We missed this place the first night - walked right past it - and I’ve no idea how! It’s the most quirky venue I’ve been to in a long time. Music wasn’t too loud, there was ample seating, and it was a generally lovely ambience. We will definitely come back another night.
Debbieb5red
This is the second time we have been in this bar albeit 4 years apart. The first was amazing . What a difference 4 years make. No longer craft bar of the year for sure. Very poor beer choice, very loud horrible music, cooking smells from dirty oven or fryer permeates around the bar resulting in smelly clothes even for a short stay. Very untidy and tatty furnishings. Bottle fridge only half full and nothing very exciting like in the past. Definitely won’t be back.
Charlie1976
Visited yesterday for coffee and food, only to be told they had no milk, so we went elsewhere. There’s Booths supermarket and a Co-op around the corner… go get some milk ?♀️. So they missed out on a food order as well as drinks order, all because there was no milk … seems ridiculous to me. Foolishly on reflection (as we were still in the area) we visited again today as I wanted to show my partner how nice the food was…. Huge mistake! It’s totally gone down hill. Wish I’d read earlier reviews. Staff not present on arrival. Staff just lack any enthusiasm or interest. Was told we could have a coffee but that it would have to be made with oat milk. We ordered food and the presentation and taste etc was nothing like what it used to be. We were handed two great big door wedges as our toasties. All bread, no real substance to them. No effort was put in whatsoever. I’d say, a great place for alcohol beverages only these days. If you’ve been in previous years, don’t expect the same food or presentation! Crying shame me thinks.
948graemey
What a gem of a pub! A really excellent range of draught beers; craft beer, wheat beer, real ales & lagers.....and a truly outstanding range of European bottled beers!! Had the sharing platter and it was delicious. Good varied music. All staff really friendly. An absolute must to visit. Oh, and dog treats too!!!
LesleyBanks
I have seen The Crafty Baa promoted on social media and was delighted to visit on Saturday 16th December. We visited with the intention of having a quick drink but received a warm welcome and having reviewed the menu we decided to stay and have lunch too. The staff were friendly, the Crafty lager very nice and the food we had was delicious. It was a welcoming atmosphere and unique surroundings within the Baa itself. We thoroughly enjoyed it and will certainly visit again in the future. Would recommend.
victoriaswift269
I visited the Crafty Baa with my husband, 18-month old daughter, two friends and their dog on a very snowy Monday evening. From the outside, the pub looked amazing - like a beacon of beautiful lights in the snow. Inside, it was small and cosy and so full of character. We sat in 'the haunted room', which has been designed to reflect a Victorian parlour, complete with skeletons, antlers, scary dolls, chandeliers... it was just fabulous! The staff were very friendly, especially when they accidentally set the fire alarms off by overdoing some bread. I'd love to return to the Crafty Baa if we're ever back in Windermere.
TonyJohnT
What great quirky little place. Superb atmosphere and very, very cosy on a soggy November day. Nice open log fire with the invitation of stoking it youself if the fire dies down. We didn't eat there but the beers were good Love to go there again sometime.
EdinburghChaz
We went in here because of the quirky look. I must admit it was nice outside and in. The only problem here is the drink prices which in my opinion are well over the top. £6.50 for a pint of their pale ale. My wife had a Lakeland whiskey which cost £9.00. The beer prices are on the wall when you arrive and I don’t consider them good at all. Pity really as the food was good and a decent price. Unlike a previous review, I found the staff ok.
michaelsavill
Amazing bar, great music, Emma was THE best hostess!!! Chatty, friendly and completely down to earth, she made us so welcome we had to return time and time again.
F1820QNkeithf
What a great find. Went here a few times during our stay in Windermere and would make the 3 hour drive again just to visit this place. Really quirky with lots of nooks and plenty of seating. Beer selection is superb.
After reading reviews I was excited to come here but wish I’d read more recent reviews in the past few weeks that I can see leaving this one today. Really grubby everywhere, staff either just on laptops or phones, asked for a food menu and was handed a filthy sticky menu and staff didn’t seem interested at all. So we finished our drink and left. When we left we said thank you to the lady in the bar and she didn’t even look up from her phone let alone respond to us. What a shame.
wendyo1973
Not as good as it was, sadly! We have been going here for several years, and have loved it. On this occasion the staff were poor, the fridges were empty, not a single fruit beet and the lovely touch of some nibbles with your drink has stopped! Such a shame as the bar itself is lovely and cozy!
Claire J
We visited The Crafty Baa on past reviews. We were mistaken. There is no doubt that they offer a wide range of beers and the beer that we had was good. However I like to drink good beer in a clean environment with staff that show some enthusiasm for what is on offer. The pub smelt musty, the floors were sticky and I left thinking that the whole place needed a good clean and some customer service training for their staff.
nafnapaj
We came here in the basis that it was AA Pub of the Year (but note that was 2018/19). From the outside it looks seedy and inside is dirty and unwelcoming. We decided not to eat and I was very happy to leave.
Dave Whitehead
Not as good as it once was. Struggled to order food in the evening a few times recently as the kitchen was 'overloaded'. The actual beer selection is also rather poor, of the 12 options on tap, least 8 are always ciders. The Crafty Pale is decent. The free bar snacks don't seem to be offered any more. Two pints are around £13-14.
We missed this place the first night - walked right past it - and I’ve no idea how! It’s the most quirky venue I’ve been to in a long time. Music wasn’t too loud, there was ample seating, and it was a generally lovely ambience. We will definitely come back another night.
This is the second time we have been in this bar albeit 4 years apart. The first was amazing . What a difference 4 years make. No longer craft bar of the year for sure. Very poor beer choice, very loud horrible music, cooking smells from dirty oven or fryer permeates around the bar resulting in smelly clothes even for a short stay. Very untidy and tatty furnishings. Bottle fridge only half full and nothing very exciting like in the past. Definitely won’t be back.
Visited yesterday for coffee and food, only to be told they had no milk, so we went elsewhere. There’s Booths supermarket and a Co-op around the corner… go get some milk ?♀️. So they missed out on a food order as well as drinks order, all because there was no milk … seems ridiculous to me. Foolishly on reflection (as we were still in the area) we visited again today as I wanted to show my partner how nice the food was…. Huge mistake! It’s totally gone down hill. Wish I’d read earlier reviews. Staff not present on arrival. Staff just lack any enthusiasm or interest. Was told we could have a coffee but that it would have to be made with oat milk. We ordered food and the presentation and taste etc was nothing like what it used to be. We were handed two great big door wedges as our toasties. All bread, no real substance to them. No effort was put in whatsoever. I’d say, a great place for alcohol beverages only these days. If you’ve been in previous years, don’t expect the same food or presentation! Crying shame me thinks.
What a gem of a pub! A really excellent range of draught beers; craft beer, wheat beer, real ales & lagers.....and a truly outstanding range of European bottled beers!! Had the sharing platter and it was delicious. Good varied music. All staff really friendly. An absolute must to visit. Oh, and dog treats too!!!
I have seen The Crafty Baa promoted on social media and was delighted to visit on Saturday 16th December. We visited with the intention of having a quick drink but received a warm welcome and having reviewed the menu we decided to stay and have lunch too. The staff were friendly, the Crafty lager very nice and the food we had was delicious. It was a welcoming atmosphere and unique surroundings within the Baa itself. We thoroughly enjoyed it and will certainly visit again in the future. Would recommend.
I visited the Crafty Baa with my husband, 18-month old daughter, two friends and their dog on a very snowy Monday evening. From the outside, the pub looked amazing - like a beacon of beautiful lights in the snow. Inside, it was small and cosy and so full of character. We sat in 'the haunted room', which has been designed to reflect a Victorian parlour, complete with skeletons, antlers, scary dolls, chandeliers... it was just fabulous! The staff were very friendly, especially when they accidentally set the fire alarms off by overdoing some bread. I'd love to return to the Crafty Baa if we're ever back in Windermere.
What great quirky little place. Superb atmosphere and very, very cosy on a soggy November day. Nice open log fire with the invitation of stoking it youself if the fire dies down. We didn't eat there but the beers were good Love to go there again sometime.
We went in here because of the quirky look. I must admit it was nice outside and in. The only problem here is the drink prices which in my opinion are well over the top. £6.50 for a pint of their pale ale. My wife had a Lakeland whiskey which cost £9.00. The beer prices are on the wall when you arrive and I don’t consider them good at all. Pity really as the food was good and a decent price. Unlike a previous review, I found the staff ok.
Amazing bar, great music, Emma was THE best hostess!!! Chatty, friendly and completely down to earth, she made us so welcome we had to return time and time again.
What a great find. Went here a few times during our stay in Windermere and would make the 3 hour drive again just to visit this place. Really quirky with lots of nooks and plenty of seating. Beer selection is superb.
Restaurantji Recommends
After reading reviews I was excited to come here but wish I’d read more recent reviews in the past few weeks that I can see leaving this one today. Really grubby everywhere, staff either just on laptops or phones, asked for a food menu and was handed a filthy sticky menu and staff didn’t seem interested at all. So we finished our drink and left. When we left we said thank you to the lady in the bar and she didn’t even look up from her phone let alone respond to us. What a shame.
Not as good as it was, sadly! We have been going here for several years, and have loved it. On this occasion the staff were poor, the fridges were empty, not a single fruit beet and the lovely touch of some nibbles with your drink has stopped! Such a shame as the bar itself is lovely and cozy!
We visited The Crafty Baa on past reviews. We were mistaken. There is no doubt that they offer a wide range of beers and the beer that we had was good. However I like to drink good beer in a clean environment with staff that show some enthusiasm for what is on offer. The pub smelt musty, the floors were sticky and I left thinking that the whole place needed a good clean and some customer service training for their staff.
We came here in the basis that it was AA Pub of the Year (but note that was 2018/19). From the outside it looks seedy and inside is dirty and unwelcoming. We decided not to eat and I was very happy to leave.
Not as good as it once was. Struggled to order food in the evening a few times recently as the kitchen was 'overloaded'. The actual beer selection is also rather poor, of the 12 options on tap, least 8 are always ciders. The Crafty Pale is decent. The free bar snacks don't seem to be offered any more. Two pints are around £13-14.