About This Pub
Ah, let's chat about Penny Blue in Carlisle – it's tucked away in the Halston Hotel, right in the city centre, and it's got this lovely historical edge from being in an old post office building. I love how they've kept those original features, making it feel warm and inviting for a bite or a drink. The menu's got some real winners, like the scallops and steaks that folks rave about, and don't forget the cocktails or those special tapas nights on Tuesdays and Thursdays – sounds like a fun way to try a few things. Plus, being dog-friendly is a absolute bonus if you're out with your pooch. On the downside, it's not all perfect; some people have mentioned the food being overpriced or just average, with a few dishes like salmon turning out dry or tasteless, and there was that one review about a messed-up order that soured the evening a bit. Still, the staff seem eager to fix any problems, which is a nice touch. With an overall rating of 4.4, I'd say it's worth a visit for a special night out, but maybe aim for a busier time to catch that lively feel – just keep expectations balanced and you'll likely have a good time.
Pros and Cons
Pros
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The food has some absolute gems, like those tasty scallops and perfectly cooked steaks that really hit the spot.
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Service is generally spot on, with staff being quick to apologise and sort out any issues, making you feel looked after.
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It's wonderfully dog-friendly, so you can pop in with your four-legged mate without a worry.
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Set in a historic old post office building with original features, giving it a charming and stylish city centre vibe that's perfect for a relaxed evening.
Cons
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Food can be a bit hit or miss, with some dishes coming across as average or even dry, like that salmon that didn't impress.
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Prices feel a tad steep for what you get, especially if you're after something that feels more like fine dining but ends up tasting like standard pub fare.
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There have been a few order mix-ups, which can put a dampener on things even if the team tries to make amends.
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The atmosphere might be a bit quiet or flat at times, particularly midweek or early in the evening, so it doesn't always buzz as you'd hope.
Contact Information
20-34 Warwick Rd, Carlisle CA1 1AB
+441228210241
Restaurant
Closed
Opening Hours
| Monday | Closed |
| Tuesday | 12:00 - 23:00 |
| Wednesday | 12:00 - 23:00 |
| Thursday | 12:00 - 23:00 |
| Friday | 12:00 - 00:00 |
| Saturday (Today) | 12:00 - 00:00 |
| Sunday | 12:00 - 22:00 |
Recent Reviews
Booked this as a date, but both agreed we would not return. The food was average (nothing amazing) waitress messed up the order bringing 1 completely different meal which we didn't order.
Thought the staff were very apologetic and I believe to what must of been the restaurant manager, mentioned she would adjust the bill for the mistake ended up being an increase on the bill!
Don't look at the prices in the menu as they are different to what you actually get charged on some of the items. Additional “Diary” charge on a dessert which is definitely new to me!
Would I say it was value for your money? Unfortunately not as I felt it was more of an over priced pub meal.
We dined midweek and early so atmosphere was a flat but everything else was very good.
Two small plates, scallops and the pork cheeks and a lovely chicken main dish.
Service was good and a decent wine list.
Ate here as a party of seven. It was over priced, and the meals were average pub food pretending to be fine dining. One of our party ordered the salmon, which was very dry and totally tasteless. The three meat roast dinners seemed to be the beat option from the menu, but in my opinion, not worth anywhere near the £26 each. As for the service, we'll that left huge room foe improvement. The staff seemed not to be interested at all and very miserable. We waited for an hour for our food to arrive in dribs and drabs. We left there all viewing the same opinion, that we wouldn't be revisiting and certainly not recommending the Penny Blue to friends & family. Bit if advice, go to Nandos around corner as its a lot better value for your hard earned money. Sorry Penny Blue, your place is just not up to scratch.
The Penny Blue Restaurant came up on a trip advisor search. Glad it did or we wouldn't have known it was there. I had the parfait, steak and then cheesecake. All were great. Had a few bottles of wine to wash it down. The service was great. I really need to start noting names so I can thank personally.
Went here with my family and all of us thoroughly enjoyed our food. The highlight for me was the scallops from the appetiser section of the menu. The cherry amaretto cocktail was also a stand out.
On Tuesdays and Thursdays they do a tapas menu where you choose 3 dishes. I'm always a bit wary of tapas as it can be very little food but the portion size was very good here so I recommend that if you want to try several of the dishes.
The interior is nicely decorated and there was a good atmosphere as it was pretty busy even on Tuesday night.
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