Pentonbridge Inn Hotel

England

On an isolated T-junction less than half a mile from the Scottish border in the most rural corner of Cumbrian England, the spoils of the neighbouring farmland and best of British seafood are being put together with gusto in the kitchens of Pentonbridge Inn.

Perfectly placed for a trek inthe country – a hiking invasion of Scotland, say – or a day trip to Carlisle for its castle and cathedral, the nine rooms of Pentonbridge Inn have been curated to give you everything you need. Named after the Border Reivers clans, the rooms have natural touches of tartan, tweed, slate and wood alongside neutral colours. And there’s no skimping on comfort, so baths are big and showers are walk-in, and there are even converted barn rooms that are dog friendly. There’s homemade shortbread in the rooms too – you can argue with your dog as to who gets that.

Chef Chris Archer ramps things up on the food front, offering a five-course lunch menu for £75 or eight-course dinner for £95, both using the best produce, whether it’s chubby hand-dived Orkney scallops with vadouvan, broad beans and lime or Cumbrian Herdwick with turnips, peas and wild garlic – from their very own walled garden at nearby Netherby Hall.

Doubles from £345 including dinner and breakfast. 01228 586 636. pentonbridgeinn.co.uk

Words by Alex Mead.

This review was taken from the July 2022 issue of Food and Travel. To subscribe today, click here.