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Chief Justice of the Common Pleas, Keswick

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Cask Ale
CAMRA voucher scheme
Operator: Wetherspoon
2 Bank St, Keswick, CA12 5JY (View on Google Map)
  • Outstanding pub conversion

This former police station has been interestingly converted and has an interesting history: "This former magistrates court and police station was built in 1901-2, remaining in use until 2000, built on the site of a workhouse, founded in the will (dated 1642) of the eminent lawyer and judge Sir John Bankes. Born in 1589, he was called to the bar, elected as an MP and knighted in 1631. Three years later, he was appointed Attorney-General and, in 1640, became Chief Justice of the Common Pleas, one of the highest judicial officials in England until his death in 1644." (from JDW website)

Beer choices tend to be limited and not often varied.

Historic Interest

Former police station, opened as pub in September 2014

Information for this venue is provided by the West Cumbria Branch of CAMRA
Previous Names
Keswick Police Station
Local Authority
Allerdale District (B)
Last updated
Last surveyed
23/01/2026
Leasehold owner
unknown
Freehold owner
Wetherspoon
Pub ID
CUM/1837
Asset of Community Value

Conversion

A former magistrates' court and police station that has been well converted by Wetherspoon's. It was built in early 1900s on the site of a workhouse founded in the will of an eminent lawyer who became Chief Justice of the Common Pleas in the 1600s and remained in use until 2000. Excellent re-use of an historic Grade II-listed space retaining interesting features such as the cells (now snugs) and the dock. A triumph.

General information about outstanding conversions and restorations
Monday
9:00am - Midnight
Tuesday
9:00am - Midnight
Wednesday
9:00am - Midnight
Thursday
9:00am - Midnight
Friday
9:00am - 1:00am
Saturday
9:00am - 1:00am
Sunday
9:00am - Midnight
Monday
7:00am - 10:30pm
Tuesday
7:00am - 10:30pm
Wednesday
7:00am - 10:30pm
Thursday
7:00am - 10:30pm
Friday
7:00am - 10:30pm
Saturday
7:00am - 10:30pm
Sunday
7:00am - 10:30pm

TasteMatch

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Current beers

This Pub serves no changing beers and 6 regular beers.

Regular and recently seen

Greene King - Abbot TasteMatch Prediction

View beer
ABBOT ALE PUMP CLIP CLOSE UP
Greene King - Abbot Premium Bitter • 5% Spotted 4 times
ABBOT ALE PUMP CLIP CLOSE UP
Greene King - Abbot

This beer is served regularly and Spotted 4 times recently. Last spotted 1 week ago at Chief Justice of the Common Pleas, Keswick.

ABV 5%
Cask
Style Premium Bitter
Colour
Vegan No
Gluten Free No

Sharp's - Doom Bar TasteMatch Prediction

View beer
Sharp's Doom Bar Pump Clip-1
Sharp's - Doom Bar Session Bitter • 4%
Sharp's Doom Bar Pump Clip-1
Sharp's - Doom Bar

This beer is served regularly at Chief Justice of the Common Pleas, Keswick.

ABV 4%
Cask
Style Session Bitter
Colour
Vegan No
Gluten Free No

Ruddles - Best Bitter TasteMatch Prediction

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Ruddles - Best Bitter
Ruddles - Best Bitter Session Bitter • 3.4%
Ruddles - Best Bitter
Ruddles - Best Bitter

This beer is served regularly at Chief Justice of the Common Pleas, Keswick.

ABV 3.4%
Cask
Style Session Bitter
Colour
Vegan No
Gluten Free No

Wainwright - Gold TasteMatch Prediction

View beer
Wainwright - Gold
Wainwright - Gold Session Golden Ale • 4.1% Spotted 6 times
Wainwright - Gold
Wainwright - Gold

This beer is served regularly and Spotted 6 times. at Chief Justice of the Common Pleas, Keswick.

ABV 4.1%
Cask
Style Session Golden Ale
Colour
Vegan No
Gluten Free No

Thornbridge - Jaipur TasteMatch Prediction

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Thornbridge - Jaipur
Thornbridge - Jaipur New World IPA • 5.9% Spotted 42 times
Thornbridge - Jaipur
SIBA Indie Beer Sold Here
Thornbridge - Jaipur

This beer is served regularly and Spotted 42 times recently. Last spotted 1 week ago at Chief Justice of the Common Pleas, Keswick.

ABV 5.9%
Cask
Style New World IPA
Colour
Vegan No
Gluten Free No

Theakston - Old Peculier TasteMatch Prediction

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Old Peculier Pump Clip
Theakston - Old Peculier Old Ale • 5.6% Spotted 39 times
Old Peculier Pump Clip
SIBA Indie Beer Sold Here
Theakston - Old Peculier

This beer is served regularly and Spotted 39 times. at Chief Justice of the Common Pleas, Keswick.

ABV 5.6%
Cask
Style Old Ale
Colour
Vegan No
Gluten Free No

Settle - Attermire Pale TasteMatch Prediction

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Settle - Attermire Pale
Settle - Attermire Pale Session Pale Ale • 4.3% Spotted 6 times
Settle - Attermire Pale
Settle - Attermire Pale

Spotted 6 times recently. Last spotted 1 week ago at Chief Justice of the Common Pleas, Keswick.

ABV 4.3%
Style Session Pale Ale
Colour
Vegan Yes
Gluten Free Yes

Hawkshead - Red TasteMatch Prediction

View beer
Hawkshead - Red
Hawkshead - Red Session Bitter • 4.2% Spotted 3 times
Hawkshead - Red
SIBA Indie Beer Sold Here
Hawkshead - Red

Spotted 3 times recently. Last spotted 1 week ago at Chief Justice of the Common Pleas, Keswick.

ABV 4.2%
Style Session Bitter
Colour
Vegan No
Gluten Free No

Settle - Old Smithy Porter TasteMatch Prediction

View beer
Settle - Old Smithy Porter
Settle - Old Smithy Porter Session Porter • 4.7% Spotted 4 times
Settle - Old Smithy Porter
Settle - Old Smithy Porter

Spotted 4 times recently. Last spotted 1 week ago at Chief Justice of the Common Pleas, Keswick.

ABV 4.7%
Style Session Porter
Colour
Vegan Yes
Gluten Free No

Daleside - Bobek Export TasteMatch Prediction

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Daleside - Bobek Export
Daleside - Bobek Export Premium Bitter • 5% Spotted twice
Daleside - Bobek Export
Daleside - Bobek Export

Spotted twice recently. Last spotted 1 week ago at Chief Justice of the Common Pleas, Keswick.

ABV 5%
Style Premium Bitter
Colour
Vegan No
Gluten Free No

Source: National


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Facilities
Lunchtime Meals Lunchtime Meals
Evening Meals Evening Meals
Garden Garden
Paved outdoor area
Family Friendly Family Friendly
Parking Parking
Wi Fi Wi Fi
Free - Cloud
Features
Cask Ale Cask Ale
OCR Pub OCR Pub
Cask Marque Cask Marque
Quiet Quiet
CAMRA Voucher Scheme CAMRA Voucher Scheme
Cask Marque Beer and Cellar Hygiene rating
Cask Marque: Beer and Cellar Hygiene rating 5 out of 5
Transport
Close to bus routes (500m)
Stagecoach: 555

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