CUMBRIANS HIT THE PUBS AGAIN

Well, that’s a slight lie, but stick with it.

Our first night on the Hadrian’s Wall trail, but we weren’t walking far.

Booked into Abberley House (room NBedSS 3.5, breakfast NBrkSS 2.5),

we hit the town (or is it toon ?) and I showed Mrs RM why MumsNetters from Brampton to Silloth rave about Carlisle.

It was gorgeous (and still is). Clean, colourful, charming.

And deathly quiet. With the Brew Dog, King’s Arms, Howard Arms and Fat Gadgie ALL closed on opening night (as it were), my cask and craft options were a little limited, and there’s only so many times you can do the Spoons.

So I went upmarket, because Mrs RM is worth it (it says here).

The classy Last Zebra commemorates the end of the zebra trafficking trade in Cumbria in the 1390s, and is one of a small group of gin focused bistros in the town’s night-time quarter.

I booked a table for 19:30, which all seemed a bit unnecessary as we entered a deserted town centre.

But, perhaps due to everything else being closed, it was packed.

The Zebra had been advertising for staff last week (“Zebra handlers” ?), and I wondered if we were in for a slightly chaotic evening, but it was the most seamless and cheery service you could ever hope for. A benchmark for casual dining, perhaps.

Very good food at rather ambitious prices which I rationalised to myself (“It’ll only be the Heaventeenth once“) and some rare ’70s disco deep cuts.

No Dire Straits or Jethro Tull here, just music for lads getting to take their girlfriends out for the first time in six months.

Notionally, I had cask Loweswater Gold, but in reality it had more fizz than Mrs RM’s prosecco, and I was pretty miffed I couldn’t end the evening with a pint of Theakston in the Howard, I can tell you.

But I suspect the MumsNetters who find the Last Zebra so good won’t care about that.

Published by retiredmartin

Retired NHS, doing long walks around UK and the world to record the great bits. Focused on Good Beer Guide pubs and live music.

13 thoughts on “CUMBRIANS HIT THE PUBS AGAIN”

    2. No, Dave: that’s the Loweswater Gold. If you find that on as the only real ale in a pub DO NOT DRINK THERE.

      Sorry, Martin. I should have warned you before you went to Carlisle.

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  2. Enjoy the walk, its great, When I did it, I meet some very serous fell runners, who claimed to have done the whole thing in 3 days, walking through the night.

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    2. Aye, fell runners do tend to be a bit like that, William.

      I’ve yet to meet any with Ken Dodd hairstyles and luminous tartan plus fours.

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  3. Is there anything else on the menu other than Grilled Zebra Chunks, and Battered Zebra err… Sphincters or something!

    Looks my kind of place to take the missus. This weekend coming will really test the mettle of pub goers weather wise. I can tough it out in the cold if I have to, but booking and/or finding places fully booked is kinda worse than the outside only thing.

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    1. Exactly. Having to book a table by name for a 10 minute pint in the Twice Brewed and NOT BEING ALLOWED to visit the handpumps so I had no clue what beers on was tragic today. Asked “What d’ya want ?” in a famous brew pub and no 2 staff gave the same answer and apparently “the strongest” is not acceptable order.

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