PUB OF THE SEASON

The Boot Inn is the new name for the Burnmoor. In fact it’s really the old name, as this is the name by which the historic Lakeland inn was known in past centuries, before mutating into the Freemasons’ Arms and then the Burnmoor in the 1930s. By this October Harry and Paddington Berger will have been running the pub for seven years. Situated on the old corpse road from Wasdale, and dating back to 1578, when it was Kent Farm, it was owned by Lord Leconfield and became an inn in 1746. Previously owned by Tony and Heidi Foster, it had been in Heidi’s family for years.

Paddington, whose nickname goes back to when she worked in a hotel in Windermere and was known for her marmalade sandwiches, has been in the hotel and pub trade for most of her working life, although before she bought the Burnmoor she was in the wine trade. Having worked in Cumbria, Paddington knew it was an area she would like to settle in. Harry still spends much of the week down south where he organises supercar rallies. Paddington?s aim is to make the pub friendly and welcoming to all visitors. She especially recognises the needs of families, particularly since she and Harry now have two small children themselves. Click image to enlarge

Visitors staying in the valley have everything right on the doorstep: scenery, walking and climbing, rivers and streams, the history of the nearby watermill, Hardknott Roman fort, the Ratty steam railway, and a choice of types of accommodation and places to eat and drink.

The Boot Inn provides food all day. The conservatory has been a great addition to the pub, providing a non-smoking informal eating area with views over the fells. Chef Shaun Ellis has been at the Boot Inn for a few years, and this September will be launching the restaurant as a separate eating place, with its own menu. All food (except chocolate fudge cake and scampi) is prepared on the premises. Chicken nuggets do not feature on the children’s menu and kids can have smaller versions of adult meals. Produce is sourced from local suppliers as much as possible; soft fruit is grown in the pub garden and Harry uses it to make damson and sloe gin. Baking is done by a local chef Ruth Stockton, and Heidi still lives across the road and comes in to cook breakfast. The Inn has nine letting rooms plus a cottage, and the place is now busy all year round. Paddington is pleased that this means she can keep staff on permanently rather than having to recruit seasonal staff. She is helped by assistant manager Caroline Jackson.

Harry reckons this will be the busiest year yet. Ironically, the boom was helped by the Foot and Mouth outbreak: in order to fight the drop in trade, all three pubs in the village got together to organise the first Boot Beer Festival in 2001. Many visitors to the Beer Festival realised how much the valley had to offer and have made a point of coming back for return visits. Already the number of barrels of real ale sold has passed 250 (72,000 pints) a year. During the summer and other holiday periods there will be seven beers on sale: Jennings Cumberland and Black Sheep are regulars, and there is an ever changing range of guest ales – 134 different beers last year. Many will come from Cumbrian microbreweries, in particular Hesket Newmarket, Hawkshead and Barngates. From further afield Roosters, Eccleshall, Bank Top and York are also favourites. Harry will even order a favourite beer for parties coming to stay in the village. Czech beer fans will be pleased to know that Budvar has also replaced Stella as the premium lager.

All in all, the Boot Inn is a worthy winner of the title Pub of the Season and we congratulate Harry and Paddington on their success. back to Pub Awards page