Celebrated table

Four & Twenty

A family-run Penrith bistro praised for seasonal British dishes, precise technique, and an airy dining room on King Street.

The story

Four & Twenty in Penrith delivers award-winning modern British cooking

The kitchen and its approach

Four & Twenty in Penrith builds its modern British menu around fresh regional produce handled by a compact team. The kitchen treats seasonal British cuisine as a flexible foundation, weaving in global flavours while keeping preparations straightforward. This grounded philosophy earned a solid recommendation in the 2026 Good Food Guide, which notes how the restaurant balances attentive technique with everyday comfort. Diners can expect plates that shift with the harvest rather than chasing fleeting trends.

Signature plates and seasonal shifts

The twice-baked cheddar cheese soufflé arrives incredibly light after its second bake, offering a reliable start to any meal. Main courses highlight careful timing, such as pan-roasted cod resting on crushed potatoes finished with smoked butter and a chive butter sauce. Plant-focused diners often choose the vegetable lasagne, which layers wood-roasted peppers alongside spring vegetables and locally produced St James cheese. Every dish carries the quiet precision that regulars appreciate.

The dining room and pours

King Street hosts an airy layout that frames a relaxed bistro atmosphere without sacrificing structure. The family-run operation keeps service unhurried, allowing guests to settle into a welcoming environment suited to both quick midweek lunches and longer weekend gatherings. A thoughtfully curated wine list pairs easily with the food, while house-created cocktails provide a playful alternative. Evening finishes often land on the upside-down strawberry cheesecake or a classic sticky toffee pudding, both served generously alongside local toffee and freshly brewed coffee.

Recognition

Awards & accolades

2026
The Good Food Guide
Good

Details

At a glance

The Good Food Guide 2026 — Good
Cuisines Modern British
Services Bar, Breakfast, Dinner, Lunch, Private Parties

History

On the record

2026
The Good Food Guide — Good

Rightly valued by locals who feel 'so lucky' to have this airy, family-run bistro on their doorstep, Four & Twenty is a true indie. In a Lakeland town, that means being something to everyone – which is accomplished by bringing local ingredients and good technique to every occasion. Consequently, a celebratory dinner with good-value matched wines looks just as 'seasonally superb' as a speedy (and terrific value) set lunch. The 'spectacular' signature Cheddar cheese soufflé, twice-baked and incredibly light, is a reliable way to start, or try a house-made pressed terrine of Cumbrian pork and chorizo (perfect with a glass of Penny Lane Pinot Noir from New Zealand). To follow, the 'attention to detail' that customers love sees smoked butter added to a pile of crushed potatoes in a dish of well-timed cod, summer vegetables and chive butter sauce, or some locally produced St James cheese added to the veggie lasagne (packed with wood-roasted peppers and spring vegetables). Everything is generously served, including desserts such as sticky toffee pudding or an airy upside-down strawberry cheesecake, scattered with shortbread crumbs and accompanied by a scoop of strawberry ripple ice cream; if that's too much to contemplate, coffee and (local) toffee might fit the bill.

Established

Location

Find us

42 King Street, Penrith, Cumbria, CA11 7AY
Penrith, United Kingdom
01768 210231
info@fourandtwentypenrith.co.uk
Visit website
Map showing Four & Twenty