We called in for a couple of beers as we have many times before but this time as most restaurants seemed to be closed we ordered food ( what a mistake) two chicken burger meals (the grilled ones) I’ve got to say possibly the worst food ever just utter garbage also the place needs a good clean, sticky dirty tables used empty glasses just left, toilets were stinking dirty such a shame as we used to like the place. Wake up call required!
Trek21221737766
What a lovely meal and drinks we had at this pub on New Years Eve Eve!! The pub was buzzing. We had the dog so had to sit in the bar. Our first encounter with this pub years ago was average and we didn’t rate the food but as the whole of Ambleside was just serving food to residents only, we were struggling to find somewhere to eat. After being told again we could not order food, residents only, we were advised by Gabby to tell the bar staff we had a reservation. Unfortunately the lady at the bar asked to see our room reservation and sent us away when we obviously didn’t have one!! We spoke to a lovely gentleman who turned out to be the manager, Steve. Couldn’t have been more helpful and encouraged us to try again, which we did, and mention his name. No problem. Steve went above and beyond and we ended up with four sumptuous meals. The steak was amazing and the bone marrow gravy was sensational!! Very grateful for Steve’s help and wish him and his management team well in the future. We will be back.
Shepherds Walks H
Called in on a very busy 30th Dec and asked if they were still serving food. Lovely lady told us they were if we said we were residents, it wouldn't be a problem. Her bar maid had other ideas and said no food without proof of our booking. We got drinks and resigned ourselves to not eating. But when the new manger Steve checked on how we were, he told us to go back to the bar and tell the bar staff he had ok'd our food order. Order was taken by another member of the team with no problem but the same barmaid was not happy at all. Food was fantastic, Steve and your team, fabulous and thank you for a great night - but your barmaid nearly cost you!
Gary Hare
Blatant tourist ripoff. £16 for a plain burger. feel sorry for hardworking families visiting Ambleside. No wonder the local businesses voted against a Wetherspoons in the area. Disgraceful.
Louise Jackson
Had a lovely stay here 2 nights tge breakfast was really well cooked.Room was clean and comfortable. The new landlord and landlady super friendly. The barstaff great service too!Parking: Easy to park
Margaret J
Unhelpful staff, dirty seats, poor maintenance. Told kitchen was closed. (On our previous visit told limited menu, diners we spoke to said food poor, so we left without dining.
mccud
Nice hotel right in the centre of Ambleside. Only limited car parking but understandable given the location. if you can't get a parking space, the main town car park is few minutes walk away. Lovely spacious room with big double bed and a couch. Our bathroom was very small and could of been a little cleaner (loo paper very cheap). We didn't eat in the bar but had breakfast which was very nice (lovely sausages). Staff friendly and helpful. Would stay again if vising Ambleside.
J162SJsarahs
Fabulous food as always. Great table in the window next to a warm radiator, just what we needed after our walk. Chicken & Portobello Pie and Lasagna - delicious. Great service, warm and relaxing atmosphere.
Paul Wild
Lovely food and fantastic service. Came back for a second meal while we were in Ambleside. Staff all very friendly and nice atmosphere.
Gill Rooney
We visited and ate at this pub between Christmas and New Year 2021, and had a really good experience with lovely food.We were back in Ambleside at the same time of year in 2023 and decided to call into the White Lion for food, as we'd had such a good experience previously. It couldn't have been more different! The food was dreadful. My lasagne has been microwaved to within an inch of it's life, and the garlic bread was 2 small fingers. My husbands fish and chips was a very small portion with undercooked batter on a thin piece of fish, a few chips and very dry mushy peas (I ordered garden peas). When we mentioned this to the staff, no one seemed to care!Such a shame it has gone downhill so much!
Awful!! I believe the chef had some bad news!! They should've stopped serving food right then but we were told our meal was going ahead! We ordered fish n chips, Sorry to say but my dog wouldn't have eaten the piece of rubber in batter that was served to me. Barely no chips either.This was possibly the worst meal i have ever had put in front of me, awful.My husbands fish looked slightly healthier but not by much, lots of batter for very little fish. The plus side, Grace you absolute star, lovely lady, very kind and understanding and worked her socks off while we sat and had our drinks. Such a shame with the food as a nice pub and Grace is a fabulous asset. I hope you can improve on your food.
Paul W
Lovely pub with welcoming atmosphere. Great food and drink. Spicy chicken wings are exceptional. Friendly staff and very clean.
Drinksgalore007
Ate here new years eve. Staff were rude. Food was very average and not very welcoming. Small menu with most of it sold out. Had to go back to the bar to ask for the deposit we had paid to be deducted drom the bill as they had forgotten. Wouldn't rush back.
paulbQ4469UO
The food was great as was the very friendly bar staff and management . Good menu choices and good range of real ales would highly recommend.
Paul S
Had a great night in the White Lion - loads of ales to choose from and lovely food. Steve the manager was very welcoming and the service was great - they couldn’t do enough for us. Will def visit again.
We called in for a couple of beers as we have many times before but this time as most restaurants seemed to be closed we ordered food ( what a mistake) two chicken burger meals (the grilled ones) I’ve got to say possibly the worst food ever just utter garbage also the place needs a good clean, sticky dirty tables used empty glasses just left, toilets were stinking dirty such a shame as we used to like the place. Wake up call required!
What a lovely meal and drinks we had at this pub on New Years Eve Eve!! The pub was buzzing. We had the dog so had to sit in the bar. Our first encounter with this pub years ago was average and we didn’t rate the food but as the whole of Ambleside was just serving food to residents only, we were struggling to find somewhere to eat. After being told again we could not order food, residents only, we were advised by Gabby to tell the bar staff we had a reservation. Unfortunately the lady at the bar asked to see our room reservation and sent us away when we obviously didn’t have one!! We spoke to a lovely gentleman who turned out to be the manager, Steve. Couldn’t have been more helpful and encouraged us to try again, which we did, and mention his name. No problem. Steve went above and beyond and we ended up with four sumptuous meals. The steak was amazing and the bone marrow gravy was sensational!! Very grateful for Steve’s help and wish him and his management team well in the future. We will be back.
Called in on a very busy 30th Dec and asked if they were still serving food. Lovely lady told us they were if we said we were residents, it wouldn't be a problem. Her bar maid had other ideas and said no food without proof of our booking. We got drinks and resigned ourselves to not eating. But when the new manger Steve checked on how we were, he told us to go back to the bar and tell the bar staff he had ok'd our food order. Order was taken by another member of the team with no problem but the same barmaid was not happy at all. Food was fantastic, Steve and your team, fabulous and thank you for a great night - but your barmaid nearly cost you!
Blatant tourist ripoff. £16 for a plain burger. feel sorry for hardworking families visiting Ambleside. No wonder the local businesses voted against a Wetherspoons in the area. Disgraceful.
Had a lovely stay here 2 nights tge breakfast was really well cooked.Room was clean and comfortable. The new landlord and landlady super friendly. The barstaff great service too!Parking: Easy to park
Unhelpful staff, dirty seats, poor maintenance. Told kitchen was closed. (On our previous visit told limited menu, diners we spoke to said food poor, so we left without dining.
Nice hotel right in the centre of Ambleside. Only limited car parking but understandable given the location. if you can't get a parking space, the main town car park is few minutes walk away. Lovely spacious room with big double bed and a couch. Our bathroom was very small and could of been a little cleaner (loo paper very cheap). We didn't eat in the bar but had breakfast which was very nice (lovely sausages). Staff friendly and helpful. Would stay again if vising Ambleside.
Fabulous food as always. Great table in the window next to a warm radiator, just what we needed after our walk. Chicken & Portobello Pie and Lasagna - delicious. Great service, warm and relaxing atmosphere.
Lovely food and fantastic service. Came back for a second meal while we were in Ambleside. Staff all very friendly and nice atmosphere.
We visited and ate at this pub between Christmas and New Year 2021, and had a really good experience with lovely food.We were back in Ambleside at the same time of year in 2023 and decided to call into the White Lion for food, as we'd had such a good experience previously. It couldn't have been more different! The food was dreadful. My lasagne has been microwaved to within an inch of it's life, and the garlic bread was 2 small fingers. My husbands fish and chips was a very small portion with undercooked batter on a thin piece of fish, a few chips and very dry mushy peas (I ordered garden peas). When we mentioned this to the staff, no one seemed to care!Such a shame it has gone downhill so much!
Restaurantji Recommends
Awful!! I believe the chef had some bad news!! They should've stopped serving food right then but we were told our meal was going ahead! We ordered fish n chips, Sorry to say but my dog wouldn't have eaten the piece of rubber in batter that was served to me. Barely no chips either.This was possibly the worst meal i have ever had put in front of me, awful.My husbands fish looked slightly healthier but not by much, lots of batter for very little fish. The plus side, Grace you absolute star, lovely lady, very kind and understanding and worked her socks off while we sat and had our drinks. Such a shame with the food as a nice pub and Grace is a fabulous asset. I hope you can improve on your food.
Lovely pub with welcoming atmosphere. Great food and drink. Spicy chicken wings are exceptional. Friendly staff and very clean.
Ate here new years eve. Staff were rude. Food was very average and not very welcoming. Small menu with most of it sold out. Had to go back to the bar to ask for the deposit we had paid to be deducted drom the bill as they had forgotten. Wouldn't rush back.
The food was great as was the very friendly bar staff and management . Good menu choices and good range of real ales would highly recommend.
Had a great night in the White Lion - loads of ales to choose from and lovely food. Steve the manager was very welcoming and the service was great - they couldn’t do enough for us. Will def visit again.