These are Cumbria's best bars - according to Trip Advisor

The county has a huge range of venues and drinking establishments, from cutting edge cocktail bars to landmark country inns and comfy, cosy locals.

But these are the pubs and bars that came out top when rated by hundreds of people using the website, famed for reviewing locations such as hotels and restaurants.

The first place goes to a bar at the centre of Cumbria's tourist heartland - The Crafty Baa in Windermere.

It was reviewed by 344 people and came out with a five star rating.
The Crafty Baa

Recent comments included views describing the staff as "attentive and knowledgeable about the beers".

Others said it was "small but beautiful", "really cool", while reviewers praised the ambience.

The family-run business was started about five years ago - and has grown to be a firm favourite with locals and visitors.

Owner Vincent Gregg said: "We really care for our staff and customers and it's a really warm atmosphere within the bar.

"People feel quite at home."

The bar stocks 110 craft beers.

Vincent added: "We have a wall of beer."

On being rated so highly on Trip Advisor, Vincent said: "For us personally it's a massive deal.

"It's like a huge advertisement."

Among the others in the top 10 was The Reiver in Holmrook Road, Sandsfield Park, Carlisle.

The Reiver pub in Carlisle. Tony Grierson and wife Michelle run the pub, which was refurbished two years ago.

"It's a great family pub," said Tony.

"It is a local pub but people come from all over Carlisle and further afield.

"We are very pleased with the rating."

The top 10:

1: The Crafty Baa, Windermere

Comments include: “Awesome Craft Beer Selection” and “Great beer.”

2: The Church House Inn, Torver

Comments include: "Best steak and ale pie ever" and "good pub grub".
The Church House Inn, Torver

3: Brown Cow Inn, Waberthwaite

Comments include: "Great country pub" and "great family run pub".

4: Bird in Hand, Oulton, near Wigton

Comments include: "Lovely and the bar staff were great."

The Wheatsheaf 5: The Wheatsheaf Inn, Abbeytown

Comments include: "Good evening meal" and "quick service and very good pub food".

6: The Reiver, Holmrook Road, Carlisle

Comments include: "Great pub, great food and great fun."

7: Old Friends Pub, Soutergate, Ulverston

Comments include: "Proper pub."
Old Friends Pub, Ulverston

8: Crown Inn, Southwaite, near Carlisle

Comments include: "Country pub with a twist."

9: New Inn, Highgate, Kendal

Comments include: "Nice lunch spot" and "lovely quick meal/snack".

10: Sour Nook Inn, Sebergham

Comments include: "Good pub food with a warm welcome."

Cumbria among the cheapest places for a pint

If it's a pint of beer you're after then look no further than Cumbria.

The county has been named among the cheapest places in the UK to buy a pint in the latest edition of the Good Pub Guide.

Punters on average pay £3.38 for a pint of beer in Cumbria, making it the fifth least expensive place in the country.

The county was beaten to top spot by Herefordshire and Yorkshire, areas that had an average price of £3.31 for a pint of beer.

The most expensive was Surrey where a pint costs a whopping £4.40 on average.

Research for the new edition of the guide showed it was the first time in its history that London was not the most expensive place to drink beer.

Overall the average pint nationally now costs £3.60, up by 13p on last year.

Beer in pubs brewing their own brands was typically £3.09 a pint.

Other counties where beer is classed by the guide as "bargain" included Shropshire (£3.33 a pint), Derbyshire (£3.36) and Worcestershire (£3.38), while drinkers will find their favourite brew more expensive in Sussex (£3.82), Hertfordshire (£3.81) and the Scottish Islands (£3.80).