"We came to Appleby for a walk round the old streets and shops, however the weather had other plans and torrential rain made us look for somewhere dry for a leisurely lunch instead. We were a party of two adults, two OAPs, three small children and a dog. Tourist information recommended this restaurant as a place that would be suitable for all. On my first recce the lady behind the bar was very friendly and helpful, showed me the bar menu, but also said they could cater for the children with half portions and do any sort of sandwich/soup/side dish for any of our party that didn't want a full meal. I trooped our whole party in, wet coats, small people, excited dog and all. Luckily for us the first floor is divided into small sections, bar, lounge, reception, and there was a private space with no one else eating in it, and we all sat there so we didn't disturb the people eating in the bar. Despite some of the party originally not wanting a lot to eat, the menu looked so good and the day was so miserable, we all chose full meals. The seafood fan had an enormous bowl of mussels in a spicy tomato sauce, and the other adults had macaroni cheese and hotpots. The small people all got ham sandwiches and chips, which they loved. The food came quickly, and was really good. I had the macaroni cheese, which was delicious, the sauce was creamy, topped with tomato and grilled to perfection, and served with a big chunk of bread and butter. Just the sort of cosy comfort food the day demanded. The staff were lovely, made a fuss of the children and dog, and we were made to feel really welcome."
