About This Pub
Ah, The Griffin in Carlisle – it's one of those pubs that feels like a proper local gem, you know? From what I've gathered from the reviews and details, it's got this warm, inviting vibe that's spot on for sinking a pint and watching the big games, especially with all the live sports action they show. The staff often get a big thumbs up for being chatty and helpful, which really adds to the fun, and it's brilliant how they've thought about everyone with things like being dog-friendly and having family options. Plus, being right by the station makes it a handy stop-off. On the other hand, it's not all rosy – a couple of folks have had experiences where the service wasn't quite up to scratch, like staff not seeming all that engaged, and there've been grumbles about the place not being as spick and span as it could be, with dirty tables or dodgy toilets cropping up. Still, with a solid 4.0 rating overall, it's worth popping in for a laugh, especially if you're up for some sporty excitement, but maybe aim for a livelier evening to get the best of it. All in all, it's a decent shout for a relaxed night out, as long as you go in with realistic expectations.
Pros and Cons
Pros
-
Friendly and welcoming staff who really make you feel at home, as shared in several glowing reviews
-
Lively atmosphere that's perfect for catching live sports like the Women's Euros, with a real buzz on game days
-
Great location right near the train station, making it super easy to drop in after a journey
-
Plenty of facilities to suit everyone, like being dog-friendly, family-oriented, and having options for disabled visitors
-
Affordable drinks and special deals, such as that tempting £3 cider offer, keeping things accessible and fun
Cons
-
Service can sometimes fall flat, with a few mentions of staff seeming a bit uninterested or off their game
-
Occasional cleanliness issues, like grubby tables or toilets without basics, which can put a dampener on the visit
-
The vibe might not always hit the mark, feeling a tad quiet or lacking energy at certain times
Contact Information
1 Court Square, Carlisle CA1 1QX
+441228598941
Pub
Open Now
Opening Hours
| Monday (Today) | 10:30 - 23:00 |
| Tuesday | 10:30 - 23:00 |
| Wednesday | 10:30 - 23:00 |
| Thursday | 10:30 - 00:00 |
| Friday | 09:00 - 01:00 |
| Saturday | 09:00 - 01:00 |
| Sunday | 09:00 - 23:00 |
Recent Reviews
Fantastic Pub with Incredible Staff!
Had an amazing time at The Griffin in Carlisle — such a welcoming and lively spot with a brilliant atmosphere throughout. The place has loads of character, but it’s the people that really make it special.
Huge thanks to Big Josh for making our visit stand out! He went above and beyond to make us feel right at home — genuinely friendly, super attentive, and clearly passionate about what he does. You can tell he really cares about creating a great experience for every guest.
Delicious drinks, top-tier service, and a proper warm welcome. Can’t fault it. We’ll definitely be back soon!
Popped into here after jumping off the train, the atmosphere was very cosy and the service was amazing. Didn’t end up getting food but would definitely come back the place was clean and the staff were friendly. I was served by a lad named Josh ( very tall). He was nice and friendly and helped me to figure out train times for my journey back.
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Brilliant Pub with Even Better People!
Stopped by The Griffin in Carlisle and had an absolutely fantastic experience. The pub itself has a great atmosphere — welcoming, lively, and full of character. But what really made our visit special was the outstanding service.
A huge shoutout to Big Josh, who went above and beyond to make us feel right at home. Friendly, attentive, and full of good vibes — he’s a real credit to the place. You can tell he genuinely cares about the customers and creates a brilliant atmosphere for everyone.
Great drinks, great staff, and a proper warm welcome. Can’t recommend The Griffin enough — we’ll definitely be back!
Seen reviews on Google so thought we would give it a try for some light bites
Atmosphere was zero
Bar staff come across as thou he couldn’t really care less
Little trip to the toilet three cubicles only one had a lock and the one that did didn’t have any toilet roll
Back at the table it wasn’t clean seems like a week since a cloth was run over it
Food arrives as you can see from the pics
Deffo not chicken shawarma more like tescos finest sliced chicken breast covered in a sauce what a don’t know a didn’t dare try
The chicken strips was supposed to be salt n pepper they hadn’t seen salt or pepper in their shirt life span since leaving farm foods
Asked to speak to the manager which didn’t happen got full refund
Would not recommend this place to anyone even if it was last place on earth
Pop in for a drink. Nice atmosphere though, at least making me feel better to be here. Plenty of seatings inside and outside. Great service and good location just at the corner of train station. At the end we had good time.
Nearby Pubs - Perfect Pub Crawl
Discover the 5 closest pubs to this location for an ideal pub crawl experience.
4 Botchergate, Carlisle CA1 1QS
74/100
0.0mi
1 Botchergate, Carlisle CA1 1QP
89/100
0.0mi
17 Botchergate, Carlisle CA1 1QP
84/100
0.0mi
6 The Crescent, Carlisle CA1 1QW
92/100
0.0mi
10-16 Botchergate, Carlisle CA1 1QS
82/100
0.1mi