find out why they named it the “Sour Nook Inn”

We couldnt decide between the castle inn keswick or the sour nook and decided on the sour nook, what a BIG mistake for our easter sunday lunch!!! We both had starters and small lunch, unsure about soup but it did taste ok, edges of roll were hard, partners garlic mushrooms were frozen breaded, The roast sunday lunch consists of frozen roast potatoes, Sliced supermarket meat, frozen yorkshires and veg may have been fresh but unsure, the gravy was obviously granuals and very watery as it wasnt made from stock. starters 4.50 and 4.00 only choice of 2 and meal was awful but we were so starving we had to eat what we could stomach. Meals 9.95 or 6.95 for a small and very glad only ordered a small as value was disgusting when taking into consideration it is £14 at the castle inn for 2 courses and everything is fresh and good portions. Im utterly mortified i spent that on this meal today as it would have cost me about £8 to do in total at home and half an hour tops with goods from iceland to sort myself. My fault was i should have refused the meal when it arrived as i could see what it was straight away, disgusted with the quality and quantity for prices. Sorry but im really psst off now!!!

Stunning place with lovely people

Lovely place, very good food at reasonable prices and real ale10/10

We have passed the Sour Nook Inn many times and have often said to ourselves that we would stop for a meal. We'll, today was the day. We phoned ahead and booked a table, when we arrived we were greeted warmly, shown to our table and advised that they were doing Sunday roast, we promptly ordered drinks and food and waited. The drinks arrived and not long after the food, we all had roast beef which was beautiful, my only complaint is that I only got 3 massive slices, mind you I have a healthy appetite, others would call me greedy! I finished that and had apple crumble for pudding, it was beautiful. All in all, the food was excellent, the service was excellent and the seating was excellent. Thank you very much, and in true Arnie style, "I'll be back!"

Nice place, good food, very friendly

Lo básico" se abordan en rincón capably amarga. Alison impecable administrado de comida y bebida, hábilmente ayudado por orden de Ian. La decoración interior es el típico 'pub inglés con cortinas e iluminación agradable. El exterior del pub jardines se beneficiaría de la atención, para atraer y atraer más a medida. . . El servicio era atento y puntual. Nuestro grupo compuesto de 2 veganos que habían multibean chili con media n 800 (patatas fritas + arroz) seguido por lácteos caseros brownie y helado gratis. Buena selección de cervezas y sidras locales.

we popped into this pub with our little dog finn after seeing online that it was dog friendly.the landlord and landlady gave us all a warm welcome.the pub was clean,cosy and comfortable. the menu was good pub food and very reasonably priced.when the food came it was plentiful and delicious.the local real ales also went down well with my husband. we really enjoyed our visit and will definitely return when we next stay in the lake district.

Really friendly, a great pub for weary travellers

Visiting the area on a short break and looked online for dog friendly pub for a meal. My family had a fantastic meal there food was perfect and good quality.

We arrived at the sour Nook for Sunday lunch there wasn't a sole in the place apart from the staff and owners! Couldn't wait to serve us and before we had finished ordering the owner was toting it up on the till! We ordered soup as a starter this wasn't too bad a bit tastless, but eatable! We ordered to roast beef large size for £9.95 which I thought was an average price! When they came I did ask the bar maid if they had ordered the small ones and she stated these were the large! The plates were an oval small breakfast size and barely full! The veg and roast potatoes were all frozen and tasteless, the meat was also tasteless and the thinnest slices I have ever seen! I would have embarrassed to serve this up to someone!

Love this pub Great cider !! Excellent beers Lovely food Immaculate housekeeping And dog friendly too !' The outside camping facility is basic but very good when you have partaken of too much cider !! Love it xx

Staying in area as we have done many times previously - and normally using the Hesket Newmarket and Caldbeck pubs - but for a change decided to visit the Sour Nook. What a surprise!! Very pleasant hosts - well kept beer and as we found out on subsequent visits - a decent menu with nicely cooked food. Being a Yorkshire man, the best bit was the price of drinks / food. No attempt made to be exorbitant.. Cannot wait to return. Just one question - 'Why were there so few customers on our visits?' Isolated maybe but not too far from the tourist spots. Many thanks for the welcome.

Our second visit for a meal and although the chips were much better than the first time, the ham could do with a big big improvement. Friendly people, children and dogs welcome.

We arrived at the Sour Nook, Sebergham on bank holiday Monday looking for a pub lunch. it was very quiet but the landlady was very welcoming and friendly we sat indoors and ordered from the extensive menu the local beers were WONDERFUL! the service was good, no long wait. the food was good too, good hearty pub fair (excellent chips !!) the boys both had burgers, daughter had minestone soup, missus had vegetarian nut roast and I had the beef chilli. great value, happy customers

We are in the bar because there were only two tables full but there is a separate dining room. The landlady was very helpful in telling us what dishes contained if we asked and there is a good vegetarian choice. Prices reasonable.

Standing in a roadside position in the company of a couple of nearby dwellings, the Sour Nook presents a welcoming beacon on the dark, unlit Penrith to Wigton road on a wet and windy winters night - especially if the fire is crackling merrily in the grate. On arrival we were Invited to sit in the cosy bar area to peruse the menu. As on our previous visit it was pleasing to observe that all public areas of the inn were spotlessly clean. After serving our drinks, the cheerful, efficient landlady gave us advice on the choices available; helpful and attentive without being intrusive. To paraphrase, in the nicest way, Captain Corcoran regarding Buttercup - " A plump and pleasant person". We all three of us decided upon the home made chicken curry which was delivered in good time and attractively presented. Served with rice or chips - or half-and-half - the curry was mild to medium in strength which was to our taste. Just hot enough to warm the cockles within prior to facing the rude weather without. An enjoyable repast at a reasonable cost (and a good selection of cask ales).

We called in here while passing one Sunday afternoon and were very pleasantly surprised, we were greeted by the friendly owners as soon as we entered and made to feel at home.We ordered two Roast dinners and were very impressed with the meals when they arrived, good portion size ,very fresh and very tasty and all at a very reasonable price, the place itself was very quiet which is hardly surprising considering the location but I am sure with a good reputation for good food then the punters will soon be coming from far and wide , we live quite a distance away which is a shame ,but we often visit the area and will definitely be visiting again as often as possible.

We love this pub and are now regulars. Went to todays Sunday Lunch and it was delicious - homemade tomato soup was hearty and filling and both the turkey roast and the roast beef were melt in the mouth. The owners are very welcoming and friendly, so much so that they know as we walk in the door what our drinks order is! Now, thats what you call a great local pub.

Dropped in here whilst performing an errand in the area, and jolly glad we did.The landlady is extremely pleasant and welcoming. The cask ales are well kept and reasonably priced.We were very pleased to find Thatcher's non-fizzy cider, which went down very well with my wife.We looked at the menu, which was very tempting, and very reasonably priced, but only had soup as we already had plans for dinner, later.Having said that, there were TWO soups of the day on offer, and both were delicious.If we lived within 5 miles of this pub, we'd be in here regularly.Unfortunately, we'll just have to find reasons to pass by every so often

Paid a visit with my motorhome for an overnight stay following a recommendation from a fellow camper. I'm very glad that I did.I was made most welcome, as were my two dogs, and I spent a most enjoyable evening with a most excellent and generously sized rib-eye steak to eat, and well kept Sour Nook Ale to wash it down.The food and beer were very reasonably priced, and I wish the owners well in their endeavours with this rescued country pub.This pub is well worth a detour to enjoy, and is set in some stunningly beautiful Cumbrian countryside.

We came across the sour nook accidentally ..... Lucky for us!!Great cider Welcoming to people and animalsFree camping !!!!!Must be a bonus !!!The owners are great ....Next time we will maybe stay at the free camping facility !!!!And partake of the food choices !Great place

Myself and collegues had cumberland sausage dinner, they were definately not cooked on the day and were reheated in the microwave, very very dry and tasteless. What an insult to my hard earned cash. Never again.

Spent a great few days 'free camping' in a Motorhome in the carpark here. (Electric but No other facilities at the moment so self contained only). The owners currently allow you to stay for free with no expectations but needless to say it's only polite to give them your support by eating here atleast. That said the food was very nice and great value for money. The selection and taste of the 'freehouse' ale was second to none and the owners are good company on quieter nights. They've done a fantastic job of renovating the place and it's immaculately clean. The menu is lovely and basic but I know they're adding to their range all the time; tho' personally I found it refreshing to find good old 'pub grub' and real chips at a sensible price.

We found this pub in the middle of the country whilst staying at Thanetwell lodges. We enjoyed a lovely meal, served by friendly staff.

Lovely pub, great decor, tastefully done. Very friendly staff and wonderful food, would recommend it to others.

We really enjoyed our visit here. The couple who have bought and renovated the place have done a wonderful job, and are very pleasant company. The beer is very well kept, and our food was lovely - definitely Whole Tail Scampi! We would recommend to anyone.

After reading the previous reviews we called in here for Lunch on our way to Scotland. Well we must have been eating at a different place. There were no other diners which we thought was odd however it was 12.30hrs and early for some people. The Battered fish is cheap and frozen and so is the Scampi - not whole tail but whole tail price. The chips were quite nice and the Girl behind the bar was very pleasant and friendly - in fact the only nice thing about the place.

A couple with whom I am acquainted who, like myself, dine out on a regular basis never order food in any establishment until they have inspected the toilets, based on the reasoning that the standard of cleanliness or otherwise therein is quite likely to reflect that of the kitchen: an axiom that I am sure is favoured by other discerning diners. They would find no fault here. I cannot recollect when I have seen fresher, cleaner toilets than those in the Sour Nook – naturally, I can only present an appraisal of the gentlemen's room; ladies must assess their own convenience.Being very early in the evening, we were the only diners. We were cordially welcomed and seated in the clean and airy dining room. The chef himself made an appearance to personally serve my breaded garlic mushroom starter ; he appeared a somewhat reserved, avuncular sort of chap and was friendly enough. It is a further bonus that his follicular condition is such that one may be totally confident of never finding a hair in one's soup. My main course was a Moroccan vegetarian dish whilst the others had curry, Cumbrian beefburger and gammon steak. All meals were well cooked and pleasing to the palate. No critiscism to offer here. Totally satisfied with the repast thus far, we had every confidence that the desserts would be as appetising and tasty as they sounded and we were not disappointed. Under normal circumstances I seldom have dessert. It has to do with grim memories of the ghastly abominations masquerading as deserts we boys were force fed at school. At weekends in particular we were presented a mish-mash of left over ingredients from previous days. There were bits of chocolate sponge, roly-poly, jam tart – you name it – all served with cold, lumpy custard. We called it 'Resurrection Pudding'. It was served up by the corpulent school cook whose round, bovine face was frozen in a permanent, malicious sneer. Had we lived three hundred years previously I am sure steps would have been taken to petition the services of the Witchfinder General. Good food at a moderate tariff - recommended.

On our way to Siloth , we stopped here for a quick nosh, beers from small brewery nearby , including one called sour nook ale, cant get more local than that.Looks like the place has been recently done up. food is standard pub grub but boy do they do it well! The ribeye steak is to die for with real chips onion rings etc, delicious ,and the special was cider chicken with rice, also excellent. I wish we could of stayed for a few more beers but we had to move on. All in all well worth a visit.

If you are in the vicinity this pub is well worth a stop. Proprietors were very welcoming. Food was very good too and its dog friendly.

We often pass this newly refurbished pub on the way to our holiday home in the northern Lake District. We decided to take mum for an early Mother's Day meal after a day on the fells. We booked a table and arrived to find we'd been reserved a table beside the lovely open fire. The bar and restaurant have been refurbished tastefully with local artists works adorning the walls. The landlord keeps his beer with real care and attention. real ales on offer were hesket newmarket brewery's high pike and their own sour nook ale. both served at the right temperature, which is rare. paul had the high pike which was great. The menu, though not extensive, includes imaginative specials such as Thai curry and lamb tagine alongside the more expected pub favourites. We all decided to have the ribeye which is sourced locally in dalston. When they arrived, accompanied by the most delicious field mushrooms, onion rings and proper twice fried chips, we were blown away. The steak was the juiciest I've had for a long time, and the chips were to die for. Not an oven chip in sight!!! We finished with a trio of puddings, which we shared. We nearly ended up fighting for the sticky toffee pudding because it was totally delicious and blew the ginger sponge and chocolate fudge cake out of the water, even though these were lovely too. All in all, it was a great meal, and we'll definately eat here again. It seems to me like the perfect place to stop en route, have a bite to eat and start your holiday early!!

A Pub Menu that was one of the best. Quality food and service. Convivial company of the Proprietors. Toilet facilities which were immaculate. 'Dog welcoming' reads much better than dog friendly.

I have never tasted a better steak anywhere in the world and we have been to some classy restaurants in our time. This is a lovely pub restaurant with a great atmosphere and wonderful food. The owners are so welcoming and they are great company. We found this place by accident but will certainly go out of our way to visit it again. Thank you for a wonderful evening.

Had a lovely lunch. There were 4 of us, we had prebooked our table. When we arrived our table was ready and waiting with a highchair for my little one , which was a nice touch as i hadn't requested one ,but i did say there would be a baby with us. We each had something different off the menu. We all enjoyed our meals although I do agree with the previous review that the menu is a bit limited... The lady who served us was lovely she was v attentive she even offered to bring a little bowl of ice cream free of charge for my little one when I had my pudding (it's the little things that make a difference). Will definitely call in again. Thankyou.

We decided to try this pub as it has been refurbished and now serves food. It has been very tastefully refurbished and is very comfortable. The staff are lovely and friendly and nothing is too much trouble for them. The food is locally sourced and all our meals were freshly made and delicious. The puddings are wonderful. The menu isn't long but what you get is very good. The only thing that I would like as an addition to the menu is steak as it is always popular. I'm looking forward to having more meals here. I would certainly recommend it as a place for a relaxing meal with attentive staff. They also serve scones and cakes during the day.Thank you to the staff for a lovely meal.