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Cumbria's highest inn will remain pub, owner says

Samantha JaggerNorth East and Cumbria
Supreme Escapes A general view of the Kirkstone Pass Inn from outside. The picture is taken at dusk. The pub is a large white building with dark detailing around the windows, which are lit-up. Next door is a slate-cladded large building with a red traditional phone box outside. On the other side of the road from the buildings, are some wooden picnic benches.Supreme Escapes
The Kirkstone Pass Inn is known as Cumbria's highest pub

The owners of Cumbria's highest inn have said despite its closure announcement, it will remain a pub.

Kirkby Lonsdale Brewery, which took on the leasehold of the centuries-old Kirkstone Pass Inn in April, said its "memorable short chapter" had come to end, with it closing on Tuesday until further notice.

Supreme Escapes bought the site - a car park, inn and holiday lets about 1,480ft (450m) above sea level - in 2021 after it stood empty for years.

Jerry Huppert, co-owner of Supreme Escapes, said "there was absolutely no intention on our part to remove or lose the pub", while the brewery said it would continue its operations at its Royal Barn site in Kirkby Lonsdale.

It comes after national park chiefs surrendered the lease on the site's car park three years early, after "it became clear the landlord would not be contributing" to the cost of resurfacing works.

The Lake District National Park Authority (LDNPA) had an agreement to operate the facility opposite the Kirkstone Pass Inn until 2029 and the site was traditionally free to use.

However, the arrangement was brought to an end in June and parking charges were subsequently introduced by Huppert.

He said the closure "has nothing to do with parking" adding that the "circumstances were entirely unrelated".

Stu Taylor Seven drinkers, men and women, sit around a table. Other customers can be seen behind them in other areas of the bar.Stu Taylor
The pub, which is about 1,480ft (450m) above sea level, reopened in April

Huppert said the situation had "arisen quite suddenly" and it was still in discussions with the pub tenant.

The owners of Kirkby Lonsdale Brewery were approached for comment, but the group posted on Facebook that it wanted to give a "massive, heartfelt thank you" to its customers.

"It's been a fantastic run, and while this memorable short chapter has now come to an end, we're walking away incredibly proud of everything we've achieved together," the post read.

Huppert said he "wanted to make very clear" the pub "has always been a pub, and it will remain a pub".

He said his team took "great care to preserve its character" when refurbishing it so a tenant could come in and take over the lease.

Huppert said since the announcement, he had interest from potential tenants.

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