Drunken Duck Inn
The Lake District’s Drunken Duck Inn has been around for approximately 400 years, although it was previously known as the Barngates Inn.
It got its present name from an old story that tells the tale of a former landlady that found some ducks lying motionless at the nearby crossroads. Not wishing to let them go to waste she decided to cook the ducks and began to pluck away, only for them to suddenly come to life. Apparently the deep slumber had been caused by drinking from some leaking beer barrels.
The Duck offers 16 rooms of various shapes and sizes. Each is individually designed with a mix of antique furnishings and contemporary fittings.
The inn is perhaps better known for its restaurant. Making extensive use of local produce, it has won numerous awards including the Which Hotel Guide ‘Gastropub of the Year’.
The Drunken Duck is situated at Barngates, approximately 2 miles north of Hawkshead and 3 miles south-west of Ambleside.
Reviews / Comments / Additional Information
On arrival, everything seemed ideal and we spent a very relaxing afternoon in the garden, by the tarn, with a bottle of champagne.
The bubble burst on reading the a la carte menu for Sunday evening (the only menu available). In our opinion the menu seemed to be more an indulgence of a whimsical chef rather than to tempt the tastebuds of the diners, or to satisfy their appetites. White chocolate and Stilton cheesecake doesn't do it for us!