Hole In T' Wall • Bowness
![star rating](/static/images/star.png?v=1.02)
Tuesday: 11:00 - 23:00
Wednesday: 11:00 - 23:00
Thursday: 11:00 - 23:00
Friday: 11:00 - 23:00
Saturday: 11:00 - 23:00
Sunday: 12:00 - 22:30
About Hole In T' Wall • Bowness
The 'Hole in t'Wall' (officially called The New Hall Inn) is the oldest pub in Bowness, built in 1612 and nothing much has changed, apart from electricity
Hole In T' Wall • Bowness Description
As its name suggests, this is not an easy pub to find. . . .
To track down this 401-year-old inn, you have to turn off down a narrow little Windermere lane called Low Side, and, at the point where it meets another narrow lane called Low Fold, look sharply to the right and keep an eye out for wooden tables.
On the outer wall, there's a mural depicting Thomas Longmire, who was in charge here from 1852 to 1862, at the same time as being champion wrestler of all England ("a quiet-looking giant", observed Charles Dickens, who drank here in 1857).
Inside, there are fireplaces, both active with flames, and dormant and rusting, in the form of ancient stoves. Some are in the ground-floor bar, others down the little staircase in the lower Smithy Bar.
Here, a large sign bears witness to the days when this part of the pub was a forge, with the words: "The blacksmith he did sweat in here, and slake his thirst with Hartley's beer".
This, it turns out, is how the pub got its name. Known originally as the New Hall Inn, it became the Hole in t'Wall thanks to the gap in the brickwork that was knocked through so that the blacksmith could be served a beer while at his anvil.
These days, of course, it's not just large men with hammers who can have a pint of Hartley's. The firm's XB bitter (4. 0% abv) is a regular fixture, as are fellow ales Dizzy Blonde (a gentle 3. 8% ) and the slightly more urgent Unicorn (4. 2% ), both from Robinsons, who took over Hartley's 30 years ago.
The food is unfussy and Cumbrian. First prize for unpretentiousness goes to the tasty, fried potato "spirals" served in a large pile with tomato chutney.
This truly is a great authentic blast from the past, filled with local real ale, good banter, great food and a warm heart that other establishments only dream of owning.
Reviews
Hello everyone,just a quick message to say.That Bloodshot eyes are back tomorrow night 9pm in the old smithy bar.Thanks
Good Afternoon folks. We have local band Jim Bean on Friday14th February.Have good day and week people.
Hello Hole int wall followers.Happy new year everyone!(a bit late sorry)We have had some technical issues recently so we apologise.Just letting people know we have live music tomorrow Friday.Local band Jim Bean live from 9pm in the old smithy bar.Have a great weekend and year folks.
Afternoon folks.Cellar/Kitchen update.Unfortunately we will not be able to open till Wednesday 4th December.Very sorry.
Good Afternoon everyone.The Pub will be closed.the week of November25th to November 29th.This is due to cellar being refloored and various other jobs to be done.There will be a post on here to annouce when what time we reopen as soon as we know.Thank you.
Halloween night with the locals!
Four Golden Girls from Newcastle.enjoying an afternoon tipple in front of roaring fire
Hello people dont forget Roast Dinner tomorrow lunchtime!
Good Afternoon everyone,just a little message to let people know that is no band tonight or sunday as they are on hoilday.Stan the man will be on sunday lunchtime as usual.Have a great weekend people
Hungry ?Come and have a Roast Dinner....be quick as when it's gone it's gone!
Ant and dec,lord Alan sugar and Sir Keith Lemon in the Hole in't Wall!!!
So we've finally joined the digital age... We'll be finding our feet over the next few months, but don't let that put you off 'liking' us and spreading the word about our great little pub. Thank you
Wow! What a hidden gem! We just happened to find this pub and what a place. So much history, food amazing (steak and ale pie and fish pie yum!).The roaring fire on a wet damp April day was lovely..we will defo be returning..�xx
We where recommend to visit this cracking pub that's hidden away on a back street in Bowness, and we where happy we found it, it's a proper pub not a hidious one like the "Spoons" variety, warm and cosy with real fires and well looked after ales.
Will certainly be back next time in the area.
We have visited the pub on numerous occasions and love its olde world charm . On Saturday night it was busy as usual and we sat outside in the courtyard amongst the flower pots and window baskets full of beautiful flowers . I had a fruity prosecco and hubby a real ale it was just like being abroad .
Top pub full of character, great staff, good choice of ale. Food, note ploughman’s feeds 2!! All the other food looked good but can only comment on the ploughman’s. Go.
This pub is amazing..we revived a warm welcoming from the land lady and the roaring fire was great so toasty...we wentvin for one drink and ended up stopping for food and a few more pints ..defently a great pub for food and drink must to visit
This place is fantastic the food is great, great service and great atmosphere would definitely recommend it xx
Lovely little hidden gem. Food was amazing beef madras was top class lovely place and lovely service
Love this place. The food is just amazing. If you're in Bowness, this is the place to eat. Lamb Henry and Steak and Ale pie are just amazing!! Can't wait to return x
Great pub. This place us film of charm and history. Lovely seating area outside, great choice of beer and lovely home cooked food on the menu.
For me it is undoubtedly the best pub in the world. I have lived in four countries and travelled to many more. I was first shown this pub by a friend in I984 and have returned numerous times over the years. It has performed the impossible and managed to retain it's integrity and character without selling out to passing fashion trends in the hospitality industry. I love the way they have Robinsons, a truly flavoursome full bodied, no-nonsense ale. In fact any of their ales on tap will be spot on. It's a proper authentic Northern English, Cumbrian pub but a very special one. It is the best of English. Warm yet unforced convivial hospitality for those visitors wanting to experience a real pub, not a disney cardboard cutout. The interior will blow you away. A quiet pint in there is a grand, restorative respite from a mad world, heaven on earth! If it ain't broke don't fix it. One should never mess with perfection. I look forward to visiting next time I am in Bowness on Windermere.
Fab cosy little pub spent a lazy rainy Saturday lunch in front of the open fire �� staff so friendly drinks and food amazing too! can’t wait to come back xx
Beautiful old pub with lovely real ale and great staff ! Gorgeous candle lit tables , wonderful!!
After the first drink here it became our pub of choice, staff welcoming, friendly and enjoyed a laugh and a joke with us. We had our dogs with us during the day and they brought out fresh water and a treat for them which we thought was a lovely touch and on Friday we went early and had a meal because we had heard the band that plays Fridays nights were brilliant and you need to get there early for a good seat ( that was true) the place gets busy. The food was excellent, piping hot and we didn’t have to wait long despite them being busy...... and the band..... brilliant, fantastic musicians and funny and entertaining too! Overall a brilliant night and a brilliant week in the lakes can’t wait till next year.
Absolutely amazing. Was in last night. Lost track of time and missed the food. The lady behind the bar knocked us some ham buttys free of charge. Fantastic customer care. Will definately be going again.
Quaint, old and tasty but enough about the staff this place is fantastic!
Quality ales on little trays, lovely atmosphere and to be honest we thought it was an absolute gem.
From now on a go to place every time we come to Bowness �
Been here a few times over the years.. Great atmosphere very popular all year round can get very busy.. We had valentines drinks here yesterday was lovely and cosy sitting by the open fire �
I really debated wether to leave a review. Really I should have spoken to staff at the time but we were on holiday and I actually really liked the staff. Sadly we didn’t enjoy our food such a shame as the raspberry cider was fab and we enjoyed sitting outside your lovely little pub, but our food really was not good. My husband had the lamb Henry granted he has never had it before so nothing to compare to but he said the lamb was very dry and he didn’t eat the potatoes as they were rock solid. We eat out regularly and across various pubs/restaurants from top quality restaurants to local village pubs and fast food chains and my husband has never said anything about a meal. He pretty much eats anything even random things I cook! So this really shocked me, Lol! I ordered the beer battered fish off the specials board I don’t know where it was from but it was really awful I left it. It look exactly like a battered frozen fish fillet from the frozen department of supermarket. Having read all your reviews I am really confused how our meals were so terrible? Is this the usual fish you serve because I have never had a battered fish anywhere like this before? Did you have a different chef? Was it just a off day? Really sorry to be so negative but honestly it wasn’t good. Would pop in for a drink but sadly not food. �
Great cosy pub, lots of rules. Have been in twice now first time asked to take the dog outside 2nd time asked to sit at a different part of the bar because we were blocking trade (2 of us sat on stools at the bar). Will def give it another go but happy to try other local pubs before returning. Setting and atmosphere great, beer selection average but ok.
Sorry but every time I've been the beer has been terrible. It really annoys me leaving a full pint on the bar because it's poorly looked after. Otherwise a lovely pub.
Wow! What a hidden gem! We just happened to find this pub and what a place. So much history, food amazing (steak and ale pie and fish pie yum!).The roaring fire on a wet damp April day was lovely..we will defo be returning..�xx
We where recommend to visit this cracking pub that's hidden away on a back street in Bowness, and we where happy we found it, it's a proper pub not a hidious one like the "Spoons" variety, warm and cosy with real fires and well looked after ales.
Will certainly be back next time in the area.
We have visited the pub on numerous occasions and love its olde world charm . On Saturday night it was busy as usual and we sat outside in the courtyard amongst the flower pots and window baskets full of beautiful flowers . I had a fruity prosecco and hubby a real ale it was just like being abroad .
Top pub full of character, great staff, good choice of ale. Food, note ploughman’s feeds 2!! All the other food looked good but can only comment on the ploughman’s. Go.
This pub is amazing..we revived a warm welcoming from the land lady and the roaring fire was great so toasty...we wentvin for one drink and ended up stopping for food and a few more pints ..defently a great pub for food and drink must to visit
This place is fantastic the food is great, great service and great atmosphere would definitely recommend it xx
Lovely little hidden gem. Food was amazing beef madras was top class lovely place and lovely service
Love this place. The food is just amazing. If you're in Bowness, this is the place to eat. Lamb Henry and Steak and Ale pie are just amazing!! Can't wait to return x
Great pub. This place us film of charm and history. Lovely seating area outside, great choice of beer and lovely home cooked food on the menu.
For me it is undoubtedly the best pub in the world. I have lived in four countries and travelled to many more. I was first shown this pub by a friend in I984 and have returned numerous times over the years. It has performed the impossible and managed to retain it's integrity and character without selling out to passing fashion trends in the hospitality industry. I love the way they have Robinsons, a truly flavoursome full bodied, no-nonsense ale. In fact any of their ales on tap will be spot on. It's a proper authentic Northern English, Cumbrian pub but a very special one. It is the best of English. Warm yet unforced convivial hospitality for those visitors wanting to experience a real pub, not a disney cardboard cutout. The interior will blow you away. A quiet pint in there is a grand, restorative respite from a mad world, heaven on earth! If it ain't broke don't fix it. One should never mess with perfection. I look forward to visiting next time I am in Bowness on Windermere.
Fab cosy little pub spent a lazy rainy Saturday lunch in front of the open fire �� staff so friendly drinks and food amazing too! can’t wait to come back xx
Beautiful old pub with lovely real ale and great staff ! Gorgeous candle lit tables , wonderful!!
After the first drink here it became our pub of choice, staff welcoming, friendly and enjoyed a laugh and a joke with us. We had our dogs with us during the day and they brought out fresh water and a treat for them which we thought was a lovely touch and on Friday we went early and had a meal because we had heard the band that plays Fridays nights were brilliant and you need to get there early for a good seat ( that was true) the place gets busy. The food was excellent, piping hot and we didn’t have to wait long despite them being busy...... and the band..... brilliant, fantastic musicians and funny and entertaining too! Overall a brilliant night and a brilliant week in the lakes can’t wait till next year.
Absolutely amazing. Was in last night. Lost track of time and missed the food. The lady behind the bar knocked us some ham buttys free of charge. Fantastic customer care. Will definately be going again.
Quaint, old and tasty but enough about the staff this place is fantastic!
Quality ales on little trays, lovely atmosphere and to be honest we thought it was an absolute gem.
From now on a go to place every time we come to Bowness �
Been here a few times over the years.. Great atmosphere very popular all year round can get very busy.. We had valentines drinks here yesterday was lovely and cosy sitting by the open fire �
I really debated wether to leave a review. Really I should have spoken to staff at the time but we were on holiday and I actually really liked the staff. Sadly we didn’t enjoy our food such a shame as the raspberry cider was fab and we enjoyed sitting outside your lovely little pub, but our food really was not good. My husband had the lamb Henry granted he has never had it before so nothing to compare to but he said the lamb was very dry and he didn’t eat the potatoes as they were rock solid. We eat out regularly and across various pubs/restaurants from top quality restaurants to local village pubs and fast food chains and my husband has never said anything about a meal. He pretty much eats anything even random things I cook! So this really shocked me, Lol! I ordered the beer battered fish off the specials board I don’t know where it was from but it was really awful I left it. It look exactly like a battered frozen fish fillet from the frozen department of supermarket. Having read all your reviews I am really confused how our meals were so terrible? Is this the usual fish you serve because I have never had a battered fish anywhere like this before? Did you have a different chef? Was it just a off day? Really sorry to be so negative but honestly it wasn’t good. Would pop in for a drink but sadly not food. �
Great cosy pub, lots of rules. Have been in twice now first time asked to take the dog outside 2nd time asked to sit at a different part of the bar because we were blocking trade (2 of us sat on stools at the bar). Will def give it another go but happy to try other local pubs before returning. Setting and atmosphere great, beer selection average but ok.
Sorry but every time I've been the beer has been terrible. It really annoys me leaving a full pint on the bar because it's poorly looked after. Otherwise a lovely pub.
More about Hole In T' Wall • Bowness
Tuesday: 11:00 - 23:00
Wednesday: 11:00 - 23:00
Thursday: 11:00 - 23:00
Friday: 11:00 - 23:00
Saturday: 11:00 - 23:00
Sunday: 12:00 - 22:30
Similar Listings
![star rating](/static/images/star.png?v=1.02)