The Royal Hotel, Dockray

26/10/2026

🍽️ Well, last weekend was a Sunday and a half!

The kitchen was flat out, the Yorkshire puds were flying and there wasn't much room left at the inn (or the pub, for that matter!)

We're not complaining. A busy pub full of people enjoying good food is exactly how we like it. So, a little heads-up if you're thinking of joining us this Sunday probably best to give us a ring and book a table as booking ahead means we can have your table ready and waiting for you.

📞 017684 82356

See you Sunday. We'll get the gravy on! 😋

23/10/2026

A great opportunity this weekend to see and learn a little about the amazing work done by Patterdale Mountain Rescue Team

Pop into their base in Patterdale, see behind the scenes, talk to the volunteers, and please donate generously ❤️

Patterdale Mountain Rescue Base Open Day this Saturday 24th October, 9.30am to 4.30pm.

Come down, meet the team, tour the base and see the equipment.

Its going to be a stormy weekend, not one to be out in the fells, so come see us at our base instead. . . .

23/10/2026

DON'T FORGET - Community Pub Quiz - Sunday 1 November, 7pm

Round up your friends and family, get your thinking caps on and join us at The Royal for our Community Pub Quiz.

👥 Teams of up to 4
🎟 Nominal entry fee
🏆 Winner gets the prize pot
🍻 Local beers at the bar
🌭 And our special Royal Cumberland Hot Dog is available too (alongside our usual menu/specials)

Everyone’s welcome - just bring your competitive streak.

21/10/2026

🍻 Food for everyone at The Royal this half term: 23 October–1 November

We’ve created something extra tasty for half term and Halloween - our Royal Hot Dog, made with proper Cumberland sausage and topped with mustard and caramelised onions.

Pair it with one of our local Cumbrian beers, join in with a few family-friendly quizzes along the way, and then round things off at our Community Quiz on Sunday 1 November.

Come hungry. Come thirsty. Come ready to argue over the answers. 😄

20/10/2026

Today (20 October) is International Chefs Day. 👨‍🍳

And we couldn't let that pass without a massive thank you to our brilliant kitchen team at The Royal (Chris and Radek pictured here).

Behind every plate that leaves our kitchen is a lot of hard work, skill and creativity. Our chefs take fantastic local ingredients and turn them into food we're incredibly proud to serve.

And just look at this lamb! 😍

If that doesn't make you hungry, we're not sure what will.

So here's to all our chefs, who work incredibly hard behind the scenes, often when the rest of us are enjoying our evenings and weekends.

You're a brilliant bunch, and we really appreciate everything you do. 👏

19/10/2026

Apparently there’s a day for everything… and today (19 October) is Gin & Tonic Day. 🍸

Fortunately, this is one we’re very happy to get behind.

We’ve got plenty of different gins behind the bar at The Royal, whether you like yours classic, fruity, local or simply with a good tonic and plenty of ice.

Although occasionally, our gin doesn’t quite make it into the glass…

This summer, Tirril Brewery wild blackberry Cumbrian hedgerow gin found its way into our homemade fruit chutney - and very nice it was too. 😋

So today you can drink your gin or eat it. We’re not here to judge.

Cheers! 🍸

19/10/2026

A fantastic initiative from the Montane Lakeland 50 & 100, giving back to the communities that support this incredible event. 👏

We’re delighted that Ali’s chosen charity, Another Way, has received £500, alongside donations to two brilliant Mountain Rescue teams.

A huge thank you to everyone who makes the weekend possible. We’re already looking forward to welcoming you back to The Royal next year! 🏃‍♂️⛰️

Each year, we set aside £14,000 (ish) which is split into 28 donations of £500 (ish). There are 14 checkpoints on the course which have Owners (who owns the land or building used for the checkpoint?) and managers (who manages the race checkpoint on the day?).

To ensure we give back locally, the owners choose a local charity to donate £500 to and the managers / checkpoint team get to do the same as a thank you for their help throughout the weekend.

DAY 7 - Checkpoint 7 is at the stunning The Royal Hotel, Dockray.

✅ Hotel owner Ali who took part himself in the 100 this year, nominated Another Way for a £500 donation. Their mission is to empower people to live with kindness towards our planet.

✅ The checkpoint is managed by Hardmoors Ultra & Trail races Community Page team Jon & Shirley, organisers of the Hardoors Ultra Series. They split their £500 donation as £250 to Scarborough and Ryedale Mountain Rescue Team and £250 to Cleveland Mountain Rescue Team 👌

16/10/2026

Local farm. Local family. Proper provenance.

At The Royal, we're incredibly proud to know where the majority of the food on our menu comes from. And when it comes to our beef, it doesn't get much more local than this.

Meet Claire, Sam and their family at The Farming Beaumonts Gowbarrow Farm, just down the road from us. They're one of the local farming families who work incredibly hard, caring for their cattle and the land around them, whatever the weather throws their way.

We know that talking about beef means talking about the animals too, and we appreciate that not everyone chooses to eat meat. But for those who do, we think it's important to know where it comes from, how the animals have been reared and the people behind the food on your plate.

Buying locally isn't just about food miles. It's about supporting families like Claire and Sam's, understanding the work that goes into farming and keeping our local food traditions alive.

14/10/2026

Well, this was a bit special! 🤩

Pan-roasted Cumbrian rump of lamb, served with crushed new potatoes, Savoy cabbage, roasted carrot, butternut squash puree and a red w**e and truffle jus 😋

One of last Friday's specials, straight from our kitchen - just so you know, we have a special dish on every day of the week.

13/10/2026

🥧 The wait is nearly over… PIE NIGHT IS BACK!

We're very excited to announce that Pie Night returns to The Royal every Tuesday from 3 November! 🎉

That's just three weeks to go until Tuesday evenings are dedicated to proper, hearty pies. Just the thing for those chilly autumn nights.

And here's the best bit…🥧 A delicious pie and a pint or medium glass of w**e for just £21! 🍺🍷

So get Tuesday 3 November in your diary, round up your fellow pie lovers and start looking forward to a good old-fashioned pie night at the pub. Because let's face it, there's not much that can't be improved with a decent pie. 🥧

Question - what’s your favourite pie?