Cumbrian Michelin-starred restaurant named among best in UK

Pentonbridge Inn, near Carlisle, took seventh spot in the UK’s top ten fine dining restaurants in TripAdvisor’s 2024 Travellers’ Choice Best of the Best Awards.

These awards are based on the ‘quality and quantity’ of reviews posted on the site.

They celebrate the ‘highest level of excellence’ in travel and recognise destinations that receive a high volume of ‘above-and-beyond’ reviews and opinions from the TripAdvisor community over a 12-month period.

Out of eight million worldwide listings, fewer than one per cent are selected.

Chris Archer, head chef at Pentonbridge Inn (Image: Supplied) Chris Archer, head chef at Pentonbridge Inn, said: “We’re absolutely delighted to have been named as one of the best fine dining restaurants in the UK.

“The fact that this award is based on reviews from people who have dined at the restaurant, and stayed with us, makes it even more special.

“We’re so grateful for the continued support we have from our guests and the wonderful feedback that they give us, both in person and through reviews.”

The TripAdvisor Travellers’ Choice Awards described Pentonbridge Inn as offering “an informal take on fine dining, with friendly staff and an eight-course tasting menu that showcases local ingredients.”

The dining room at Pentonbridge Inn with a view of the kitchen pass (Image: Supplied) Pentonbridge Inn, which sits in countryside close to the Scottish Border at Penton, offers a set tasting menu featuring ingredients sourced from the restored walled garden of its sister business Netherby Hall, a historic country house at nearby Longtown.

Mr Archer works closely with the garden team at Netherby Hall to source the fruit, herbs and vegetables for his seasonally-inspired dishes, as well as working with quality suppliers from across the county.

A dish from the tasting menu (Image: Supplied)

He has been head chef at Pentonbridge Inn for five years and honed his modern British style of cooking through working at Michelin-starred and AA Rosette restaurants across the UK including Winteringham Fields, Midsummer House and The Cottage in the Wood, near Keswick.

For more information about the restaurant, visit www.pentonbridgeinn.co.uk.