The Drovers Rest — Restaurant in England

From the outside, this might seem like an ordinary village pub… and even stepping through the doors, for the first couple of minutes, it might seem like nothing special. But then by the time you’ve got to the bar, and the staff have swept you up in their warm welcome and made you feel like you’re an honoured guest in the their home, you realise that this place is utterly remarkable. There’s a policy of no big-brand beers, only the best, local, quality ales (note the awards from CAMRA on the walls.) The owners ensure everyone is welcomed with a friendly chat (to be fair, if you’re a grump who just wants to sit gloomily staring into your pint on your own, this is NOT the pub for you.) After 30 minutes here, I was starting to wonder if this might be my favourite pub of all time and if I might have to start looking for property in the area. And then I had the food, and I have to call it- after 40 years of fairly enthusiastic pub-going- it’s my favourite pub of all time. There’s no huge complicated menu here. Instead, chef / owner Tom draws on his experience as a butcher to produce a largely sausage-based selection. The genius here is that it’s just simple food, done brilliantly. The best range of sausages you have ever eaten, served with the best mash and gravy you have ever eaten; or, alternatively in a bun with all the trimmings. Yes, it’s technically "just a hot dog", but putting The Drovers Rest Hot Dogs in the same category as Christmas market bratwurst is like putting the Mona Lisa next to some primary school kids’ crayon drawings and saying they’re all “just paintings”. If you’re walking Hadrian’s Wall- my suggestion would be to forget about the wall walk, walk a bit further and try this place out. You'll be talking about it for...

What a find! Stopped for dinner on a Saturday night as a party of 2 on the way from Scotland to London by complete chance from a quick look on google maps for a decent spot to eat. Super dog friendly (dog blankets toys and treats!) and such friendly service in general and a lovely relaxed atmosphere. Unique menu featuring house made smoked Cumberland sausages in house made buns with interesting toppings and combinations. Certainly not your usual pub offering! Rest of the menu is a decent selection and not huge which is always a good sign that food is cooked in house and fresh. My husband had one of the hot dogs - one VERY happy customer - generous portion and SO tasty! The veggie dish on the menu had sold out and as one of the few veggie mains available I asked what other options could be possible, the chef offered an alternative dish which I was really happy with and appreciated the extra effort made here to accommodate an alternative vegetarian option at little notice, it too was really tasty. Excellent range of beers from independent brewers - something which we learnt is really important to the pub, as well as food quality. Proprietor came to chat to us before we left and the chef also did a check back during our mains. Attentive but not overbearing. Highly recommend for a unique pub experience and would return if in the area again. Thank...

We visit here a couple of times a year and also make a point of walking up from Carlisle to attend the yearly popular beer festival.

It is a relatively unchanged pub - except when I first drank here in the 80's I seem to remember the gents were in a separate outhouse building outside. I can report they have proper well kept indoor W/C's now.

The beer choice is excellent, especially during the festival. Pricey but always well maintained.

Staff are friendly and polite.

Food was pretty good the times I have eaten there; but I have heard rumours the quality and wait times have worsened, but I cannot vouch for this personally.

There's a pool table and the pub is clearly at the heart of the village having events, local produce for sale and, I seem to remember, a food bank.

There is an extensive outdoor drinking/events area round the back and you can sit out front and watch the world go by.

Any Wall-walkers should certainly take a small detour to spend a bit...