Mr Foodie Bordering on foodie heaven
Once a coaching inn on the England-Scotland border, The Pentonbridge Inn is named after the bridge over the Liddel Water, just a half a mile away, that marks the border between the two countries. It re-opened in 2017 as a restaurant with rooms – nine to be precise. They were awarded a Michelin star in 2023, which they have retained since. They also have three AA Rosettes.
We were invited to experience their tasting menu with an overnight stay included. Read on to find out more…
Where is The Pentonbridge Inn?
It’s 15 miles north east of Carlisle, a 20-minute drive from junction 22 of the M74 or junction 45 of the adjoining M6 motorway. In ideal traffic conditions, you could be there in just 90 minutes from Glasgow, but for us it was a case of so close and yet so far, as we don’t own a car, so we took the train to Gretna Green (2.5 hours / £36.70pp) and then a taxi from there (20 minutes / £30 each way). There is a bus, the 127A, but it only stops here on Tuesday and Friday mornings for some reason, and it’s well before check-in time, so fine for leaving but not for arriving.
What’s The Pentonbridge Inn like?
Known to locals as the PBI, it looks like a traditional countryside coaching inn. It’s quite remote, so there are no shops or other businesses within walking distance. From the inn, there are views of the green hills of southern Scotland. As it is a restaurant with rooms, it’s a place where you’d stay for just one night – you could stay longer but the menu will be the same each night per season. If you happen to be passing in summer they have a beer garden. There is also a small bar area inside, that has a wood-burning stove, where you can have drinks all year round without needing to commit to dinner or an overnight stay.
Food & Drink at The Pentonbridge Inn
There is only one food menu, an eight-course set tasting menu costing £130 – a vegetarian menu is available but please contact them in advance to discuss any dietary requirements. Much of the produce is grown in their walled garden at Netherby Hall, nearby luxury accommodation with the same owners. You can have a wine pairing (£75 or £125) with your meal, a non-alcoholic option is also available, and they serve local beer. Chris Archer is the current head chef, who previously worked at the Michelin-starred The Cottage in the Wood which is also in Cumbria; and before that, Winteringham Fields, Lincolnshire’s only Michelin-starred restaurant, and Midsummer House in Cambridgeshire, which has two Michelin stars.
Our room at The Pentonbridge Inn
It was a beautifully sunny afternoon when we arrived. We were greeted with a warm welcome and whisked up to our room for the night – each one has a name rather than number and we were in Foster. The room names come from Reiver clans, infamous for raiding and marauding their neighbours along the border before the acts of the union. Thankfully, we don’t think this happens nowadays!
The room looked cosy and comfortable with calming colours and comprised a double bed, radio, two chairs and a desk, a wardrobe, Nespresso machine, with windows looking in two directions. Coffee is from Pennington’s, while the tea is by Clipper.
The ensuite had a shower with raindrop and directional shower heads but no bath – some of the rooms do feature a bath but most are shower only. Towels were fluffy and aplenty while toiletries were from Pure Lakes, made locally in the Lake District.
What we ate and drank at The Pentonbridge Inn
Our dining experience began with a glass of Joseph Perrier Brut Royal N.V. champagne, a brioche and honey aromaed champagne with super fine bubbles. Dry but not excessively acidic with lots of apple flavour.
Three tasty canapés were brought to the table:
Croustade, Savoury Mushroom Custard, Limousin Beef Tartare
Beetroot Meringue, Sliced Pickled Golden Beetroot, Goat Curd, Piccalilli
Savoury Montgomery Cheddar Biscuit, Cheddar Cream, Onion Chutney, Burnt Onion Powder
The amuse-bouche was: Japanese Style Custard (Chawanmushi), Onion Crumb, Fresh Pea and Pea Foam, Caramelised Brioche (Made in House).
A savoury custard with fresh pea flavour and brioche soldiers for dunking…well, that’s what we did anyway.
Malted granary bread with Winter Tarn Dairy butter and potted beef made in house, beef pâté capped with a layer of beef dripping.
Great fresh bread with malty aroma and flavour.
Wild Scottish Mackerel (Cured in house) and blowtorched
Pickled Kohlrabi, Nasturtium, Cherry Tomatoes from Netherby Hall Glasshouses. Tomato Water Split with Nasturtium Oil
Mackerel Tart – Smoked Mackerel, Oscietra Caviar, Buckwheat Tart Case
An assortment of flavours in a light, summery dish.
North Sea Halibut (Pan-Fried), Scottish Langoustine,
Cauliflower Purée, Roasted Florets and Crisp Cauliflower Leaf, Langoustine and Cider Sauce, Sea Fennel
A fine but of fish served with earthy cauliflower that was fried, roasted, and puréed too.
Our next wine arrived, which was a Casa Silva Cool Coast Pinot Noir 2019 from Colchagua Valley in Chile. A very dry and acidic wine with a cherry and cranberry taste.
Cumbrian Spring Lamb Loin, Lamb Belly Pressed and Braised, Girolles Mushrooms, From the Gardens at Netherby Hall: Carrot Purée, Smoked Beetroot, Beetroot Ketchup, Cavolo Nero, Haggis Bon Bon – Made in House
Lamb and Tarragon Sauce, Creamed Potato
Smoked Garden Beetroot, Haggis, Carrot
Strong flavours abound from the lamb, haggis, mushroom, and tarragon.
The cheese course is so often our nemesis on tasting menus so we decided to share one between us at a cost of £9.50.
Kit Calvert & Blue Sticks (optional extra)
Spice buckwheat Cracker, Chutney
The third wine of the evening was a Chateau Briatte Sauternes 2019 with aromas of orange peel, honey and rubber with a sweet marmalade taste.
Milk Ice Cream, Honeycomb, Dehydrated Milk Crisp, Oat Crumb and Stuart Wright’s Honey (A Local Producer)
Financiers Soaked in Elderflower-Infused Honey.
An unusual pre-dessert of milk and honey with a financier almond cake soaked in honey.
‘Mille Feuille’
Puff Pastry (Made in House), Raspberry Tuille
White Chocolate Mousse, Crystallised White Chocolate, Raspberry Ripple Ice Cream
Flaky pastry with raspberries from the nearby Netherby Hall.
Petit Fours comprised a ‘well fired’ canelé as we would say in Glasgow due to its crunchy exterior but fluffy interior. There was also coffee fudge; banana and passion fruit chocolate truffle; and a blackcurrant and apple pâte de fruits (posh name for a fruit jelly).
Breakfast at The Pentonbridge Inn
Breakfast at The Pentonbridge Inn is a curious affair as it doesn’t have the typical cold buffet and hot menu selection that you might expect, instead it’s split into three courses – a pastry of the day, granola and then a more traditional full English breakfast.
The pastry had a lot of layers so was wonderfully flaky.
A crunchy granola and yogurt.
The cooked breakfast comprised half a mushroom, half black pudding, bacon, scrambled egg, and a hash brown but disappointingly no sausage, despite Cumbria being the home of the Cumberland. Overall, it was filling and the bacon was very good quality and is supplied by Woodall’s in Waberthwaite, Cumbria.
Verdict
The Pentonbridge Inn is a romantic retreat, ideal for couples who want to get away for a special night, or who want to experience fine dining in a relaxed and non-stuffy environment. The food and atmosphere reminded us of The Whitebrook in Monmouth, where we ate and stayed on our honeymoon. Service was to a high standard though the sommelier was a bit impatient. Minuses were that no more bread was offered to us during our meal, and the lack of choice/no sausage at breakfast. There was also one other thing, but completely outside of their control – we like to sleep with the window open and unfortunately a boy racer with a backfiring exhaust woke us up at 3am. We thought that being in the country all we would hear would be the whistling of the wind through the trees but sadly not so we would recommend closing the windows, just in case!
Thinking of working the Pentnbridge Inn into a foodie road trip in Cumbria? One of our favourite meals ever was at L’Enclume in Cartmel, and we would also highly recommend The Black Bull in Sedbergh.
How to get to The Pentonbridge Inn
Pentonbridge Inn, Penton, Cumbria, CA6 5QB
From the north – the best route is probably via junction 22 of the M74 at Gretna
From the south – the best route is probably via junction 44 of the M6, just north of Carlisle, and then onto the A7.
By public transport, there is the 127A bus but it is only timetabled to stop on Tuesday and Friday mornings. If like us, you wont have a car, we would recommend a taxi from the closest train station at Gretna Green. It’s £30 each way from here.
How to book a room or a table at The Pentonbridge Inn
Visit their website at pentonbridgeinn.co.uk
Frequently Asked Questions about The Pentonbridge Inn
- Are dogs welcome?
Yes, some rooms are dog friendly and dogs are welcome in the bar.
- Is there disabled-friendly access?
The restaurant is fully accessible but only one ground-floor room is wheelchair-accessible although the bathroom is not adapted.
- Is The Pentonbridge Inn family-Friendly?
Only children aged 12 and above are allowed in the restaurant.
