THE Punch Bowl Inn & Restaurant at Crosthwaite has been named ‘Cumbria’s Dining Pub of the Year’ for the second consecutive year in the 2016 Good Pub Guide.

Widely recognised as the 'bible' for pub-goers, the Good Pub Guide is the UK’s number one best-selling guide and is based on pub-goers recommendations backed up by editor inspections.

Organised county by county, each section of the guide highlights an outstanding pub of the year for food – all of which have been fully inspected to warrant their place.

The 2AA Rosette Punch Bowl Inn & Restaurant has yet again been awarded the top accolade in Cumbria.

Commenting on the Punch Bowl, the guide says it is “a smart dining pub with a proper bar, several other elegant rooms, real ales, a fine wine list, impressive food, friendly staff, and comfortable and stylish bedrooms".

It also specifically highlighted a comment from one seasoned reviewer who said the Punch Bowl was “as good as anywhere we’ve stayed and eaten at in the last five years”.

Fiona Stapely, editor of the Good Pub Guide said: “This is praise indeed from a well-travelled reader on this civilised inn.”

Richard Rose, owner of the Punch Bowl Inn & Restaurant, said: “The Good Pub Guide reviewers look for real warmth and quality of service and we certainly have that in abundance at the Punch Bowl.

"To be voted the county’s best dining pub again for the second year running is a great honour and no mean feat as there is some very strong competition out there.

“Plaudits have to go to all of our fantastic staff and of course to our dedicated kitchen team for consistently delivering the best quality, fresh, local food. Now lets aim for three in a row next year!”

The Good Pub Guide 2016 published by Ebury Press is on sale from today (September 3) at £15.99.

More information is available at www.thegoodpubguide.co.uk. For more information on the Punch Bowl Inn & Restaurant visit www.the-punchbowl.co.uk