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The Black Swan
Awards
We are proud to have been recognised consistently over 16 years for our achievements from local and national, well-respected publications/organisations.
From both local and national bodies.
From over 750 Reviews.
Of hard work by Louise and all the Team.
2023
The UK’s 20th best gastropub!
We are absolutely overwhelmed to announce that we have been named the UK’s 20th best gastropub in the 2023 Estrella Damn UK Top 50 gastropubs!

2022
Cumbria Tourism Awards Pub of the Year
In 2022 the Black Swan won the Cumbria Tourism Awards Pub of the Year again!

2019
Cumbria Tourism Awards Pub of the Year
In 2019 the Black Swan won the Cumbria Tourism Awards Pub of the Year.

2018
The Black Swan named ‘Best INN Class’
The Black Swan hotel in Cumbria was named Britain’s ‘Best Inn 2018’ at the Great British Pub Awards. The national industry Oscars were hosted by The Morning Advertiser, with John Smith’s acting as the leading sponsor, at a glittering award ceremony in London’s Royal Lancaster Hotel on Thursday 7th of September, to which a shortlist of the UK’s elite pubs & industry experts attended.
Louise Dinnes, who has privately owned The Black Swan for the past 12 years, was overwhelmed to receive the award, alongside her daughter Eleanor, on behalf of her loyal & dedicated team of staff. The former ‘AA pub of the year’ beat off five other finalists ranging from North Yorkshire to Cornwall, after completing the rigorous judging process which included management questionnaires, mystery visits & telephone interviews.
On the evening, Louise commented “I feel very honoured to collect this award, it’s a fantastic achievement for our pub, a complement to my dedicated staff and a real highlight for our local community of suppliers, whom we work so closely with.’’
When asked, what attributes make The Black Swan stand out, Louise stated ‘’We are constantly striving to deliver a consistent product, reinvest in the business and improve the service that we offer. We are lucky to have a fabulous building and location and we have managed to instill a very individual style into the pub.
Meanwhile, the front of house staff are encouraged to showcase their personality in the service & our food offering is constantly evolving since Scott and his kitchen team were awarded 2AA rosettes in September last year.’’
The pub is open all year round, for breakfast, morning coffee, lunch & dinner, hosting 16 bedrooms with the recent addition of 3 glamping tents in the riverside garden. Over the past year, Louise has also established the “Ravenstonedale Retreat”, which is a charitable cause aimed at helping guests suffering from myeloma (bone cancer) and their families to enjoy a much-needed break, all in memory of her husband Alan Dinnes, who died of multiple-myeloma in 2016 after a long illness.
Other Awards
In 2016 the Black Swan was one of three winners of the Sawdays Nicely Priced Award. More than 300 hotels were featured in the guide, so winning this award was a fantastic achievement. Tom Bell, editor of Sawdays, presented the award. In 2016 we were also included in the Independent Newspaper 10 Best Beer Gardens.
See what makes us special here: www.sawdays.co.uk/theblackswan
2016. Independent. 10 Best Beer Gardens
2016. Sawday’s Nicely Priced Award
2016. Good Hotel Guide Editor’s Value Choice
2016. Good Beer Guide
2016. Good Pub Guide
2016. Sawdays Special Places Guide to Pubs and Inns of England
2016. Trip Advisor Certificate of Excellence Award
2016. AA Dinner and Breakfast Award
2016. AA 4 Star Gold Award
2016. Michelin Eating out in Pubs
2015. Good Hotel Guide
2015. Good Pub Guide
2015. Trip Advisor Certificate of Excellence Award
2015. Sawdays Special Places Guide to Pubs and Inns of England
2015. Good Beer Guide
2015. Michelin Eating out in Pubs
2015. Good Hotel Guide
2014. Good Pub Guide
2014. Trip Advisor Certificate of Excellence Award
2014. Sawdays Special Places Guide to Pubs and Inns of England
2014. Good Beer Guide
2014. Good Hotel Guide
2014. Michellin Eating out in Pubs
2013. Good Beer Guide
2013. Good Hotel Guide
2013. Good Pub Guide
2013. Trip Advisor Certificate of Excellence Award
2013. Sawdays Special Places Guide to Pubs and Inns of England
2013. Michelin Eating out in Pubs
2012. Trip Advisor Certificate of Excellence Award
2012. Good Beer Guide
2012. Good Pub Guide
2012. AA Pub of the Year 2012/2013
2012. Good Hotel Guide Cesar Award
2012. Sawdays Special Places Guide to Pubs and Inns of England
2012. Michelin Eating out in Pubs
2012. Westmorland CAMRA ‘Pub of the Year’
2011. Sawdays Special Places Guide to Pubs and Inns of England
2011. Good Beer Guide
2011. Michelin Eating out in Pubs
2011. Trip Advisor Certificate of Excellence Award
2010. Good Hotel Guide
2011. Good Pub Guide
2011. Good Hotel Guide
2011. Sawdays Special Places Guide to Pubs and Inns of England
2010. Sawdays Special Places Guide to Pubs and Inns of England
2010. Trip Advisor Certificate of Excellence Award
2010. Michelin Eating out in Pubs
2010. Good Beer Guide
2010. Good Pub Guide
2009. Michelin Eating out in Pubs
2009. Good Beer Guide
2009. Trip Advisor Certificate of Excellence Award
2009. Sawdays Special Places Guide to Pubs and Inns of England
2009. Good Pub Guide
2009. AA 4* Inn with food commendation
2009. Best Community Pub. Sawday’s Special Places to Stay
2009. Cask Marque certificate
2009. AA 4 star Highly Commended Inn
2009. North West Hospitality Awards Pub of the Year Finalist
2008. Publican Pub of the Year Finalist
2008. Trip Advisor Certificate of Excellence Award
2008. Sawdays Special Places Guide to Pubs and Inns of England
2008. Michelin Eating out in Pubs
2008. Good Beer Guide
2008. Publican Pub of the Year Finalist
2008. Good Pub Guide
2007. CAMRA Pub of the Season
2007. Sawdays Special Places Guide to Pubs and Inns of England
2007. Good Beer Guide
2007. Good Pub Guide
2007. Publican Newcomer of the Year Finalist