Beer Hall at Hawkshead Brewery

This is a spacious and modern glass-fronted building with a buzzy, beer-loving vibe. The main bar is on two levels with the lower level dominated by the stainless-steel fermenting vessels. From 14 handpumps, knowledgeable, friendly staff serve the full range of Hawkshead Brewery ales. These include Bitter, Brodies Prime, Dry Stone Stout, Helles Lager, Lakeland Gold, Red, Session IPA, Windermere Pale and seasonal beers; they hold regular beer festivals. There's also a good selection of craft ales, 40 bottled beers, 30 gins and 23 whiskies. There are high-backed chairs around light wooden tables, benches beside long tables and nice dark leather sofas around low tables (all on oak floorboards); a couple of walls are almost entirely covered with artistic photos of barley, hops and the brewing process. You can buy T-shirts, branded glasses and polypins and there are brewery tours. Parking can be tricky at peak times.