Sun Inn

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Sun Inn Kirkby Lonsdale: Michelin-Recommended British Dining in a 17th-Century Inn

The Sun Inn: A 17th-Century Inn with Michelin-Recognised British Cooking

In the heart of the historic market town of Kirkby Lonsdale, the Sun Inn has been welcoming guests since the 1600s. This ancient coaching inn, with its overhanging first floor supported by huge limestone pillars and interiors of oak beams, wooden floors, and log fires, offers the warmth and character you expect from a traditional inn. Owners Iain and Jenny Black took over in 2017, investing to ensure the inn maintains its five-star AA rating and its place on the Michelin Recommended list.

The kitchen is led by Head Chef Joe Robinson, whose career has taken him from Edinburgh to Cornwall, and from Sydney to France. He brings that experience to bear on the best of local produce, sourcing meat, seafood, and vegetables from Cumbria, Lancashire, and Yorkshire. His seasonal British menus also draw on foraged ingredients from Morecambe Bay and the surrounding countryside. This commitment to fresh, seasonal cooking earned the Sun Inn Two AA Rosettes and a Michelin recommendation.

Dining options range from lunch and bar snacks to full dinners and Sunday roasts. You can eat in the intimate restaurant, the cosy bar, or the dog-friendly dining area. The Sun Inn’s approach to British cuisine is relaxed but precise, and the team is happy to cater for private events, from intimate dinners to full-inn celebrations. Whether you are stopping for a local ale and a sharing board or settling in for a multi-course dinner, the Sun Inn delivers hospitality that feels both historic and thoroughly modern.