The Blacksmiths Arms in South Lakeland

We enjoyed a great meal here, generous portions and good service, we'll be back

A really genuine old quirky local pub serving a menu of wholesome food . Good range of beers and assorted locals having a pint . Well situated in rural south Cumbria with off road parking.

Great location, fab atmosphere of an old and tiny pub. Disappointed with the food despite good reviews and the nice smell of home cooked food. The lamb Henry wasn't tender and didn't fall away from the bone. The beef steak was flavourless and had tough fibres not able to chew. We had no booking but were accepted waiting over an hour to be served.

Truly special. Everything was above expectations, from the moment I stopped through the low door and smelt the open fire to the warm welcome from all the staff, the CAMRA-recognised interior, and the beautifully prepared food. Seriously good. We happened to be there on the 45th anniversary of the dart board, for some reason behind which they keep a photo of the MP at the time in a canoe.

A friendly welcome and a delicious lunch at the charming Blacksmiths Arms. The menu is full of tempting choices. Venison sausages and smoked mash were delicious. Also a great - and good value - cheeseboard.

Nice drink on the front watching the buzzards and the lambs. Great food for both of us. Would recommend if you’re in the area.

Great place to visit just how a country pub should look

Recommended to us by locals and we thank them , lovely traditional pub , friendly and welcoming staff , excellent ales and the food was heavenly !! Visit you won't be disappointed !

Best steak I have had in a very long time. We had a lovely meal. Well done.

Excellent gastro food in an ancient inn. 9 of us visited on a Sunday evening and had a great meal. We were asked to preorder beforehand d which was fine. The drinks and service matched the quail out of the food. Superb!

We managed to secure a last minute booking on a Weds night. Reminded me of pubs in Southern Ireland, which is a good thing! We had starters & mains, both of which were faultless

Had lovely lunch here whilst we were staying in the Duddon Valley for a few days. Very old characterful pub, staff very friendly and food excellent. Dog friendly. Highly recommend

What an amazing place in the middle of nowhere. Old blacksmith that has served as a pub for years. Very nice seating areas inside and a nice terrace outside for when the weather is nice. But the real game changer is not the environment but the food and service. Delicious dishes. If you are in the area, definitely worth the detour

Superb pub - everything we wanted at the end of a blustery walk! Warm friendly people - tick. Fireside table - tick. Sensationally delicious food - tick. Wonderful wine - tick. Thank you Blacksmiths Arms!

Excellent food and beer in a pub that is still an independent free house. The food here is a cut above, served in an intimate setting dating back to the 1700s. The bar is tiny, with a limited selection of well kept beers, probably stronger than their wine choices. Staffed by a young, friendly, front of house team. Smoked salmon was excellent, as was the goats cheese, the lamb Henry impressed, with the venison sausages the star turn. -A winner amongst a selection of perfectly competent chain puns that are slowly taking the Lake District over one £19 burger at a time. Support this pub.

Tried to get two of us fed (we had no reservation but were there at 5:30/6:00PM and told them we’d be very quick) but lots of empty tables outside when we arrived and when we left)…. The staff were not interested in providing any help. so, we had a drink and left…. Very very poor attitude from the guy in the bar and the waitress

I only came for a drink but atmosphere and food looked good, will be back!

We stumbled upon this gorgeous pub and what a gem. Lovely local company ( farming chat), incredible food and service. Will definitely come back again.

Fantastic food loved the duck and lamb Henry. The tempura prawns and belly pork were really good - we had a lovely evening again.

So much history! Lovely pub with great food and fantastic service

What can I say, a warm welcome, great location, excellent food, quick and friendly service, fantastic hospitality and along with the roaring open fire I can't recommend enough that you visit this wonderful pub.

Quirky, quaint old coaching house. Open fires. Delicious food, restaurant standard. Friendly, attentive staff. Very enjoyable visit.

Very deceiving. Externally a very average, untouched country pub, and internally not been touched for decades, BUT, by God that place can serve food. Absolutely awesome evening meal. Highly recommend it

Excellent food, very high quality fresh food. Not your usual british pub fare! Highly recommended (especially the tempura prawns!!) Wood fires, dog friendly very old pub.

We arrived around 6pm for our reservation. It was just heating up from the wood fires which gave a great atmosphere to the place. The young lad who waited on us was absolutely brilliant, I just wish we got his name so we could pass on our praise to the manager! He was polite, kind, gave us honest opinions and when he didn't know the answer to something he was keen to find it out and give us the information as soon as he could. The food was amazing too! Well worth the money if you ask me. I had the lamb Henry shoulder and my fella had the duck. We did share each other's food abit because we just loved the flavours and the food. The portions are great sizing too! You definitely won't be going hungry. I just wish somewhere like this was closer to home so I could visit more often! However, if I am ever in the lake district I will be booking in here again for a meal every chance I get!

If you are looking for a traditional unspoilt English pub somewhat off the beaten track you have found it. A lively bar area and a nearby room that looked unchanged in a century. A large antique range and hearth, some fine old wood panelling, and a roaring fire. Unfortunately both spaces were full on our visit. We were seated in a more formal restaurant type area further back which had a conventional open fireplace. There was another room behind the bar that was not open the night we visited and which I think was heated only with an electric heater. I guess if you had come on spec you would be delighted with finding a table at all but as we had reserved in advance we were a little disappointed with the one allocated. The restaurant area was pleasant enough but lacked the atmosphere of the two rooms nearer the bar. Despite the fire it was not very warm either when we arrived, although staff were attentive in making sure extra logs were placed on it in a timely manner. It slowly warmed up. The menu looked attractive but the food did not really deliver. Caught between a more gastro pub style and a traditional offer perhaps. It was OK. Chips were poor for some reason. Drinks were fine. Service was good. Hope to revisit to give it another try.

One of my favourite places to eat. The food and service are both first class.

It's very rare these days to go to a place where you can truly say it's a 10/10 experience. Often the staff may be friendly but the food is mediocre or vice versa. However the Blacksmith Arms is fantastic. Not only are the staff so friendly that they would make a visitor feel like a local but the food and atmosphere are brilliant too. It's so nice to go somewhere where the menu too is so great. Not the standard menu you often see in so many places. But actually looks like a menu written by someone who loves food and flavour. And you can taste it. I only live 15 minutes away and regret not calling in more often, even for a pint outside on a nice evening. It's somewhere that's been in the back of my mind, but this week after visiting twice in one week, I will be popping in on an evening more regularly with friends hopefully. Thank you everyone!

Such a great traditional and welcoming pub !! The food was superb quality and a good choice of beverages to accompany it. We really enjoyed listening to the tales from local farmers making it such a friendly atmosphere!

Lovely place for a relax by the fire with great service! Highly recommended. A very special place!

Sensational. Food was amazing and the service just as good. Friendly and well price. Highly recommended.

A lovely old pub serving generous portions of home cooked food. The lamb Henry was delicious, however it was so big that we couldn’t finish it. Dog friendly.

Beautifully quaint pub! Lovely friendly staff and absolutely EXCEPTIONAL food 👌🏽

My family and I absolutely loved this old worldy pub. We visited twice within our one week stay in the Lakes. Excellent food, fantastic service and lovely atmosphere. Hence I feel the Blacksmiths Arms fully deserves five stars. Thank you so much!

The overall atmosphere of the pub was great, feels like stepping back in time. A friendly welcome from the staff, intimate dining room, cozy open fire and the food was incredible. Genuinely the best lamb I've ever had, has been a highlight of my holiday in the Lake District.

Lovely food in an old Cumbria pub

Excellent food and service. Beer was good as well!

How do you word this apart from absolutely amazing everything many thanks to all the team looking forward to seeing you all again soon

Fantastic pub, good team working there. The food we had was great. Really enjoyed my evening there.

Cosy pub/restaurant in the middle of nowhere. Good food and incredible atmosphere in the winter with the open fireplaces. Well frequented by locals who discuss local politics and gossip. A place where meetings are held to discuss local issues. It is interesting to hear people ask the bartender if they have seen so and so and when they will next be in. This is the past. There is no Wi-Fi and no signal here. It feels like walking into a Time Machine and going back 100 years, travelling back to a time before modern communications choked out any semblance of community spirit.

We met an old college friend here for lunch. Live fire, candles, 18th century pub...felt like it was still 18th century. Warm, cosy and wrlc9ming. Stunning lamb Henry with panna cotta with fruit compote pudding, price reasonable for the quality. Thank u guys...we had a great day.

One of the best pubs we have visited! Beautiful location, good service and fantastic food. Roaring fires in both the bar and the restaurant made it very welcoming. A proper pub.

Walked over from Duddon Valley for lunch on the Park Head track , I had the steak and my wife had the lamb Henry , it was delicious , well worth the 10 mile walk , we love this pub , bar and chef were very friendly and we had a lovely time sat near the fire relaxing . Thank you for a memorable experience .

Dog friendly pub, with delicious food. Walked in yesterday in the hope they could accommodate 2 adults and 2 dogs, they were more than helpful. We are glad to have found this place. The food was really delicious and filling. If you get the chance to go do, great hidden gem! I had the chicken pie and my husband had the sausage, not our usual choices but glad we did. We will be back when next in the area.

Such a good dinner. Big portions Proper homely good food.

Proper pub. Great food and drink. Brilliant!

For us, from our cottage very close by. Did not expect to find this good food, fine wines and superb service. Loved the fire place in every room. Felt very welcome. No food served on Mondays!

Outstanding food, friendly service and a wonderful old pub. We were all blown away by how good our meals were. Definitely go - and book in advance!

Fantastic place! Food from starter to dessert was outstanding with GF options and Veggie selections. A little gem in the Lake District! Highly recommend. - make sure to book in advance.

Cannot fault this pub! Fantastic food, great prices and lovely staff. The vanilla panacotta was one of the best desserts I've ever had!

Well deserved hype for this place - the food was out of this world. Slow cooked meat which melts in your mouth, fluffy and flavourful potatoes and veg, delicately balanced gravy - just perfect. The goat cheese starter was also amazing.

Great pint of Estrella and friendly staff

What a fabulous find. A real Brigadoon discovery on our walk from a nearby camp site. Loved this place. Captured the moment beautifully on a lovely walk. Memories are made of this.

One of the best life experiences we have enjoyed. Michael and Sofie are wonderful hosts and made us feel at home. We will return when ever we are in the area. Thank you so much for your hospitality.

I've been to the Blacksmith's Arms three years in a row with various groups of friends, family, and my partner on excursions to the Lake District. The food is an excellent combination of hearty and elevated. The presentation is sublime and the flavours and portion size are excellent. In particular, the confit duck-leg is a delight, and the venison sausages and mash (which I had this year) are fantastic. I'm not often a dessert kind of customer, but I had the Black Forest sundae to round things off during my most recent visit and I'm glad I did. As well as the food, the service is warm and attentive. A particular shout-out must be made to Lydia, who looked after myself and my group of 10 friends. Despite our indecision, last minute drink order changes & additions, and of course the epic task of finally paying the bill for such a large group, she remained on top of proceedings with humour and grace. I can't imagine a future in which we're not back for another meal within the next year or so. Thank you to all at the Blacksmith's Arms!

A great little inn tucked out the way.

Lovely meal in a cute and relaxed pub. Food tasted amazing and staff friendly and efficient.

Lovely pub! Delicious food, welcoming staff. Beautiful old building.

Proper old fashioned pub. Welcoming staff, locals treat you like one of their own. If you can get there, it's well worth a visit. Oh, if you're planning on eating then booking is essential - we were planning to eat but missed out. The food looked and smelled incredible.

A live wire chef. A great menu & a superb location with lots of history.

This place was so good we came back for lunch the next day as we could'nt get a table for dinner. Food is definitely a cut above normal pub choice and would not disgrace many a restaurant. Very quirky, friendly staff, good beer. Need to book but well worth it!

Fantastic food and drinks all local produce the steaks are wonderful many thanks to all the team looking forward to our next visit

Food was amazing!! Staff really friendly and helpful. And the pub is really cosy and atmospheric. Loved it!

Lovely family-feel pub with beautifully presented, high quality food that is a cut above your usual "pub grub". Definitely recommend! Just ensure you book in advance to ensure you get a table!

We booked about 10 days in advance, as advised. We sat inside to eat, but moved outside afterwards to enjoy the warm evening. For my starter I chose belly pork, which was beautifully presented, and superbly tasty. My main course was tender and tasty braised lamb shoulder "Henry", with masses of roast carrots and parsnips, and dauphinoise potatoes. The side of charred broccoli was also delicious. Thoroughly recommended!

Fantastic authentic pub with amazing food

Just got here in time for lunch, beautiful pub and the food was outstanding and great service.

Came here for a Sunday evening meal, Excellent local ales and excellent smoked salmon starters. Two well cooked sirloin steaks and a Lamb shank Henry. All well cooked and presented, served by friendly chatty staff. Would definitely recommend and revisit. Thank you

Absolutely outstanding food. The Lamb Henry is delicious and the duck was cooked perfectly. Very cosy pub and the wine list was great

Absolutely great place to eat 10/10 to the chef. Staff very accommodating. Lovely very old pub full of charm.

One of the nicest meals I have ever eaten, I had the confit duck, beer was great too. Everything you want in a great pub. Aesthetically and the quality of the food, drink and service. Thanks!

Visited on Saturday night and so good we are going back tonight. Food, staff and atmosphere all 5*. The ambiance was heartwarming and the food was excellent and so worth the drive. If you are staying anywhere nearby it is definitely worth the drive ... an experience you will never forget.

We came to the Blacksmiths for our 20th wedding anniversary dinner. Roaring open fire, lovely, subtle lighting, friendly staff and delicious food. A thoroughly enjoyable experience and we highly recommend a visit! We'll be back the next time we're in the area. Thank you for making our anniversary so special.

A lovely traditional pub with plenty of open fires. The staff were incredibly friendly and helpful and the food was amazing. Big portions and well worth another visit.

We were staying just down the road from this pub so we popped in on the first night. The locals greeted us and were very welcoming. We returned the next night for a meal and were seated next to an open fire which our dog loved! The food was amazing and we would definitely return if we’re ever in the area again. 10/10 would recommend but definitely book!

A hidden treasure. Beautiful old pub with a chef that knows good food. Thoroughly enjoyed. Highly recommended

My favourite pub in the world! Small rooms with open fires and stone floors. Authentically rustic and homely - what faux-pubs the country over try to replicate! Small selection of superb local beer, tasty food and friendly staff.

Food and staff fantastic lovely oldy world pub highly recommend.

We visited The Blacksmiths Arms for my birthday having read some good reviews. We were seated next to a lovely roaring fire and handed a small but perfectly formed menu and a short wine list. The wine was of good quality and the food was exceptional. Lovely fresh produce, perfectly cooked. Everything we had was faultless but we particularly loved the tempura prawns (the accompanying salad was delicious too) and the lamb. We loved it so much we came back for lunch the next day. This was another faultless meal - the confit duck salad was out of this world. Service was also friendly, our dogs were welcomed, and although it was raining when we visited, it is a stunning setting.

Incredible. Food was amazing. Great service.Lovely cosy room with a fire. Recommend the Prawns and the Lamb. Already booked for tomorrow.

Food and service both excellent. Really enjoyed our meals - mains and desserts both excellent. All reasonably priced. Fantastic

Hidden gem, great little gastro pub with friendly staff, excellent beers and wine and fantastic food, can't recommend it highly enough

Superb food, excellent traditional pub with interesting interior. Staff very friendly and accommodating. No complaints.

One of the best pubs in the lakes. It's not for everyone as it is very basic and is a true locals pub. However, if you don't mind this and smelling of the fire in winter, then this is an awesome pub with excellent food. All the staff are extremely friendly and helpful.

A nice little pub in the middle of nowhere with good food and good service.

Stopped off here for a quick bite to eat before a long journey back to the Midlands and was very impressed; very friendly staff and the food was delicious! Will visit again when we’re back in the area

A proper pub, with proper food and homely staff. Heartily recommended. Had the smoked salmon and pork T-bone. Nice espresso in the new cups!

Wonderful place to visit, rekindled some old memories. Last visit was in 1978 !! Had a delicious meal and a very warm welcome, would thoroughly recommend.

Great pit stop after a walk or to drop in for a drink and some food.

A fantastic place, good service, food was lovely

Excellent food, polite waitresses. Good atmosphere. Definitely would recommend

Disappointed that I couldn't get any food as other guests were eating and I arrived before 2pm

Just a wonderful pub with superb beer and amazing food in a beautiful setting. Great service as well and very good whisky suggestion to perfectly finish off the evening. Fantastic.

Truly Old Lakes authentic. Classy session bitter from local Lickle brewery and helpful staff

Very oldy worldy. Pleasant landlord , fantastically helpful waitress. A family run business. They have an al a carte menu, although we thought it was normal pub food, and a lunch menu sandwiches and such. We chose fish and chips , and the battered king prawn Cesar salad. The fish and chips were a good size and tasty. Unfortunately the battered prawns did not work the batter had gone soggy in the Cesar dressing. I think this dish would work much better with the king prawns if they were not battered. Nice rural location, ok toilets but a little dated and dusty could do with an over haul .

After the pandemic my choice from the old menu has been restored, and is now even better than before. The sirloin steak was perfection, the best I have had since Scottie died and his restaurant closed in Limassol, Cyprus. Everything about the Blacksmiths is excellent.

This pub is pretty remote and we were a bit skeptical at first but the menu had great options. We had lamb Henry and the pork t-bone. Both fantastic and washed down with a great local brew. Food appeared in good time and the staff were great. Couldn't recommend enough.

Very lovely country Pub just outside Broughton-in-Furness in Broughton Mills. Great cycling route lots of outside seating and the staff were great 5/5. I will definitely be coming back to try the food.

Turned up to an empty pub, only to be told they're only serving food to pre-booked parties. By the time we left after a pint (half an hour?), only one party of three had entered and the chef wasn't even in the kitchen - he was too busy telling people to park their cars differently in the car park because they can fit more cars in that way (there were only two cars in the car park!). I was sent back out to move my car, "can you go do it now" whilst ordering a drink. Very weird experience. If they want you to park in a certain way, it's very easy to mark out parking bays or put a sign up. Would also be very easy to put a sign up outside saying "only taking reservations", which quite a few other pubs around seem to have managed. I'm sure the food is great, but make sure you book in advance.

We was told about this pub by the lady who works in the b and b we was staying in and what a hidden gem it is. Very traditional and as been kept to its original state which adds to the charm. The food is delicious with plenty of choices and dog friendly too. It is off the beaten track but well worth a visit if you are in the area.