The Chief Justice Of The Common Pleas in Allerdale

Couldn't rate this zero so gave one star - never encountered more ignorant, unhelpful and rude staff in my life. Arrived at 11:55 from breakfast, the bartender (skinny lad with cropped brown hair, don't know or care what his name is) just looked at us dead-eyed when we got to the bar, didn't greet or ask what he can get us, and snapped "I need a table number" when we asked for two large breakfasts. Went and got a table number and came back to the bar and was stuck behind someone ordering a pint of Wainwrights - the beer had soured so he picked another, same again with the Doom Bar tap so picked another. By the time he had been served it was bang on noon which is when they stopped serving so the skinny idiot gleefully said "we stop serving breakfast at 12" - when I mentioned he could clearly see I was next in line before noon and had already expressed intent to get breakfasts he just repeated himself, despite it not being our fault that TWO of their beers had soured making it take longer for the man in front to get served. He did us a favour in the long run though as on our way out two tables were complaining of undercooked bacon and slimy mushrooms, and we ended up going to Main Street and eating at The Golden Lion which was really good food and the staff were lovely. Don't waste your time and money on this utter waste of what could be a beautiful building in a great market town.

Housed within what is evidently a structure of some historical standing, this public house, regrettably, lacks the warmth and character one might reasonably expect of such venerable walls. That said, the selection of English ale was both ample and varied, and the prices agreeable.

Just nipped in for a drink. Great atmosphere and cheap for Keswick.

Looked promising but that was quickly dashed… the food was inedible, the service poor to the extreme driven by ignorant poorly trained (or can’t be arsed) staff. I’m sure their moral is punished by the complaints of very poor quality food and excessive waiting times! We waited 50 minutes from time of order for barely warm, chewy burgers….cheap flat beer isn’t the be all and end all. Plenty of much higher quality establishments not more than a stone’s throw away, maybe a pound dearer but priceless by comparison in quality and service. Learn a lesson Wetherspoons and try…much harder, you are a laughing stock!!

Wetherspoons pub but the menu doesn’t have mixed grills or steaks. Ample Seating outside.

What more do you need from a spoons this is one of the better ones

Busy on a sunny Sunday evening, but everything went well for our first visit here, meeting up with old friends. I've got the hang of the app now, which meant no time was spent queueing at the bar. All the food came hot and tasty. We had a quiet corner in this rambling old building. My only criticism would be about the company policy that excludes dogs. Most other pubs and cafes realise that dog owners are daft, rich, hungry, thirsty creatures of habit. Yes, ideal customers!

Classic Spoons. Solid food and very fast service all at great value. An excellent beer garden. Highly recommended!

We were asked to leave as we had are 16 year old little dog with us in the beer garden! She was sat quietly also shes deaf and nearly blind so wasn’t going to leave her in the car. Keswick is full of dog friendly places pubs shops etc Can understand inside the pub but not the beer garden ridiculous rule !! Seen other reviews saying the same , come on it’s the Lake District Man comes with dog 🐶… get a grip Wetherspoons !

Visited on the weekend twice. Nice spoons with a wide garden area, great little sunspot. Only had drinks but were good - including the Mango Monkey or Monkey Mango flat cider which was delicious. Service was good and helpful. Toilets needed a clean and a toilet roll restock but it was busy both times we visited.

We only had drinks but this is a great place for low cost beer/wine in Keswick!

Just popped in when out for a ride on my motorbike. Friendly staff good atmosphere. Food is what you expect from a spoons decent value even in the lakes. Shame about the dogs not allowed even in the beer garden,just as well my dog didn't come on my pillion. That's the only downside as far as I'm concerned. Will use again but not with my dog.

Food was okay service was good but having to qué for a cup for my tea after ordering it on the app was silly

Sunny Keswick and found a Wetherspoons. Massive outdoor seating area, which controversially for one guest, does not allow dogs. For context, 75% of places in Keswick allow dogs. Drink - Good Food - Good Toilets, now this is where it normally gets interesting. We discussed where they may be, with various options considered. Given its names, we thought it may be an old court house or jail, so we reckoned they would be down the stairs and along several murky corridors. However, much to my surprise, they were simply up 1 flight of stairs...... albeit narrow and only allowed for 1 at a time. Nevertheless this was a positive Spoons experience in Keswick. Clearly helped by the sun.

Good beer at good prices. Pleasant sitting in the large outside area when the sun is shining.

Disappointed, we didn't eat at the establishment. Although it has an outside eating area, dogs are not allowed

This whetherspoons serves the same food and drinks as everywhere else. Still great prices. In a beautiful park of the Lake District. Every time I've been it's always been busy but still managed to get a table.

Fabulous Spoons great service with really friendly staff. Shame this is a Spoons that no longer do grilled meats leaving me with the only choice of a Ramen for a low calorie meal!

Wetherspoons hostelry, quite busy.

Been here a few times , mainly for breakfast thought it might change but what I have found with wether spoons is that at every one the food is not hot, in Keswick the breakfast wasn't hot or warm it was cold and I mean cold, now I didn't tell them to be honest because this time it put me right off if the big boss I mean the big boss knew this was happening in his pubs heads would roll. So I doubt I would go in. And this happens in most of them. Pity the boss don't hire me to keep a check on them, something needs doing.

Came for evening meal after a long journey up here. As ever, the service, quality and price cannot be beaten Robert and Ian Brighton

Everytime the tables are littered with crap and sticky with spilled drinks. Staff are hard working and sound but I think they are a being too stretched.

We were visiting Keswick and my daughter wanted to go for food. The Wetherspoons was her choice but as we arrived we realised that they didn't allow dogs, even in the outside area, where we wanted to sit. This was extremely disappointing as the town is so dog friendly, it was a lovely day and we wanted to enjoy it. It also meant we had to put our dog in the car with the windows open and keep going to the carpark to check on her. There was a lovely older gentleman who was entertaining everyone, playing all variations of music. He even played some kids songs for my 2 year old granddaughter and another young child. Everyone was enjoying it, singing along only for the manager to tell him that "we dont allow music". Talk about putting a damper on a lovely spring day!! We had ordered 7 sharing plates between four of us. 5 of the plates arrived after about 30 minutes (it was very busy inside and out so this was understandable). However after finishing them our other 2 plates still hadnt arrived. We had to ask for them twice. The first server never returned. The second brought one plate and we had to reminder her it was 2 we were waiting on. Pizzas were disappointing. Dont think I would order them again. Chicken strips, chicken bites, mozzarella sticks and fries were all very nice.

Have been here a few times over the years, never really let down. These last two times were no different. Food piping hot and beer very well served, just what you need from a pub at a realistic price.

Wasn't expecting a wetherspoons in Keswick but happily ate and drank there. Never disappointed with the value for money.. x

Average Spoons that does not lend itself to a comfortable layout. Many smaller rooms none of which are well laid out.

Used many times and have always had decent service and been served quickly

Typical Spoons pub. Excellent value in reasonable surroundings.

Typical Weatherspoons, good choice of real ales.

Lovely spring afternoon in the beer garden having a few beers not having any food but it looks lovely staff friendly

Don’t allow dogs, even outside on benches out the way of everyone. Other people who had food and drink got kicked out too. Dogs weren’t bothering anyone, completely out the way. Absolutely shocking, it’s the Lake District everyone brings their dogs..

Great central pub in Keswick, tried the Eggs Benedict with free refill coffee breakfast, not easy to get right, 8/10 not bad😊

Nice friendly bar to get a drink and chill out. Friendly staff would recommend

Called in just for a coffee break ended up having a full English breakfast and I may say I wasn't disappointed absolutely brilliant 😀

Spent a bit of time in Keswick recently. This is a lovely building, well restored by Wetherspoons. Had breakfast, lunch, dinner and evening drinks, different days. A very busy place. Pleasant staff and good food, very well priced and tasty. Good breakfast, wraps and pizza for tea. The staff certainly work hard and get their steps in. They won't need gym membership. Beer Festival was on when i was there. Tried a few guest real ales, very flavourful and very well priced. Certainly gets a 10 on 10 from me. Recommended.

Smaller than some Wetherspoons so a nice cosy atmosphere.

A cracking venue. Lovely building converted out room. You can have your beers a jail cell. The usual spoons choice of food. The place is very clean and the staff are super friendly. Well, worth a visit.

Brilliant pub great location staff and food along with great prices. Highly recommend 👌👍

Struggled to order as the table I was sat at didn't have a number on. Was told by stroppy teenage barman I couldn't order food. I asked why they were numbers on and it wasn't my fault. I explained where I wad but he wouldn't take an order. He was rude empty tables full of plates and glasses even on top of walls. I come in all the time but today it was absolutely terrible.

Standard Witherspoon good value but a bit shabby

Typically Spoons. Great!!! Had the sausage, beans & chips. Adnams beer. Ohhh very lovely. If ever I stay overnight I’m spending more time here!

Slow service had to chase up missing food and drinks

Rude encounter with staff member (Andy) Was given wrong order and was half way through eating without word took off me while eating as if I was out there to get a freebie not a word a said ,while arguing with lady serving us who was lovely and apologised on his behalf acted immature unprofessional left food there and stormed off leaving me unsure if I could eat what I had been given No apology ,but thanks to other lady for resolving

Lovely atmosphere in the heart of Keswick.

Another well placed weatherspoons all the usual choice of beers at reasonable price plus its beer festival time so lots of different beers to sample

Restaurant prices in Kewswick have gone sky high since the pandemic, with even pubs charging £20 for lunch, so I decided tp try The Chief Justice for a meal. As this is a Wetherspoons, it's national pricing, so is considerably cheaper than most other places iin Keswick, and beer prices are half what you'd pay in other pubs., with a large range of real ales for £3-4 a pint. The caveat is the food is nothing special: I bought an 11 inch pizza that was OK, but for £11 you don't expect a gourmet experience. One thing I did like was The Chief Justice was a former police station and magistrates court and many of the original features have been retained. Also the pub was spotless and the staff friendly. Basically this is a middle of the road place to eat, but if you are on a budget in Keswick, I'd recommend this pub.

Had to clear the table before we could sit down. We’d manage to blag one of the cells in this former police station and magistrates court. We ordered the food and drink on the app. One loft of food came long before the other so the first batch was almost eaten by the time the rest of the order finally came. We were sat for over an hour chatting but there was no effort made to clear our table or the ones we could see outside of our cell. There appeared to be plenty of staff so that’s not an excuse on this occasion. Giving this review an average mark as the food was quite warm for a,’spoons. Plus the novelty of eating in a room that until fairly recently was a proper cell was a pretty cool experience.

Great prices, great value and great location.

This is a rare place in Keswick, somewhere low cost to eat and drink. Wetherspoons have done a tasteful conversion of a historic court house. The food was ok and good value at £8.10 for a baked potato with chilli non carne and a drink. The place was absolutely rammed and so noisy and therefore difficult to chat in. Staff were excellent however and it did its job of cheaply filling up and hydrating me.

Fun way to dine with kids as you can sit in the courtroom or the old jails. Always reasonable, decent food.

I sat outside and waited 90 minutes for food nothing came out, went inside and asked for the food and went back outside, still no food. I got asked about what I ordered 5 different times the staff took notes and took pictures of the order and still never got my order. I asked for a hi-chair for the little boy and never got it from the first waiter I had to ask for it again. Shocking customer service when it is busy they can’t handle it. Our table had the order all mixed up missing items and we got the wrong food 4 different times. people came after us and ate and left and we were still waiting. At the end I left without having my food.

Beer prices that take me back to my youth.

Nipped in for dinner whilst on holiday and thoroughly enjoyed it, good food, good beer very busy but enjoyable.

Quirky and busy, food was great , atmosphere great, good selection of drinks

It's a wetherspoons. It's the same as nearly every other wetherspoons (although perhaps harder to find a seat)

Typical wetherspoons, you get what you pay for. Value for money.

Really not a good experience, food was very poor, sadly could not recommend, woukd definitely not return

Cheap drinks / food Good atmosphere

Great selection of cider and a very nice fish and chips . Staff wonderful.

I love weatherspoons and I used to like this place but tonight it was dirty and understaffed. We had to clear our own table and there were piles of dirty plates and food everywhere. The pub itself is running a limited menu so you can't get a decent weatherspoons meal. It's either burgers, salads or lite bites, nothing substantial. If environmental health walked in, they would shut the place down immediately.

Didn't have a good experience with my first time at a Wetherspoon pub. It was a busy day so they said food was 30 mins late, ended up being later than that, service only happens when you go to the bar and ask what's going on. When we did get the food it was not great anyway, wife's burger had practically nothing in it except a patty and a thin smattering of sauce. They were kind when dealing with polite complaint though and the lemonade that came with the food was well sized. Overall though, I won't go back, don't think they'd miss my business with how busy they are anyway. Will think twice before trying Wetherspoon again.

We wandered in about 6pm on two consecutive nights. The place was full, most people eating but it was not dirty/untidy. Friendly. chatty staff.Good service. Great beers (a white stout! first time for me) Ridiculously good value. Would imagine it gets very busy later in the season but for us it was a great place to have a couple of drinks before dinner.

Very disappointing breakfast this morning. 7 of us eating here this morning and nothing was very warm apart from the porridge that one of us had ordered. Won't be hurrying back for food.

The staff are amazing.so pleasant and friendly,considering how busy the pub is. Made our visit so much more enjoyable.

Keswick high street, wonderful place to visit.

It is what it is food ok and good beer, interesting place for food and drink will be back

Called in to see what it was like wow stunning features from the courthouse to the police cells. Nice atmosphere very very surprised of our meal, the chips was hot fresh and burger was nice. I was expecting a Wetherspoon and definitely recommend

Had breakfast with two friends today, staff were pleasant and food reasonable as sadly the food was only warm and was cold before we finished. So will not be rushing back anytime soon.

Dining in an old courthouse, you can even choose to sit in one of the prison cells, class, Usual weatherspoons hike to the loo.

Lovely place to enjoy drinks and food

Reasonably priced drinks in busy pleasant pub.

Always use spoons just brilliant value I will be back for sure

Clean gets busy as in tourist area food good

Food is fine and atmosphere is great,staff lovely,prices for alcohol on comparison to other pubs in keswick is fantastic no surprise it's always busy.

Another Spoons taking an old, well used building and giving it a new taste of life. Good selection of good priced ales, much cheaper than all surrounding pubs.

Average in every way. There are much better Wetherspoons with more welcoming staff. Usual good prices for food and drink. Cask beers were good. Good value for Keswick.

It’s always busy so there’s a decent atmosphere. It’s absolutely freezing though, put some heating on, we all had to sit with coats on which isn’t ideal when eating. Great location and cheap. Staff are friendly.

I Have Visited MANY Wetherspoons Both Up And Down The Country, And On The Whole Enjoy The Vast Majority, However Have Found The Only Exception Being The Justice Of The Peace Based In Keswick, Where The Majority Of Times Have Found Them To Have Ran Out Of Foods Or Drinks On Their Bar Menu! With My Most Recent Bad Experience Being Today 20th Dec 24 At 12.30pm, When Was Told By Bar Manager They Had No Turkey Christmas Dinners, With Crazy.Reason - "THEY HADN'T BOTHERED TO TAKE FROM FREEZER, BECAUSE NO-ONE WAS ORDERING THEM!! Which Especially At This Time Of Year, To Be.Ridiculous! PLEASE GET YOUR ACT TOGETHER JUSTICE OF THE PEACE MANAGEMENT, ONCE AND FOR ALL! A VERY ANGRY 'FORMER" Attendee....

Standard Wetherspoons. Cheap and good beer selction

Excellent weatherspoons. Rapid service , hot food and clean tables

Called in for afternoon drinks, plus breakfast the following morning. A very interesting building, with quite a history behind it. Plenty of seating, drinks at the usual prices, breakfast hot and delicious. Clearing and cleaning tables certainly didn't seem to be high up on their list of priorities, had to ask for some to be cleared near us due to the awful smell. Staff seemed to be generally miserable, apart from the guy who served breakfast, who was friendly and helpful.

It’s a spoons so love or hate it, expect cheap low quality food and drinks but it doesn’t let dogs in so 5 stars for that alone.

Lovely place . Friendly and polite staff . I will definitely be visiting again. Just a lovely , chilled environment.

Unbelievebley low prices no wonder its busy but get served straight away would save a fortune if lived here.

What you'd expect from wetherspoons ( amazing cask beers and food served quickly and at super prices). Bonus of being ten minutes walk from Dertwenwater in the lakes.

Visited for breakfast whilst visiting Keswick. Fantastic old building packed with history. Service spot on and clean inside. Will be visiting again next time we're in town.

What a tremendous pub this is ! A converted court room and cells makes for an interesting experience and all this with the excellent Wetherspoon vibe.Top!

I stayed in keswick and went to this place and within 2 hours of eating I was violently poorly it was obviously the food I'd eaten there as I had been hiking all day and hadn't eaten anything anywhere else. The pub isn't the cleanest

Friendly and efficient staff. Great selection of beers at great prices. Very busy but i always found a seat. Great place for pint or two.

Lovely helpful staff, food was prompt and at the perfect temperature, not too hot and not lukewarm. Gutted I didn't take any photos. I had cod, chips and mushy peas, defo recommend it.

Food was ok. It's basic pub grub. Service was good and quite quick but food was only lukewarm not hot. For ease and quickness it was fine.

Clean and tidy. Food was good, wide range on menu, including options to upgrade drinks in meal deals.

Food was hot and fresh, even though it was very busy☺️. In a very nice area and town.

Dirty furnishings, slow lousy service, filthy cutlery, and rude miserable staff. It’s obvious that customer satisfaction is worth nothing here, presumably because most visitors are tourists so no return business to worry about, but tourists are still human beings who don’t want to use filthy cutlery, wait 20 minutes after food arrives to get their drinks, or have their order thrown down on the table without a word by an obviously very unhappy member of staff. Food was actually very decent for the price, just a shame about everything else.

Wow ,what an unusual place ! Lots of history of the law courts,central location in Keswick with a large council carpark next door

If you want cheap eats and drinks and Keswick with no frills, and I mean no frills, then this is the place. Menu is the standard Weatherspoons offerings and the staff are doing their best. Overall though it feels cheap and the food is bland. Drinks are a bargain though.

Dropped in on 1.99 a pint, can't go wrong, good breakfast the following day.

Busy in the pub but service was quick. Food was hot and freshly cooked.

Good old spoons. Never fails .Good pub grub. As with all spoons pubs the table had not been cleared. Do it myself.

Always good value but some of the items on my breakfast were stone cold.