The Punch Bowl Inn

The Punch Bowl Inn is a small traditional pub-with-rooms near Askham, on the eastern edge of the Lake District near Penrith and close to Lowther Castle. It's a 3-star inn that Agoda explicitly lists as allowing dogs, and the day-to-day operation (run by a small, hands-on team) gives it the kind of personal welcome that suits dog-travelling guests who want to settle into the pub for an evening rather than retreating to the room.

Guests travelling with dogs describe a property where the food and front-of-house experience are headline features. Reviews mention friendly and exceptional staff, fantastic breakfasts, and incredible food and service in the restaurant. The combination of food-led traditional pub with on-site rooms makes it a natural fit for a couple bringing one dog for a Lake District break that's as much about the evening eat-in as the daytime walking.

One practical caveat from a dog-travelling guest's feedback: there is no on-site dog or boot wash. After wet Lake District days, you'll want to plan for either taking the dog back to the car (probably in towels) or asking the inn whether the staff can recommend an outdoor option for rinsing off. The guest who flagged this described it as a minor complaint within an otherwise outstanding stay, so it's worth knowing rather than a deal-breaker.

Best suited to a couple bringing one well-behaved dog for a Penrith / Askham-area Lake District break, where the appeal of a traditional pub with notable food and a hands-on small-team operation outweighs the lack of a dedicated dog-wash facility for muddy days.