LOYAL customers and tourists are fast becoming the bread and butter helping this popular pub get through the Coronavirus pandemic.

Now in its fifth year of management under landlords Tim Smith and Emma Taylor, the Pig and Whistle in Cartmel is the latest venue to be named Pub of the Week.

Having once been a cottage it is now a respected pub which also provides accommodation for tourists.

The person who nominated the venue for this accolade said it was special because of the warmth of its staff, its beautiful location, great menu and excellent ales.

The Aynsome Road pub is just a 10 walk away from Cartmel Racecourse.

Supervisor Alice Forde said the venue prided itself on giving visitors a warm welcome.

She said: "We attract a great mix of local customers from Cartmel as well as tourists who are visiting the area.

"This is a great combination for the pub’s environment as there is such a wide mix of people coming into the pub all the time.

"With the pub formerly being a cottage as well, it has definitely got a warm, homely feel to it, which is exactly what we want our customers to feel.

“For our customers it is basically like having a meal and drink in your very own living room, which is great.”

The child friendly venue offers visitors free wifi and parking as well as a variety of food and drink suitable for all tastes.

However, Miss Forde said what makes the pub so unique is its own, exclusive drink, the ‘Piggin Ale’.

She said: “Being part of the Robinsons Brewery group we have our own drink, the ‘Piggin Ale’, which is specially brewed for our pub.

"It gives us something extra to prove that we are a special pub that provides fantastic drink options to all our customers.”

Despite its loyal regulars the Covid-19 pandemic has proved to be 'very challenging' for the pub and its staff.

Miss Forde said: “This year has been very challenging for us.

"We have put in a one-way system where people can move around in a circle around the pub while social distancing so we have made it extra safe.

“We are also making sure there is always someone on hand to provide table service to our customers at all times too so they do not feel the need to move from their table.

“As well as this, we are writing down the details all of our customers as they enter as part of track and trace.”

Despite operating under these restrictions the Pig and Whistle is very much back providing a great service for its customers and consistently receives rave reviews online.