THE ENGINE INN
THE ENGINE INN dates back to the 17 th century and at one time housed one of the earliest steam engines, installed to pump water back above the water wheel that powered Cark Cotton Mill (1785-1815). The pub is mentioned in ‘Annals of Cartmel’ as The Fire Engine Inn, written in 1870 by James Stockdale, grandson of the Mill’s founder. In those days, steam engines were known as fire engines.
The Engine is both the village inn, where locals enjoy a pint of our well kept cask ales or choose from our large assortment of other beers, wines, spirits and minerals; and a thriving restaurant serving good quality homemade dishes in a regularly changing menu, more often than not produced from locally sourced ingredients.
We are dog friendly, and welcome well behaved dogs provided they are kept on a lead at all times in public areas of the inn.
We regularly feature themed Food and Wine Nights, and arrange other events throughout the year, including our very popular Summer Beer Festival. Bespoke Wine Tastings and other private parties can be arranged on request.
We take pride in our Cask Marque accreditation and are featured in the CAMRA Good Beer Guide, providing a range of four cask ales, always including at least one local brewery. The Landlord spent thirty or more years in the Wine Trade, so you can be assured of an interesting and extensive range of quality wines too!
The picturesque town of Grange-over-Sands is a few minutes drive away, and the bustling market town of Ulverston – birthplace of Stan Laurel of Laurel & Hardy fame – is only 20 minute by car or 10 minutes by train. Cark railway station, with direct trains to Lancaster, Preston, Manchester & Barrow-in-Furness, is only a very short walk from the inn.
We are located in the heart of the village of Cark-in-Cartmel adjacent to the River Eea, which flows from a natural spring on Newton Fell, through Cartmel and Cark and out to the sea near Chapel Island in the Leven Estuary, part of Morecambe Bay. We are close to the sea and the river is tidal in the lower parts of the village. The river’s name ‘Eea’ derives from the Viking word for ‘eel’, many of which can be seen in the river by the pub garden.
