There’s a true Countryman in Lamplugh
There’s a true Countryman in Lamplugh!
Over the years, The Countryman in Lamplugh has gone by many names; The Royal Oak, The Lamplugh Tip, and now it stands proudly as The Countryman.
It’s been thirteen years since current owner Brian Spencer purchased the derelict old pub, and he finally opened its doors in 2023.
After over a decade of blood, sweat, and tears, the building is absolutely stunning. Having started from scratch, Brian has created a country pub that is contemporary and modern but still retains a relaxed social pub feel. You are guaranteed a traditional, warm, and welcoming atmosphere.
He refurbished the whole interior himself, often using recycled materials, from the eye-catching sandstone fireplace that Brian built using stone taken from an old barn to the highlight of the place, the bar. The bar was built by a local joiner using the old oak beams that were once part of the Whitehaven Harbour Wall framework, which Brian had acquired 25 years ago in a bid to save them from being wasted or discarded. At the time, he didn’t know what he would do with them, but he knew that he would use them one day. It’s a little piece of Cumbrian history preserved in the most stunning and unique way.
He said, “It took me a long time to get it to a point where I felt happy to open. There were many complications over the years, from losing family members to health problems. There was always something, but eventually we got there, and although there’s still more I’d like to do, I’m happy with where we are right now.”
“We have a fantastic team who really care about the place; from our head chef Richard to our manager Chrissy, I really couldn’t do it without them.”
Serving up a fantastic Cumbrian pub menu with a twist, they offer customers traditional, homemade pub meals as well as pizza, steaks, and light bites. Also on the menu are weekly specials, Sunday roasts, and a fantastic selection of vegetarian dishes.
The Countryman is one of the few pubs that remain open seven days a week for food; they serve meals from 12pm to 9pm through the week and until 8pm on Sundays.
Over the next 12 months, they plan on holding an array of events, from a la carte nights to BBQ evenings in the beer garden!
One thing that Brian is very passionate about is ensuring that The Countryman is open to the locals (and their four-legged friends!) as a place to socialise.
Brian said, “I grew up on the farm, just one mile from the pub, and for the local people, this pub was always a place we could go to have a craic and a laugh. These days, there aren’t many rural pubs that still have that kind of atmosphere or even the facilities for locals to just sit and enjoy a couple of drinks and have a game of pool!”
“I want to make sure that we remain a local that cares about the locals and continue the legacy of traditional pubs rather than becoming solely a restaurant.”
Being a beef and sheep farmer by trade, there’s an exciting future in the pipeline for The Countryman, with hopes that in the next 12 months to introduce Brian’s own beef and sheep onto the menu, he said: “By using our own meat, we will not only be lowering our carbon footprint drastically, but we will also be assuring our customers that the meat they are eating is of the highest quality and that it is sourced from the most local and reliable of places.
“We know everything that has gone into nurturing each of our cows; they’re grass-fed and not pumped full of other stuff. We are also trying to bring back and use more native breeds of cattle, which again is better for the environment.”
This will make The Countryman one of the most true farm-to-table establishments in the area. Keep an eye on their social media for updates.
If you are looking for a delicious, homemade meal in a relaxed, true Cumbrian pub, then head to The Countryman.
The Countryman, Lamplugh, Workington CA14 4SB. Tel: 01900 876 703.
www.thecountrymanlamplugh.co.uk
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