Agricultural Hotel, Castlegate, PENRITH, CA11 7JE [Map]
01768 862622http://www.the-agricultural-hotel.co.uk/ 
11-11 MO-FR; 11-00 MO-SA; 11-22:30 SU
Accommodation, Car Park, Evening Meals, Real Fire, Beer Garden, Lunchtime Meals, Rail Station Near Pub

Me outside the Agricultural, August 2001

The 'Aggie' is dead easy to find. It's the impressive building just past the Barclays Management Suite by the station, and next to the Morrisons supermarket. Friendly, smart pub offering good service. Bare board floor near the bar but the pub does have a very cosy feel about it with an impressive fire in the comfortable carpeted lounge area. They also have a separate eating area off to the left though they don't mind if you'd prefer to eat your meal in the lounge bar. Excellent Jennings beers to be had here along with guest ales. Quite the best pint of Cumberland Ale (abv. 4% - a refreshing hoppy beer) I've ever had. Very reasonably priced food on offer all day with a definite emphasis on quality and good value.

If you're heading south from Scotland on the M6 the pub would be an excellent place to break offering a much more relaxing and friendly atmosphere than any motorway service area that I've been to could ever provide. To get there, leave the M6 at junction 40, head up the hill towards Penrith. Follow signs for the station, and as you pass it on the left and reach a roundabout, look ahead and the pub will be right in front of you.

Me consuming a black pudding and mash with
mustard sauce starter, December 1999