The Priest Hole in South Lakeland

Greeted by a miserable waiter and shown to our table with a grunt, left for 20 mins until we asked if we could order, had to go and ask for a drinks menu. Soup was lovely but it all went down hill from there, we were visiting on Easter Sunday which may have contributed to the issue, but they had run out of one of the 3 starters and the lamb. ( there was still 2.5hrs of service left) We were a party of 6 and were all served plates of fat, luke warm anaemic roast potatoes, 1piece of cauliflower and swede purée with a teaspoon of red cabbage which was the veg accompaniment. One upside was our miserable server was replaced by a lovely lady who was equally horrified at what we had been served and gave us all free desserts. We have been here every year at Easter but unfortunately after today’s experience we won’t be back. Thank you to the lovely server who saved a terrible meal with her friendliness!

There was 12 of us plus toddler food was poor serves was slow staff was not looking happy food could have been hotter and for quality more of it for price over all wouldn’t go back been in the business myself for over 35 years big improvements need it could be a nice watering hole and food place ps staff need to smile more

Just moved to UK and decided to visit the Lake District on my 4th month! I regret I only came to this restaurant on my last night in Ambleside! This will definitely be my go to place when I come back in summer. I came at around 5:30pn on Saturday, without booking and staff offered me a table for ine which she said will only be available for an hour. I was worried but even I reached an hour they did not bother me at all or rush me. I had the day's special which is a darbe of salmon, then sticky toffee pudding for dessert. It is pricier than other restaurants in the area but the quality id so much better and I'd better pay more to be spared from disappointment. I enjoyed my dinner! Salmon was perfectly cooked and seasoned well. Sticky toffee pudding was also very good!! Portion sizes are big enough.

Absolutely delicious roast today! Way beyond my expectations. Great value too! I would absolutely eat here again and again.

The most delicious roast dinner I have ever eaten out. Would highly recommended to family and friends. Staff were very welcoming and friendly .

Visited about 2, no booking, restaurant about half full, v friendly staff, menu - roasts plus a few other dishes, we ate lamb and beef roasts, well presented, large portions and very tasty, drank v good Pinot Grigio and a bottled beer. Many thanks for an excellent Sunday lunch, we will return.

The food is fabulous . There is something for everyone . Proper home cooked meals with a lovely atmosphere . The staff were really helpful.

So, we decided to eat here last night as it is a place we had seen on our many trips to Ambleside and had heard about and wanted to try, as we decided to actually stay over in Ambleside for the weekend. We were looking forward to trying this place out. On arrival you go inside and wait to be seated, this is next to the kitchen entrance. There were 3 members of staff at the bar who had seen us waiting, after about 30 seconds one of the front of house staff walked down to us and without any eye contact, acknowledgement, walked by us, causing us to move out of here way.. Unbelievable rudeness so we just turned around and went and spent our money elsewhere.

I can’t review much here because as we walked in you have to wait at the entrance where there is also a doorway to the kitchen. As we waited to be seen there were 3 members of staff that saw that we were waiting to be seated. Then after a bit of a wait one of them walked down towards us and without any acknowledgement or eye contact at all walked by us into the kitchen area. We literally had to step out of her way to let her through. We just looked at each other and turned and walked out.. If the staff are rude enough or not trained enough to just acknowledge someone waiting especially as we were in her way then it’s a NO from me.

The roast beef was delicious, we booked quite early and was in and out with full stomachs. Would recommend here for sure.

Just had a brilliant lunch here, homemade steak pie followed by a shared sticky toffee pudding. The pie was full of meat and had pastry at the bottom!, the vegetables were tasty Both tasted amazing. The service was excellent as well.

The building is lovely and old, lots of character. The food was delicious. Missed a drink off the order but brought one as soon as informed. Had to ask for a steak knife but again got one quickly when asked. The staff where lovely.

Had a really good Sunday lunch here in January. There were 4 of us and between us we had all the options-lamb,pork and beef. Good hearty fare which really tasted home made. Excellent roasties and gravy and nice rioja too. Not sure how it would be if it were busy but we ate at 2.45 and it was quite quiet and service was great.

We haven’t eaten here for a while but thought it was about time we went back. We weren’t disappointed. I had the venison and my partner had the steak & ale pie. Both were fantastic. They had a great selection of local bottled beers. We also had dessert. To be honest we probably should have shared one as they are quite large. The staff were friendly and attentive. Will definitely visit again.

Visited here on the first day of reopening after a two week period due to a Christmas break. I tried a new starter, the slow cooked beef croquettes with creamy mash definitely needs to be a main dish as it’s to absolutely melt for. and of course the burger for the main was 1010. accompanied with a glass of merlot I could easily eat here every day, met the chef personally very professional, front of house was everything you could ask for. will definitely be returning!

Arrived to eat here and it was closed despite it having been advertised as open.

Tipped up here without a reservation, after a long hard drive through bad weather from the South of England. They had a table for us in 30 minutes. The staff were lovely, and the food was fantastic. I'm usually disappointed by Steak & Ale pie, but I keep trying, and these guys rewarded my perverence by delivering the most perfect pie I've ever eaten. Not so fancy that you need to dress up, but fancy enough that the quality of food is top level. Great staff, lovely environment. Just one complaint: you guys need to up your tea game! Any tea that comes in a round bag is just a small pocket of disappointment. Also, if you pay by card, make sure you take cash to tip the staff. It can't be done on card, and there's no added service charge.

Excellent food, service and value for money

3 x portions of fish and chips at (from memory) £17 per person to receive an overcooked, hard, dry piece of batter of reasonable side. Only to find a thin fillet of haddock hidden underneath. Really really disappointed and the waitress couldn't have cared less.

Superb experience eating at the Priest Hole was had on New Yers Eve. We were a party of 8 and all agreed the food was excellent as was the service. We have eaten there before and enjoyed but this time they exceeded our expectations. The stand out dishes were the lamb mains as well as the duck and hot potted salmon starters. We look forward to re visiting you again and many thanks for a super evening.

Excellent food and friendly staff

Excellent food and atmosphere. The Sticky Toffee Pudding was amazing 😋

Very basic and tasteless kitchen. The service was nice.

Amazing restaurant, the server was really nice and friendly, she kindly assisted us. The food portion was definitely worth the price. The only complain I have is that the fish & chips were bland and the smell was overwhelming.

Lovely food and atmosphere. Can't wait for summer evenings sat outdoors 👌

Absolutely perfect steak and ale pie without a sign of gristle or fat. Proper quality pub food made fresh!

Had the lamb 2 ways, and now it's all I can think about. Absolutely outstanding food. Been to the restaurant many times, and that's not about to change any time soon. Jess on point as always. 😁

Worth booking as very busy. Food was gorgeous & good portions. Very varied menu. Well worth a visit, we will be going back

I don't review restaurants often, but this was - no exaggeration - the best steak I've ever eaten, anywhere. It was 18 months ago I actually visited, and I still remember the steak. Saw it on my bank statements just now and felt motivated to come back and say something about it, that's how good it was. And I've been to plenty of places that pride themselves on their steaks. Interior is historically interesting and the place is pretty relaxed for being in such a tourist-frequented spot. Not the cheapest food, but considering the quality, well worth it.

Had Sunday lunch and it was delicious. The main course was so big that we couldn't find space for dessert.

A good family restaurant run by friendly people

Food was heavy, not a nice as I was expecting, £25 for a couple of medallions of pink lamb, £22 for a plate of chicken with wild mushroom ravioli, very heavy to eat, certainly overpriced too! If you come here opt for the cheapest stuff on the menu which is £17 for a burger or beef n ale pie.

It was quiet with just one other table with people. Service was great and food was wonderful. Best shepherds pie I have had. Husband loved his hamburger. By the time we left the place was really filling up!!

Friendly helpful service from Katie . Thank you. We both opted for the “hot meat of the day “ sandwich . ( Beef on the day we visited ) This comes with a dinky pot of gravy and salad + coleslaw garnish . We also...

Visited on a Sunday evening whilst staying in Ambleside. We had the Sunday lunch which was delicious and plentiful. The restaurant was busy but service was good and the staff friendly. Would definitely return when in the area.

A delicious meal and very friendly staff. Would heartily recommend.

Great restaurant, lovely staff and delicious food.

the food was great but the service is a bit slow. Our drinks arriv after 15 minutes after order and the food arrived after 45 min

We chose this place because of the great reviews but our experience did not match up to the reviews at all. Upon arriving the room we were sat in was freezing no heating on and we had to keep our jackets on. The hot beef sandwich was inedible. We sent them both back, the beef was tough, chewy & tasted sour. We opted to try the fish goujon sandwich but this was just as awful to be honest. There was around 80% batter and a thin layer of chewy fish. The bread had been buttered with a bright yellow margarine which left an awful nasty taste in the sandwich. We left most of the food and left. After already having to send one lot of food back we just wanted to leave.

No draught beer. £6.50 for bottled stuff is OTT

Excellent restaurant. Great everyday food, excellent staff, and a great night.

Expensive for a very mediocre meal. 😕 . I would not recommend.

Great building, friendly and helpful staff. Great food for a decent price that outshone local high end restaurants in terms of taste and value for money.

We've been coming to the Lake District for many years, and it's not just the amazing mountains, lakes and people that call us back to visit, it's also the steak and ale pie in the Priest Hole.

This is a very old historic building but it is clean and welcoming, with a good choice of food and drink. We just had a sandwich lunch but they were the best sandwiches we had during our holiday, with generous fillings , good quality bread...

A great meal with substantial portions. I had their steak and ale pie and I must say it was one of the best pies I have had in a restaurant. A proper pie with pastry all round and baked in a tray, school dinner style. Really very good! Chips and vegetables weren't half bad either! Too full for a pudding, but they did look great as well. Another year, another steak pie! Still not managed to finish it

Amazing restaurant , the food was fresh and portions good. I had steak, my partner had steak and ale pie, both were delicious. would definately recommend, suspect better to book as it got really busy, and the gin cocktail was great

Have to say after not being here for a good 4/5 years the quality of food and service has not changed it is still top notch and the staff are so friendly and make you feel at home. Will definitely return yet again but hopefully...

Visited tonight for my birthday & was really impressed. The food was amazing as was the staff! We will certainly be visiting again in December for our 45th wedding anniversary. We'll done the priest hole ,excellent food & service 😋

Busy, quirky venue. Good gourmet pub food in a very old building with amusingly wonky floors and walls.

The steak and chips pie was very good.

Went for an evening meal with my husband food was delicious we had the Lamb Kebab and Fish Pie our waitress Nicola was really friendly and made our experience would definitely recommend 😊

Food is very good and we really enjoyed what we ate. The service however was pretty poor. We stood waiting to be seated for over 5 minutes. This was whilst staff stood talking behind the bar. When we were eventually seated we waited another 10...

We booked this based on the excellent reviews, but quite honestly it was anything but excellent. It was steak night, the meal was just warm and the steak was nothing special. Service was ok, waitress was friendly, but we wouldn’t go back or recommend it.

Great, tasty, traditional (I think) English food. Reasonable prices, very friendly service and a good atmosphere.

Best food in Ambleside. No contest. Been here 2 years in a row, brilliant both times. Sea bream is particularly good

Amazing Sunday Roast. Good selection of local ales in bottles. Great value for money. Attentive and friendly service.

We did go to this restaurant for a Sunday roast, but when we got there they had unfortunately run out of beef and lamb for the day. We did not go until 7pm on a Sunday evening and appreciate they have only got so much...

We had a delightful Sunday dinner. The lamb roast was delicious. Our waitress, Lauren was so good & attentive. We had a great cheese appetizer & good ice cream for dessert. FYI, I had made a reservation about a month before we were there.

Just a little review before I forget…. My husband and I ate here back in June. They were very busy but squeezed us in and as before we had a very lovely meal in this very old quirky place it’s always a good atmosphere and...

We’ve been to Ambleside twice but have managed to dine at The Priest Hole 4 times - it really is that good! This is a notch above your average gastropub. High quality, changing menu that delivers every time. As you’d expect, the food is accompanied with an extensive drinks menu. The service is truly excellent here with the front of house being extremely warm and knowledgeable about the menu. The ultimate cosy location to refuel after a long day walking - will be visiting again when next in Ambleside.

Great dishes for very reasonable price

Superb service and selection of dishes.

Our 2nd visit here. Great food and lovely staff

We visit Ambleside every year and always call in to the Priest Hole for their steak and ale pie, its to die for. See you next year!

If you are looking for a Sunday lunch then this is the place !! We absolutely enjoyed everything from the lunch to our pudding, I definitely recommend the knickerbocker glory ! The staff are really great and fries and the pub itself is very cosy...

Staff were rude a girl/woman was very rude and unhelpful! Think she was some kind of manager but needs re training!! Food wasn’t great! Won’t be recommending to friends

So full of atmosphere and the history in the walls can be felt!! Food outdtanding, happy smiley attentive service, welcoming but not pretentious. 10/10* all round for us

We were told we had only an hr plus for dinner (we walk-in). Honestly speaking we were grateful that they are willing to accommodate us. We are satisfied with our meal, Oven Baked Haddock. We had amble time to enjoy our dinner, without being pushed....

Always excellent food, can recommend the steak pie. Pub has good atmosphere, staff are always friendly and helpful.

We loved eating here. Great restaurant, quiet atmosphere, friendly and helpful staff. Food was great quality. Highly recommended!

Absolutely gorgeous steak and sides. Rest of family had steak pie, fish and chips and burgers. All amazing seasoned really well and cooked perfectly. Puddings were gorgeous too, highly recommend

Fab selection of ales and lagers.

Delightful classic comfort food

This is the second time that we've eaten in the 'Priest Hole' and I had the Steak Pie once again, the only thing that wasn't too my liking was that the steak in the open crust pie had dried out and was crusty, however they...

Food was pretty average. Pheasant was over cooked and dry, same story with the lamb. Kids chips looked and tasted like frozen, mass produced stuff rather than homemade. Chorizo starter was very good, though. The two young girls serving us were lovely and accommodating. However, the lady with the red hair and glasses (who seemed to be in charge) was rude and made for damn sure we won’t be returning. Looking back at other reviews, this seems to be a common complaint.

Visited with family for a light lunch. Service was fine. Food average. Reading the reviews on here this appears to not be the norm so perhaps we caught on a bad day.

We book for a Sunday lunch. When we arrived we were made to wait at the door while two staff members chatted and collected glasses. When we were finally acknowledged they couldn't find us on the list. When we showed them the email we were...

Great food with an inventive British selection and paired with good service. A nice selection of wines and local beers too. Definitely one of the main restaurants to visit when dining around in Ambleside.

Great chefs. Excellent service with a smile. Specials are different each day. Good for fish, steaks and local lamb.

Excellent service with personal attention. The quality of every beautifully arranged plate of food is top notch . Their chefs really know how to get the best flavour out of their ingredients. Good value too!

I realize burgers are not a UK specialty but we expected a better showing than well done and unseasoned. Other entrees were fine but honestly forgettable.

The food was pretty good but the ladies that served us were a little grumpy. We felt as welcome as a fart in a spacesuit...

This was the best lunch we had in the Lake District. It was family friendly. The building was very cool. Everyone enjoyed their meal. My daughter wanted to go back again for the kids chicken. The meat pie was outstanding!

One of our highlights during our UK Tour

You need to book as this is very popular and when we were there no more bookings were being taken for the Sunday. Excellent Sunday roast. Good choice. Excellent quality. Excellent service, which was very friendly. Almost everyone was having the Eton mess pudding!

Called in here for a light bite lunch. The food and drink was fantastic. The service from the staff working was also fantastic. I would highly recommend a visit here.

Worst meal we had in two weeks exploring the lake District. I definitely won't be recommending it to anyone.

Some meals where not very warm, I had the steak and ale pie, it was a warmup and I spent most of the early hours being ill after eating it !

We eat here everytime we visit Ambleside. The quality of food & service is always excellent. Booking a table is always recommended.

The food was terrible. Good size serves, but sadly not very nice at all. Limited wine selection and no draught beer only bottles. We were guided by the ratings but very wrong.

Visited this place a year ago and had a fabulous meal and service. Revisited this year and very disappointed. Service poor, one poor lady rushing around trying to serve everyone (she did a pretty good job to be fair to her) but there were other...

Excellent service. Fish and chips were good but the falafel burger was not great.

Had lamb sunday lunch,one of the tastiest I've had, very nice.oh yes, there was mint sauce..👍

Disappointed Sunday roast was warm service a bit sketchy, reviews looked good maybe it was just an off day

Visited the restaurant for Sunday lunch and we hadn’t made a reservation. The staff were very helpful in finding us all a table and the service from all the staff was excellent. The Sunday look much served was scrumptious and we all enjoyed our meals....

We booked this restaurant on the 28/05/2023 for a table for four for a meal on Tuesday 04 July at 19.30hrs…..we duly arrived on the 04 July for our meal only to be told by a member of staff that they could not read the...

A fantastic accidental find. We went to the pub next door (which was also great) and checked out the menu. Not a massive choice but you don’t need that when there is something for everyone in our group (including a vegetarian) and everything we had...

A little expensive (but where isn't around the Lakes?). Only had sandwiches and fries, but they weren't skinny portions. Would definitely return.

Food was nice, staff were helpful.