The Oddfellows Arms, Keswick

Keswick is a tourism hotpot. During peak periods, the town centre is bustling with visitors from across the world, and understandably, most of the pubs and restaurants in the town take advantage, with prices to reflect the town’s status as a prime tourist destination. For this reason, the Oddfellows Arms stands out from the crowd.

Located in the centre of Keswick in the pedestrianised zone, this pub has resisted the temptation to increase profits by setting higher prices with the knowledge that tourists will come. Instead, the pub offers extraordinary value for money, with main meals starting from as little as £3.99. Popular with locals and tourists alike, the pub regularly hosts live music, and benefits from a huge beer garden to the rear with around 50 picnic benches.

Food & Drink

Like many other establishments in Keswick, Oddfellows is a Jennings Brewery pub. The pub has four real ales available – all provided by Jennings. This is very much a no frills pub, so whilst the choice of real ale is pretty good, the rest of the bar is lacking in imaginative choices. The wine list is limited, as are the choices of spirits and other drinks.

Extensive Menu

The food at the Oddfellows Arms is very cheap, and as with most things, you get what you pay for. If you want something basic that will fill you up for as little money as possible, then this is the place to go. If you want gourmet dining, then it’s best to head elsewhere. That being said, the menu is extensive with all of the pub favourites available, as well as some more unusual choices, such as spicy turkey lasagne or Cumberland ham & peaches.

The pub is known for its 8 inch Yorkshire puddings that come with a variety of fillings including beef & ale stew and roast pork. There are several dishes suitable for vegetarians and a children’s menu with all the usual suspects. Food is served from noon until 9.15pm every day and diners can either eat in the bar or in the upstairs restaurant.

Other Features

Dogs are welcome at the Oddfellows Arms, providing they remain in the downstairs bar area or in the beer garden. This beer garden is quite big and is located to the rear with around 50 picnic benches painted in rainbow colours. A portion of the beer garden is covered and therefore available for use in all weathers.

The pub hosts weekly live music nights with acts performing most weekends throughout the year and on some weekdays during the spring and summer months. Additionally, there is a television in the bar area. The pub does not have a sports channels subscription, but it does show free to air events, such as the FIFA World Cup, the rugby Six Nations and Wimbledon.

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