Four in Hand, Keswick

On Saturday the 18th October 2008, my partner and I went to the Four in Hand pub in Keswick for a meal and to dry out after a wet walk. The interior had a dog-eared, under-maintained feel to it, but it was lovely and warm and everywhere else in Keswick was full, so we decided to stay as we only had a couple of hours before the theatre. I was charged over �6 for 2 drinks and then we ordered food - a bowl of mushroom soup each and tachos to share. The tachos had some nondescript bland cheese sprinkled over the top which had been superheated in a microwave, resulting in rock hard cheese holding together a large lump of soggy tachos. This was served with half a tub of mayonnaise, salsa out of a jar and 2 large onions, roughly hewn. This, however, was a delight compared to the mushroom soup! First impressions were of a bowl of watered down tar, with some curdled streaks of white liquid slowly sinking into the middle. Anyway, always ready for a challenge we tasted it. It was disgusting. Completely disgusting. We suspect the "soup" had been made by pouring boiled water into 2 bowls, dumping in a handful of dried field mushrooms, then throwing in half a jar of black pepper. It was tasteless, watery and very very peppery. After several attempts, we gave up and my partner sent it back to a shrug of indifference from the waitress and no offer of a refund. Do not go to this pub, even if you're cold, wet and hungry. You will waste your money. This is clearly a pub whose only goal is to rip off the tourists. Cumbria doesn't need boozers like this, with no concept of Customer or Quality.

20 Oct 2008 12:41