Review: Pentonbridge Inn – A Michelin Starred Restaurant With Rooms On The English-Scottish Border

A former coaching inn, the 18th century Pentonbridge Inn re-opened in late 2017 under owners Gerald and Margo Smith. Located in Cumbria, far north enough to be on the Scottish border, the venue offers a restaurant with a Michelin star as well as a cosy bar and comfortable rooms to unwind.

With its award-winning food and outstanding hospitality, Pentonbridge Inn makes a great choice whether you’re looking for destination dining or just a night away to relax and recharge. You can choose a Dine and Stay package, which offers an evening eight-course tasting menu in the restaurant as well as an overnight stay in one of the well-appointed rooms, with a cooked breakfast the following morning. Alternatively, you could opt for the simple Bed and Breakfast option if you wanted to extend your stay and discover more of the area, or just fancied a more casual experience.

We were kindly invited to try the Dine and Stay package, so we checked in to check it out – and it’s fair to say we were impressed. Here’s what you can expect from this glorious gourmet getaway.

Pentonbridge Inn has a Michelin starred restaurant and walled garden

Refined yet relaxed, the restaurant at Pentonbridge Inn celebrates the bounty of the Cumbrian larder as well as showcasing produce from its nearby walled kitchen garden at Netherby Hall. As well as seasonal fresh vegetables, you can expect meat from Cumbria and the finest fish and shellfish from Scotland, expertly cooked by head chef Chris Archer and his team. As well as holding three AA Rosettes, the Pentonbridge Inn was awarded a Michelin star in 2023, and has retained it in 2024 and 2025.

On our visit, the tasting menu began with a trio of amuse-bouche: garden beetroot meringue with pickled beetroot and goat curd, a Montgomery cheese biscuit with onion chutney, and a tiny tartlet of Limousin beef tartare with parmesan shavings. A rich Japanese-style savoury custard dish was flavoured with fresh peas and an onion crumb, while fresh wild Scottish mackerel was accompanied by garden tomato, nasturtium, and caviar for a touch of luxury.

North Sea halibut was delicate and flaky, served with a plump langoustine and charred cauliflower, while a perfectly pink piece of Cumbrian spring lamb came with smoked garden beetroot, haggis, and a rich jus poured tableside. We finished things off in style with two desserts, the latter of which was a picture-perfect mille-feuille made with Scottish raspberries and white chocolate.

The eight-course menu costs £130 per person, with matching wine flights available – choose from either the Signature wine flight at £75 per person, or the Prestige option at £125. There’s a full wine list with plenty of choice by the glass or bottle if you’d rather pick your own tipple. You can also add on a cheese course for a £9.50 supplement.

Pentonbridge Inn has dog-friendly rooms and an incredible breakfast

Pentonbridge Inn has nine beautiful bedrooms which reflect the rugged landscape with muted colours and touches of wood, slate, tweed and tartan. If you’re travelling with your four-legged friend, it’s worth noting that the three barn rooms, named Maxwell, Armestronge, and Rutledge, are dog-friendly. These rooms are also equipped with a dog bed, bowls, and treats so your pooch can be as pampered as you.

We thoroughly enjoyed our stay in Rutledge, with its comfortable bed, welcoming walk-in shower, and huge retractable sky light. If you’re after an extra indulgence, four of the rooms offer large baths as well as walk-in showers. The charming bar boasts a roaring fire, comfortable squishy sofas, and a great list of wines and whiskies if you fancy a nightcap before bed – or choose a local beer from the Bowness Bay Brewery in Kendal instead. 

If you believe that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, you won’t be disappointed with the generous offering at Pentonbridge Inn. The choice is not vast – you start with granola, homemade yoghurt and pastries before tucking into a hearty cooked breakfast, with a vegetarian option available – but the quality is exceptional.

The homemade granola is deliciously nutty and just sweet enough, while the creamy scrambled eggs, thick-cut bacon, crunchy golden hash brown and rich black pudding make the cooked breakfast an utter joy. Add on freshly brewed tea and coffee, zesty juice, and toast served on an old-school toast rack alongside cute little pots of butter and fruity jam, and you’ve got a real treat of a morning meal. Our tip: Take advantage of a brief but beautiful half-hour walking route which starts across the road from the inn to awaken the appetite first.

Pentonbridge Inn, Penton, Carlisle, Cumbria CA6 5QB

Tel: 01228 586 636