A traditional pub-hotel in Ambleside near Lake Windermere, known for hearty food and badgers fed nightly in the garden.
Photos
Photos via Google
About Badger Bar
Ambleside sits at the heart of the Lake District, close to Lake Windermere and surrounded by fells that draw walkers and cyclists throughout the year, and Badger Bar makes a fitting base for exploring it. This pub-hotel on Glen Rothay combines simple, comfortable accommodation with a proper local atmosphere, including an open fire that gives the bar area a cosy, welcoming feel.
Rooms are en-suite, with family options available, free WiFi, and drinks available in room. Downstairs, the restaurant and bar serve generous, hearty meals - the steak pie, burgers, and sticky toffee pudding are regular favourites, and portions are not stingy. Breakfast is served each morning, and there's outdoor seating in the garden along with 24-hour reception and free on-site parking.
One particular draw here is after dark, when badgers come to feed in the garden, giving guests an unusual bit of wildlife-watching without leaving the grounds. Beyond the pub, the surrounding area offers walking and cycling routes, golf, fishing, and watersports nearby, with mountain views setting the scene throughout.
Reception hours
- Monday
- 8:00 AM – 11:00 PM
- Tuesday
- 8:00 AM – 11:00 PM
- Wednesday
- 8:00 AM – 11:00 PM
- Thursday
- 8:00 AM – 11:00 PM
- Friday
- 8:00 AM – 11:00 PM
- Saturday
- 8:00 AM – 11:00 PM
- Sunday
- 8:00 AM – 10:30 PM
Current hours may differ from the usual schedule above (e.g. holidays) — check Google Maps for today's hours.
What guests say
A very lovely hotel within a short walk from Rydal Water and the Rydal Cave. The hotel staff are welcoming and very friendly. We met Donna who catered for all our needs and nothing was too much trouble. The hotel itself was cosy with really nice rooms with everything we needed. The food is well cooked and has a good selection on the menu, I couldn't fault the breakfast or evening meal. Its also a short drive from Ambleside centre and Grasmere. This short break proved very relaxing at this location so can highly recommend.
3 weeks ago · via Google
Great bar.. lovely staff.. so lucky to arrive 5 mins before food finished at 8pm and had the most immense Steak & Ale pie ever.. portion size and quality were off the charts.. so good. If you're not familiar rooms are a fantastic base ( like across the road) for one of the best lakes walks around Rydal and Grasmere lakes
3 weeks ago · via Google
Amazing customer service and all staff were very friendly and helpful. We saw the badgers feeding (you have to wait until it's fully dark which was about 10:30pm when we went in July). Lovely pub garden and really beautiful walks right next door to the hotel. Breakfast and dinner were really delicious and good quality - lots of options. We loved how spacious our room was and it even had a book the owners had made about the history of the hotel and local area.
4 weeks ago · via Google
We visited the Badger Bar over three evenings while on a walking holiday to the Lake District. The interior was quirky and full of character while the exterior was large and had lots of plants and shrubs which created a pleasant seating area. Over the three evenings, we tried the Chicken Curry, the Chicken Caesar salad, the Roast chicken dinner and the Caramel Crunch Cheesecake. All of the food was well presented, had a very good portion size and tasted really nice. Also the staff were extremely friendly and very efficient which made the service overall very good. Highly recommend and will definitely come again!
a month ago · via Google
Diners like this pub's delicious and hearty food, with many highlighting the generous portion sizes of dishes like the steak pie, burgers, and sticky toffee pudding. They also mention the cozy and welcoming atmosphere, often featuring an open fire, and the friendly, attentive staff. Guests appreciate the unique experience of seeing badgers fed in the garden at night.
Summary via Google
At a glance
- Address
- Rydal, Ambleside, LA22 9LR Get directions
- Property type
- Hotel
- Location
- Glen Rothay, Ambleside
- Good for children
- Yes
- Destination
- Ambleside