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ABOUT US



Nestled on the English - Scottish border in the once hotly contested ‘Debatable Lands’ Pentonbridge  Inn offers a relaxed and refined dining experience.

The once coaching Inn re-opened in late 2017 under owners Gerald and Margo Smith, after extensive renovations. Creating a space to enjoy the fantastic produce Cumbria and the UK have to offer.

In 2019, we were rewarded with the prestigious Ceaser award for best newcomer in the Good Hotel Guide, and have since retained our listing. With a further editor's choice award for a pub-with-rooms, 2022.

Simultaneous restoration of Netherby Hall and its walled garden, only 3 miles down the road,  allows Head Chef Chris and his team access to the freshest of produce all year round.

Cumbria is where Chris feels most at home, “I love to cook with the finest produce from all over the world but find the natural Cumbrian larder a joy; the meat and dairy are incredible and the number of passionate artisan producers working across the county is not only heart-warming but very exciting for a chef".

A close-knit team work to forge a quietly luxurious experience for guests, pursuing excellence without pretension. Enjoy the delights of the kitchen team or relax fireside with a glass of wine or local beer. You may even spot our four-legged regulars, Mungo and Henry if you're lucky!

In January 2021, Chris and his team were awarded a Michelin plate in the Michelin UK & Ireland Guide 2021, retained in 2022. Later that year Pentonbridge Inn received 3 AA rosettes. The AA awards three rosettes to  "Outstanding restaurants that achieve standards that demand recognition well beyond their local area".


Pentonbridge Inn was awarded a Michelin star in April 2023.

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