please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Always nice to see the cask ales chalked up on a board behind the bar. Took a photo that reminds me they had Old Peculiar (4.8%) Keswick KSB, same strength, Loweswater Gold (4.3) and Keswick Woof and Bang at a light 3.6%, so a nice varied selection and the Gold a decent option. Hang on just scrolled down on my photo, also had Loosehead from Kirkby Lonsdale brewery at 3.7% and a Gluten free pale ale (4.7) from Allendale brewery. Thursday night was quiz night, think most teams were tourists.
Prior to here had visited The Wainwright up the road (or was it down then up, very close though) wth a selection of at least five real ales.
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Food is king :-)
I knew how popular it was from a previous visit - so booked a table (not easily) for 8pm on a saturday night.
Table nicely reserved.
They had no food.
Keswick pub crawl and photos at http://bit.ly/2ebKnG3
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7 ales across the 8 hand pumps on, on my Tuesday evening visit to this popular dog friendly pub at top of the high street. This is the only pub in the town that appears in the 2016 GBG.
The ales on were split between nationals and locals with 2 from Keswick Brewery and another Cumbrian Ale. I went for a pint of Kirkby Lonsdale's Rushkins @ 3.9%.
The Dog and Gun is well known for its good food and this is certainly where it makes it's money, the place was packed with almost everyone eating or having eaten dinner. We ate here last year and the food was good.
Nicely decorated inside with flag stone and wooden flooring throughout, open range fireplace at one end and pictures of Keswick and Derwent Water on the walls.
A very good pub but beware food is king.
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The Dog and Gun is the only pub in Keswick that appears in the 2015 GBG and after my visit I can see why.
Only the 2nd pub of my visit but already it seems hard to beat.
A very nice welcome from the 2 barmaids as we enter and I'm immediately faced with an array of 8 hand pumps offering a great selection of cask ales. I go for the locally brewed Keswick Brewery Woof and Bang @ 3.6%.
All the tables in the pub are laid for food and it's certainly popular. I don't normally eat in pubs but the wife and I did on this occasion and it certainly did not disappoint, hearty portions at good value.
Dogs are welcomed and there's even dog treats for sale at the bar for a £1 a bag.
Very well decorated inside and has that overall welcoming feel to it, hence why its so popular and food is of course key to that.
Very good pub but it really is food orientated that is saved from a slightly lower score by having a large choice of ales that are well kept.
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Things have change at the Dog & Gun!
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A very popular and lively pub which is great comfort after a long day's walk in the fells. 8 hand pumps on - 6 were local from Cumbria including 3 from Keswick. Keswick Landlord's Choice particularly good. If you want to try the famous Goulash then get in early as by the time I had a few beers and wanted to eat the goulash had run out - clearly very popular. Dog and Gun well worth a visit.
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As has been said, great range of beers mostly from local breweries, served and kept well, and reasonably priced.
The food - Fair sized portions, once again at reasonable prices. I can recommend the goulash.
Very dog friendly and, on the evening we went, seemed to be the busiest pub in Keswick.
A definite return visit is warranted.
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Perennially popular pub and deservedly so. Six pumps dispense beers from Cumbrian brewers, Keswick and Cumbrian Legendary Ales among them. On several visits I plumped for (and stayed on) the Hawkshead Windermere Pale, which was very tasty indeed. And the famous Hungarian goulash is superb.
The best pub in Keswick.
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Good, traditional pub if perhaps not quite as glorious as it makes itself out to be. Busy on a Sunday evening, Loweswater Gold went down exceedingly well but we missed trying the glorious looking house special goulash because of a lack of seats. Oddly, pub policies are displayed on rotation on a big screen including a warm welcome for the canine fraternity. Some cute mutts were hence in attendance.
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Bustling town centre pub, well kept ales, definitely worth a visit.
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Great pub with history, a traditional feel and very drinkable ales.
It's a very dog friendly place (in fact at one point the dogs seemed to outnumber people) and the relaxing ambience may become a tad undermined by the incessant barking and yelping etc. Super pub though. Would also recommend the George Hotel across the way.
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Still the best pub in Keswick. A good range of LOCALES, free wi-fi & 20p per pint discount on cask beers on production of your CAMRA card.
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Visited two or three times over our long weekend, The beer range is all local, varied, very well kept and not over-expensive. The food, particularly, the famous goulash, is excellent, although this time not over-cheap. The ambience is warm and friendly with all manner of dog owners, walkers etc...but....ah, but...the barstaff, mostly young women, were less than impressive. On our first visit, tearing themselves away from a threeway close-headed discussion about whoknowswhat took an irksomely long time, followed not by a "hello, what can we get you" type of opening, but a "you all right there?" in the style of a bored shop assistant. This has taken a point or two off a very decent pub for me.
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Great pub overall with a good selection of local ales and regular beers, including summer ales and Jubilee Stout. Full of locals, walkers and dog owners: great if you like dogs (and good-looking, well-kept dogs at that). While the pub was busy on both evenings I visited, there was no problem finding a seat for food. Great food - goulash and rabbit suet pudding. Interestingly, they don't do sweets.
My only mild gripe is that the bar staff were slow at serving, despite a busy bar. This is the only aspect of the pub that I would characterise as "average", as opposed to the "very good" other aspects of the bar.
9/10
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Recently visited on a Saturday lunchtime. Very busy but staff are very efficient and you don't have to wait to long to be served. Excellent choice of local real ales of which we tried all but the Old Peculiar. All were very good indeed. Food was great. I had the large goulash which comes with a galic baguette and would challenge the largest of appetites. The family next to us were completely thrown by the fact that the pub doesn't serve chips! The only gripe is that while very dog friendy the pub isn't quite so child friendly as children can only come in if eating. Dogs however can come in and take up space without eating or drinking, so I've docked it a couple of points. It is however a fantastic pub well worth visiting.
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Visited for the third time last Saturday afternoon and it was busy as usual. Great friendly atmosphere and good service. Had a pint of Landlords Choice and it was wonderful. Even managed to purchase a goody bag for my dog at the bar.
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No wonder that this pub is so busy. Excellent array of ales on offer. The Landlords Choice was the best pint that I have had in a while. Dog friendly, beer friendly, people friendly, eating friendly. Owners that drone on about the smoking ban crippling their trade should have a look at this place. On a dark, rainy Thursday afternoon, this place was full up, while other nearby pubs only had the TV for company.
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Good atmosphere and friendly staff. I tried their session beer (Keswick brewery) was was OK- not exceptional. My wife had the "famous" goulash which she reported most certainly was exceptional. And amazing value too. She ate the small one which was a decent helping at �5- most others went for the huge one. I had a courgette bake which was OK. The pub is (over) crowded and it's worth getting there early (before 7.30) if you want a table
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As regular visitors to Keswick we have to agree that the D&G is still top dog (ha ha) in town. Yes the beer is great and yes the goulash is magnificent - every time. By promoting itself, and playing up to it's name, as the most dog-friendly pub in town, the D&G have created a really special, friendly, warm 'old times' pub atmosphere. It is almost invariably full and yes, you'll be lucky to find a free table as soon as you arrive. The trick however is to step outside of your hurried modern-day mindset for a while, and treat a 30-minute wait at the bar as an opportunity to unwind in a real pub environment, not an irritation to be endured. Don't change a thing!
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Enjoyed a post Scafell Pike evening in the Dog and Gun. The Barman came over to point out a free table when he saw us scouring the place for a seat (a nice touch). Our dog was welcome too. Had the Goulash which was lush! Nice varied choice of ales was available. I really enjoyed it.
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In a town with a good supply of pubs, the Dog and Gun is the best in my opinion. There are several good local beers on hand pump. It gets busy in mid-evening with diners but with good reason because the goulash is legendary (if you can't manage the full size dish, the smaller version is normally ample). Also to be enjoyed is the Thursday night quiz; proceeds to go a local mountain rescue charity but they also give out small prizes like packets of sweets which can be enjoyed on the mountain hikes!
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Best pub in Keswick for food and beer... thou' it can be quite tense when waiting for a table. My wife was violently pushed out of the way by a very competative 'mature' woman with a walking stick whilst she made her way to a table that had just beome free... Once you have a table, you then have predatory groups hovering over you waiting for you to finish and vacate the table.
It needs a 'system'.
That said. beer and food superb
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Still the best pub in Keswick by a long way and long may this continue. Beers are always well kept and the food - if and when you can get table to eat it at - is very good indeed.
Sadly, on the last couple of visits, the measures seem to be getting a little out of control. Of the nine pints of (delicious) Old Peculier that we had between a group of us on a recent visit, six were way off and were topped up begrudgingly by a member of staff that I've not seen before. We noticed more people being short measured time after time as we supped ours. This was all beers too and by most of the staff. Considering the CAMRA links with this pub, surely the management need to do something about this.
Having said that, it's the best pint of Old Peculier that you'll find in the North Lakes and no doubt, we'll be back. Might just have to ask for a top up though!
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Great pub.
Some loveley beers especially from the local keswick brewery.
Always been a favourite but seems to get better as I get older.
That's not to put of any younger people.:)
Dogs are more than welcome
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Had a wonderful time with the dogs and their owners...so wonderful I can't recall what I had! I think it was a better than average steak and ale pie.
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This is a busy town centre pub serving several ales from Lakeland brewers and it is one of the few outlets for the excelent Keswick Brewing Company ales. There is plenty of space at the lengthy bar but the place can become crowded as people turn up to sample the superb Goulash on offer here which is most highly recommended. I can report that recent adverse comment regarding the quality of meat used in this meal seems unfounded or at least has been rectified.
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Without doubt the best in Keswick, great ales, food and staff. A total opposite to the Oddfellows down the road.
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Easily the best pub in Keswick for draught beer. The local brewery is well represented and most of the other beers are Cumbrian. Good bunch of people behind the bar and an entertaining Thursday night quiz.
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If I were heading to Keswick, then this would be my first port of call. It was the only Free House that I spotted during my stay, which was reflected in its eclectic range of ales. A really nice pub.
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In here a couple of month ago with some colleagues - we ate, the food was OK, nothing remarkable though. The ale selection is the real reason I was there though - good selection of ales that I remember and dipped back in (as it was the best) after visiting a couple of other pubs.
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Being a local West Cumbrian, myself and a mate ventured into Keswick. This was a small pub but busy,had a cracking smell of grub on entering. The ale was delightful,the down side it was �2.90 a pint which is dear..but cheaper (if you can say that) than the other pubs we went to in Keswick. Local Keswick ale was perfect plus the Hawkshead gold. Didnt have any food but saw some visitors happily enjoying their grub.Wish I had done though
Would go back,but like all pubs in Keswick,they need to sort out a more reasonable pricing structure
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A regular on the itinerary whenever we're in Keswick. Great selection of beers and some good food too. The last visit was on a very busy day, but the service was remarkably good with a couple of waiting staff working very hard and efficiently to tend to all.
sjghr - 11 Dec 2009 01:58 |
This was the best of 3 real ale pubs we visited in Keswick. The only drawback was the service. With only one person serving, we waited 10 minutes on a Sunday lunchtime. However, the cask selection is good - Theakston Old Peculier, Thirst Chestnut, Thirst Celebration & Thirst Run from Keswick & Hawkshead Red and Hawkshead Lakeland Gold.
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Best real ale pub in keswick. Selection of ales great and ever changing. Boasts about goulash but had it on many occasions but quite often contains gristle! Why do i keep getting it, dont know! flavour good but the price should be enough not to include fat/gristle. This pub would be a definate 10 but for the fat/gristle.
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Called in here last Monday night while camping nearby. Never again. Beer was excellent. However, wondered why at about 10:50 the pub emptied. Soon found out when, after being served last orders at 10:55, at 11:05 the landlady started complaining loudly to the bar staff that she was ready for her bed. Sorry, luv, but if you want to be in bed by five past eleven you shouldn't serve customers at five to!
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Visited this pub on 25th June, and took part in their pub quiz which was well attended. On arrival the pub was packed with diners and no seats were to be had, resulting in a free-for-all when a table did become available.
We didn't dine, but the food that was coming out did look plentiful and tasty. The beer was excellent, local brews from the Keswick microbrewery were surprisingly good. I had to ask to have them served in a dimpled glass, but there was no quibbles which previous reviewers have mentioned when I made this request.
The evening unfortunately ended all too quickly when last orders were called at 10.45pm and the pub closed at 11.00pm just as we were getting a taste for the ale. I can understand quiet pubs closing early, but there was clearly a demand for staying open later as the pub was still packed with drinkers as the pumps were shut off for the night.
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Must have caught them on a bad day beer fine but food definitely microwave fare. Perhaps it was the chefs day off.
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Should have known this was going to be a good pub as on a cold wet Monday eveing out of season it was packed! A great pub in the centre of the town with a fantastic atmosphere. We only had to wait a few minutes for a table and then ordered the Goulash and the Liver, onion & mash, which arrived within 30 minutes of walking in the door. Both meals were good homemade cooking and great portion sizes. The wine was the best out of all of the pubs we tried in Keswick too - Sauv Blanc and Rioja. The only downside is that they need a bigger pub!
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No surprise to see this place up at the top. Full of character in a lovely town, low beams, flagstone floor, and always packed to the rafters with walkers and tourists, so you'd definitely need to book if you waned a table. A wide range of fine local ales on offer- the Lakeland microbreweries are amongst the country's best-and served in a proper beer jug! Plenty good pubs in Keswick but make this one a priority.
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This is one of my all time favourite pubs. Small & traditional normally full of walkers & their dogs, there is nothing better than sitting by the fire on a Winter evening with a pint of at least one of 6 real ales on offer from Keswick & Coniston Breweries. It's also traditional to put a few coins into the cracks in the wall at the back of the pub which goes towards funding Keswick Mountain Rescue. At the time of writing they have a superb seasonal ale called "Jingle Fells" which is quite simply one of the best beers I have had in ages.
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well what to say, micowave food a bag let down, got the goulash that they recomend and came to me half cold, then same meal came back reheated boiling hot and splattered everywere, beer half rate ( 7 cask pumps there but only 2 beers on) i wont be back, it was better before the refit they had last year
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Wonderful pub. Best beer in Keswick and the foods not bad either, you must try the Goulash. Beers from Keswick and Coniston breweries plus plenty of guest beers. Allways very busy, get here early to find a seat.
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Excellent ale selection (Two or three Keswick Brewery beers and the Coniston Brewery on my visit) and obviously very popular as we had to wait to find a seat on a Weds night.
Everyone seemed to be eating the goulash. I don't think they do a veggie version, so I can't comment on it.
I noticed it was 'jug' glasses only for the ale. But lager drinkers were on standard straight glasses. Interesting.
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it just keeps getting better i managed over the weekend to try 17 different ales in tip top condition
Amigo - 13 Aug 2008 17:54 |
Great pub, full of characterful canines and their owners. If you don't like dogs, best to go somewhere else. Beer good and service friendly. Have never eaten there but locals recommend the goulash.
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Yay! I went here in October 2007 and it had gone (drastically) downhill. Fortunatley, my visit last week pushed it back into my list of Most-Favourite-Pubs-in-the-Universe.
Cracking ales from the Keswick Brewery and some top notch scran. Just right after a hard day on the hills.
Brilliant!
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Visited at least 4 times last week and ate three meals, food and beer excellent. They did not give me the choice of glass type or what plate they served the food on, but had a good time. Will be back next year
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great pub great selection of ales in great condition and they use a proper barrell glass
what a great find
never tryed the food it was always full but it smelled amazing
a must visit in the lakes
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Visited this pub as a group of 7 keen walkers [just came down from Sharp Edge Blencathra], spent the evening having a delicious meal of Goulash with a good few beers [in straight glasses]. Did the short but lovely Cat Bells the following day and had a couple of pints[in straight glasses] afterwards in the same pub.
Returned within the hour having showered/shaved and went straight to the pub for our evening meal and refreshments. Having ordered our drinks, one of our party asked for his pint to be served in a straight glass and was told "we don't serve straight glasses". Our friend replied that he had done so the previous night and indeed the same afternoon to which the barman replied "So? you won't be having a straight glass tonight mate".
We left.
And will never return to this pub. As far as we can see we spent �250 in a pub we do not consider to have customer satisfaction as their priority.
Genuinely hope the owner of this pub responds to this posting, bt would seriously doubt it........
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Well worth a visit for the food, wonderull but a little small but adds to character
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mmost popular place in keswick so be prepared for a squeeze sometimes
my favourite pub in the lakes atmsphere beer food all A1 pub of the year for a reason me thinks
seem to have loads of different beers on even at this time of the year
Amigo - 11 Jan 2008 19:15 |
One of my favourite pubs in the UK. After a day's walking it's nice to come in, have a pint or two of delicious ale and a steaming bowl of the goulash.
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An extremely good pub which appears to meet the competing demands of being a proper local and not disappointing passing local trade. Nice range of local beers, decent food, dog friendly. Nothing to dislike about this place.
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Wonderful place with excellent beer.
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My favourite pub in town for both atmosphere and beer - Yates bitter is always a winner but the pub now serves 3 beers from the very local Keswick brewery, which are all worth a try. The goulash is as mighty as ever too.
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Very nice night and food and the beer spot on, The Keswick beers were all excellent especially the rescue
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good pub...shame abount the wet dog smell and dont get confused abount the lovely beer garden next door..
anonymous - 4 Jun 2007 00:02 |
Lost count of the great evenings i have had in this pub. Yates bitter can be drunk all night and Goulash is stunning, it has to be tried :-)
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Very nice old building, with an extremely uneven floor and a staircase that doesn't go anywhere. The CAMRA rating seems to draw large crowds to it, and the beer was to the quality you'd expect. Slightly less choice then I was expecting, but my visit was over Easter when the whole town was very busy.
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This is a Camra favourite pub in Keswick, tucked 50 yards away from the market place. On my visit the beer comprised Theakston's Best Bitter and O.P., Yates Bitter and Keswick Brewing Company Thirst Run (a light but very pleasant beer). In winter there's a good fire at one end of the long bar (though it can get too hot if you are drawn to sit next to it). There's pleasant simple food (no chips!) including a great goulash. It can get a bit smokey and you need to get there early to secure a table for evening food but other than that it's the sort of pub that raises the spirits when you walk through the bar.
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On 10-21-06 I was in this great pub. The beer was great. I had the Thurst Run what a nice beer. Pub was clean & staff was very nice. Will go back. One of the best pubs I was in while on Vacation.
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Excellent pub this one. Good selection of cask ales, generous portions of food and friendly staff.
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Worth a visit for the fine Yates Bitter alone, good selection of other ales also. Good food at reasonable prices. Popular and busy even on a midweek evening in October (Other Keswick pubs appeared to be almost empty in comparison).
H.O.F - 29 Oct 2004 00:28 |
Without doubt the best pub in central Keswick. Permanent outlet for Yates Brewery plus other guest beers. Very popular especially on quiz night.
John - 20 Oct 2004 13:39 |
