It was only about 15 minutes off the M6 freeway to the Hawkshead Brewery in Staveley, Cumbria. The…read moreroads weren't that windy and were wide and well-paved so this is faring better than expected already. We arrived to where the brewery showed on my map, but it wasn't there. The brewery was slightly up the road within a small shopping inlet next to a coffee shop. We parked and approached the brewery and were pleasantly surprised with how impressive the set-up was. The building was large and beautiful with large wood beams, huge windows, and comfy leather seats. It was so quiet in there I didn't know how much noise we could make without being rude, so we opted to sit in the corner so we could strategize about which beers we wanted to try and how much time we wanted to spend off the road. I ordered the Lakeland Lager which is a 5%ABV Lager/Pilsner and Sean had the Cumbrian 5 Hop 5%ABV Golden Ale. I really liked the Lakeland Lager because it was crisp and refreshing with a great hop flavor on the back-end. Most of their beers were "real ale" style, but the lager wasn't. It was a nice change from all the real ales available. I also really enjoyed the Brodie's Prime with is a dark porter-style beer and is 4.9%ABV. It has a very smooth mouth-feel and is extremely drinkable. We sampled almost their entire beer selection and overall their beer was very good. The styles were done well and the beer was clean and clear and cheap! We were there around lunch time so we went ahead and ordered some food before they stopped serving. Sean ordered the beer cheese soup and I ordered the mushrooms with Stilton blue cheese on toast. The soup was served with large pieces of sourdough bread and butter so it was very filling for a good price. I tried some of the soup and it was really good. The mushrooms were sautéed in butter and the cheese was melted on top of the toast so it was damn delectable. I savored every bite of that toast. The soup was something like 2 pounds and the toast was 4 pounds. I think we walked out of there spending about 10-15 pounds total? Pretty decent if you ask me. Also, they refused to accept our tips. I am accustomed to giving tips always, but they politely declined my offer. Great service, delicious food, cheap and amazing beer and no tip?! It was one of the highlights of the trip.

I'm often in Windermere for the weekend, and having a pint at the Hawkshead Brewery in Staveley…read moremakes for a great start to it. It's a big venue, with a large downstairs area next to the bar, and further seating on a mezzanine upstairs. There's then a further bar (only open sometimes) through the back. There's large glass panels to let you see into the actual brewery itself, so it's interesting just being in the place. There's outside seating too, in the car park, so it's hardly picturesque, but it's fine too when the weather is mild or if you want some peace and quiet away from the buzz indoors. It's a good atmosphere, very laid back and friendly, with plenty of dogs. Staff are pleasant and helpful, and know their beers well. The beers are good - all sorts from your pale ales through to your dark stouts, and last time I was there I had a raspberry sour. It wasn't great if I'm honest, but you can't win them all :-) Hawkshead seem to be quite an adventurous brewery, so there's always something new to try. My favourites are the stouts. There's a range of food too which seems to be mostly traditional 'Northern' food - Shepherd's Pie, Yorkshire pudding, Venison burgers - mostly very meat heavy, so I've never tried anything, apart from the chips. The chips are good! They do a fantastic beer festival. We went this year for the first time, and it was brilliant, we had such a good time. You get a menu, and can just work your way through the ones you fancy the sound of. They're categorised into the different bars, so it makes it quite fun to work your way about trying different ones. They had a massive marquee when we were there, with a crazy and very entertaining jazz band. It's a family atmosphere, with kids there too, so the adults are sensible and nothing gets too out of hand. I'm hoping we can go every year! With regular weekend checks ins until next year.

Really cool spot on the river. Can't get any closer for a drink. The front entrance is the first…read moredoor, not the second and if you gone past that you reach a cool cafe with a bike shop in the rear. Tons of tables and I believe there is a food market that opens up certain days for food options besides the restaurant that's there. The wood pier has wide gaps so don't drop your card, wallet or phone or bye bye to the river. Recommended on a lovely day

From the owner: By The River Brew Co. is a unique container community with a strong spirit of independence. Craft…read morebeers are brewed on site. Trakol, our nose to tail open flame restaurant is fiercely seasonal using the finest local produce. Cycle enthusiasts will enjoy the Backyard Bike Shop where we custom build and service high end road bikes and operate as a cafe serving delicious brunches and coffees. At weekends you can enjoy our street food market (HWKRMRKT) and sample the finest independent street food.

This vibrant monthly event is by far the best find in Newcastle showcasing the best local…read morefood,drink,music and art! Hosted in a refurbished warehouse tucked away behind Central Station I would highly recommend this event for all fellow foodies out there. Local street vendors will have you spoilt for choice with my personal favourites being Fat Hippo and Papa Ganoush or if I have a sweet tooth La Petit Creperie! You can indulge in some local ales from Wylam Brewery for a post-work drink or come along to soak up the array of entertainment from local musicians. Perfect for families on a Saturday afternoon as it tends to be quieter and the free entry before 4pm makes a daytime visit attractive! There is outdoor catering and space for those many beautiful days we have in Newcastle. On entry and inside the boiler shop you need to exchange your money for tokens if you want food but you can pay cash for drinks. It can be expensive but it is worth every penny and I think everyone should experience this event at least once......as for me I will be back every month!

The Boiler Shop Steamer is definitely *the* way to kick off your month!…read more Held in a superb industrial warehouse setting (part of the former Stephenson works which gave us the first locomotive engines - one for you history buffs there), you will find a plethora of different street-food vendors, local breweries, great live bands or funky tunes from the DJs - a general good-time buzz echoes around the place. We were there on a Saturday (seemed to be free entry before 3ish this time) as it was a bit quieter - this particular weekend was the BSS's 2nd Birthday, so the Sunday was going to be quite an extravanganza. When you arrive it is worth just having a wander about to see what is on offer and plan your attack - the line-up changes from month-to-month, so there is bound to be something to tantalise your tastebuds. On this occasion I was in a meaty mood. Round one was a delectable feast from Longhorns BBQ Smokehouse - pulled pork, smokie, beans, fries, doused in BBQ sauce and served up in a brioche bun, simply superb! Washed down with a pint of Dognobbler, a light ale from the Wylam Brewery (one of my particular favourite local breweries), the afternoon was starting very well indeed. Later on, I came across the Fair Game stand, a newbie to the BSS event according to their website. This time, I opted for the Venison burger, which came hot off the griddle with a lovely cranberry sauce and crisp salad in the bun. The quality was second-to-none, so far I was having a very good foodie feast. Another pint of a different Wylam beer soon followed, this time it was Spring Thing, yet again it went down rather well. The only little gripe I have is that prices can be a little steep, not really fitting the traditional 'street food' ethos of getting something quick, cheap and cheerful. You can quickly drop £20 without thinking about it (e.g. one token is £2, the burger was two tokens); nevertheless, for the quality of the food I experienced it was worth it. The BSS gets busier as the afternoon blends into the evening, so if you really want to make the most of what is on offer, would definitely recommend going early, just so you've got some space to move and get stuck into the great food and tunes on offer. So, get yourself and a few mates down to the next event, have a bite to eat and a beer or two, and soak up the great atmosphere provided by the BSS!