Last updated at 16:46, Friday, 15 February 2013

THERE are few more pleasurable ways of whiling away a winter’s afternoon than tucked up in a Lake District pub, enjoying a hearty meal near a roaring fire.

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Finding ourselves with an unexpected free midweek afternoon together, my husband and I sallied forth “up the Lakes” on a freezing, sleeting day.

We forked off the Windermere road, picking our way over a very snowy Gummers How and inching through the bends towards one of our favourite lunchtime spots, the Mason’s Arms at Strawberry Bank.

The Mason’s ticks pretty much every box on the Perfect Pub list: stunning location, ancient beams, flagged floors, open fires, great food and a good selection of wines and local beers. Little wonder that the pub is busy all year round.

If you’re going to get snowed in anywhere, this is the place you want to be.

After a bitterly cold dash from car to pub, we settled down at a cosy table near the bar, and opposite the blazing (if somewhat smoky) fire.

Armed with a pint of Wainwright’s beer and a glass of viognier dry white, and smacking our lips in anticipation, we ordered from the extensive menu.

For starters, we shared a slate (how very gastropub!) of devilled crab cakes with chilli jam and sour cream for £6.95. Stylishly presented and with a lovely kick of chilli, it was the perfect starter for such a day. The chilli jam was heavenly – and made on the premises.

Next came the main event: lentil moussaka (£11.25) for Gordon, who isn’t a vegetarian but likes anything with a pulse, while I opted for a small portion of fish and chips, because I’m one of those people who thinks there is something not quite right about a pub meal that doesn’t involve chips.

Small gripe here: the full-size portion of fish and chips is £12.50, while the small portion is £9.95 – which I think is a bit steep for a half portion. The chips were a bit dry for my liking, although clearly home made. The fish was delicious and, even though only a half portion, I couldn’t manage it all.

The lentil moussaka was also extremely good: juicy, packed with flavour and interesting spicing, and served with a lovely salad and pitta bread. The waitress told us it was always a very popular dish with non-veggies, and it’s easy to see why.

The staff at the Mason’s are one of the pub’s biggest assets. I’ve been many times and never seen a member of staff who isn’t friendly and helpful.

The barman that day was a Welsh wit. “Would you like some ice with that?” he asked a customer while serving their drinks. “It’s fresh ice – none of your frozen rubbish.” Not bad for someone who was clearly struggling to come to terms with his national rugby team’s trouncing at the hands of Ireland a few days earlier in the Six Nations.

After that, black coffee was as much as we could manage for afters, although the menu has some mouth-watering puds on offer.

On the down side, apart from the smoky chimney, the pub is somewhat cramped downstairs, with the tables packed together sometimes just that little bit too close for comfort.

They could also do with ditching the dreadful muzak, which adds precisely nothing to the experience.

Those minor niggles aside, it is easy to see why the award-winning Mason’s is one of the most enduringly popular pubs in the Lake District. It’s not cheap – but I’d still love to get snowed in there.

First published at 16:42, Friday, 15 February 2013
Published by http://www.nwemail.co.uk