An Autumn Getaway To Inn On The Square, Keswick
Back in the spring I enjoyed a dog friendly stay at The King’s Arms in Keswick, part of the Lake District Hotels portfolio of properties. At the start of September I returned to the Lake District as I have for many years at the start of Autumn, and this time stayed at one of their other hotels, Inn on the Square, also in Keswick. I hadn’t previously stayed here before, but my parents often had and said I’d really enjoy it.
Disclaimer: I received a complimentary dinner, bed and breakfast stay at the Inn on the Square. My family have been paying customers many times before and I will be in future too, so all opinions as always are genuine.
They’re dog friendly so taking Arthur was no trouble at all, and being right in the centre of Keswick it’s an ideal spot with plenty of public parking and a short walk to reception. I was there the week that the weather was perfect, after a pretty rubbish summer the sun was shining.
As we walked to check in there were loads of people sitting outside the Back Bar, which is the pub out the back of the hotel that’s all part of the Inn on the Square offering. Hearing the sport on inside I thought I’d get checked in and then head straight there for the Newcastle match. It looked like a really friendly atmosphere with plenty of people enjoying a beer in the sun, and the football inside.
Checking in at the Inn on the Square
What really struck me from the moment of arrival is just how big the hotel is. From the main entrance at the front there is a bar and lounge area to the left, a sweeping staircase up to the bedrooms, and it’s straight through to reception, the lounge and the main hotel restaurant. I checked in and then made my way up in the lift to our room.
I absolutely love our room overlooking the main Keswick square. It had so much space and was really airy with the double windows letting all the light in. The hotel is 4 stars, and the room very much lived up to that, comfortable and stylish, with amenities such as coffee making facilities, free fast wifi, a TV, a seating area, fluffy robes and a modern bathroom with rainfall shower.
The hotel is deceiving from the outside, and I was so surprised just how big it is. There are 34 rooms in total, mixing Scandi design with Cumbrian traditional style that everyone loves on a visit to the Lakes. Room types include the Herdwick and Town styles, and you can browse all of them on the Inn on the Square website.
Like all of their hotels, they’re very dog friendly, and Arthur was given a bed, bowls and treats on arrival too. The only area of the hotel they can’t go is in the main restaurant, but the lounge area is right beside it and it just feels like an extension of the restaurants anyway, so no different really.
They’ve really put a lot of thought into the look and feel of the hotel, and while many Lake District hotels are just somewhere to rest your head after a day in the great outdoors, you could easily come here to relax and simply enjoy what it has to offer.
It would be perfect for first time visitors to the Lakes wanting to stay centrally in Keswick, seasoned goers who want somewhere familiar, and even if you’re looking for an extended stay without the effort of being self catered.
Food & Drink at Inn on the Square
As mentioned there are a number of different dining and drinking options available at Inn on the Square depending on the time of day and the type of experience you’re looking for.
Back Bar
After checking in and leaving our bags, we made our way to the Back Bar to watch the match. It’s a traditional pub atmosphere with plenty of TVs, a pool table, and a big bar with lots of staff – ideal because it was pretty busy.
Dog friendly, and family friendly here you can get comfort pub food from 12pm into the evening, 7pm Sunday to Thursday and 5pm on Friday and Saturdays, enjoy the live sports and enjoy the very relaxed, laid back environment.
Front Bar
The Front Bar is inside the hotel, and as you can tell is right at the front, there are even a couple of tables and chairs right outside the entrance which are served from this bar. Known for their cocktail menu, including some seasonal creations, brunch and lunch menus, and a slightly more formal but by no means less relaxed space to enjoy inside the hotel.
As part of my stay I was able to try some of the Autumn cocktails including the Square Sour and the Salted Caramel Esporesso martini. Both were fabulous and could be enjoyed as a pre or post dinner drink, or just on their own if you fancied during the afternoon. A few couples were enjoying bottles of prosecco or wine, and generally making the most of slow, leisurely lakeland afternoons in the bar.
Brossen Steakhouse
A real gem of the Inn on the Square, the award winning Brossen is Keswick’s only steakhouse, serving up a delicious menu of dishes made from local produce. They really pride themselves on this and many of the dishes are seasonal, and so the menu may vary depending on the time of year.
Whenever you’re dining though, you’re guaranteed high quality, flavour filled food and meat grilled exactly how you like it. We ate here in the evening and I thoroughly enjoyed my pate with chutney and artisan bread, followed by the Cumbrian flat iron steak.
I was staying on a dinner, bed and breakfast rate, which was a dedicated menu that featured a good selection of choices from the main a la carte menu. There were four choices for each course so it wasn’t limited, and included meat, fish and vegetarian options so it would be suitable for everyone.
The portions were really hearty, and although I was so full after the first two courses I managed to find room for some local ice cream from Nothern Block for dessert. Drink wise I had wine with my food, and then the Square Sour as an after dinner cocktail to round it all off.
For a really nice meal in Keswick, and as a change from pub food which tends to be the go to in the Lakes, Brossen is a great option for something different, or even as an occasion. The lounge was lovely, with dogs who were made such a fuss of, or if you’re not dog people the restaurant itself.
Having both Front and Back bars as options for before and after dinner means you could enjoy a full night here at different stages of your evening.
Brossen was really busy, with some outsiders coming in too not just hotel guests, so it’s recommended to book. They’re open over lunch from 12-2:30pm, and from 5-9:30pm in the evening. ‘Brossen’ means ‘full up’, and that’s exactly how you’ll leave at the end of your meal.
Inn on the Square Breakfast
As hotel guests Brossen is also where you will be served breakfast. There is a continental buffet from which you can get the usual cereals, pastries and juices, and then the hot menu that you can order from.
I went with the poached egg on sourdough, as I was so full from my meal in Brossen the night before I still didn’t have room for the full Cumbrian that I’d usually have gone for. Arthur managed a sausage though, that the lovely staff brought over for him.
If you’re heading out exploring, walking or mountain climbing, then you’ll be well fuelled before your adventure.
Inn on the Square Location
For a central stay right in the heart of the Lakes biggest town, you really can’t beat Inn on the Square for its location. Everything is quite literally right on the doorstep, from the market if you’re visiting over the weekend, to the famous Olde Friars sweetshop a few doors up, and all of the shops and boutiques that Keswick has to offer on the main and surrounding streets.
As the weather was so good, on the Sunday once we checked out we walked along to the lake, a short easy walk from the hotel to sit in the sun for a few hours. You could sit and enjoy the view of Catbells, or even pick up the boat to the other side of Derwentwater. Of course most visitors to the Lakes know it’s often raining, so if you don’t want to venture far then there’s plenty very close by for you to do. Take a look at my things to do in Keswick post for suggestions!
I very much recommend the Inn on the Square as an excellent all round place to stay in the Lakes. It has everything you’d want from very comfortable rooms, a range of dining and drinking options, and an exceptional location to use as a base for your Lake District adventures.
If you’re interested in an Autumn/Winter visit to Inn on the Square, they have some really good seasonal offers for over the coming months, check them out on the website here. And don’t forget to try the seasonal cocktails during your stay, the Square Sour was my favourite.
Other posts you might like:
A Dog Friendly Stay at The King’s Arms, Keswick