Dog and Gun Inn
Skelton, United Kingdom
⭐1 Star
The Experience
From Michelin Guide
The Dog and Gun is a proper village pub which does what pubs do best, by providing warmth, honesty and food that puts a smile on your face. Chef-Owner Ben Queen-Fryer cooks with his heart and plenty of natural talent, keeping dishes satisfying and recognisable. Local ingredients, including seafood from Maryport, are showcased in pure, understated compositions with plenty of depth, where flavour comes above all else. You’ll find suet puddings, soufflés and some of the best triple-cooked chips around – not forgetting a great local pint.
Unique Things
From Visitor Experiences
Pub Roots, Not Fine Dining
The Dog and Gun Inn is a traditional village pub, not a formal restaurant—making its Michelin star status highly unusual for Cumbria, where other starred venues are typically country houses or estate restaurants. This is the only pub in the county to hold a Michelin star.
Chef-Owner’s Unconventional Journey
Chef-owner Ben Queen-Fryer and his wife opened the pub with no financial backing, having sold their own home to fund the venture. They initially served standard pub fare like burgers and fish and chips before gradually elevating the menu to Michelin level—a rare pivot from casual to starred cuisine within the same venue.
Local Seafood, Suet Puddings, and Triple-Cooked Chips
The menu features unexpected pub classics at Michelin level: local seafood from Maryport, traditional British suet puddings, soufflés, and some of the best triple-cooked chips in the region. This combination of elevated technique and hearty, recognisable pub dishes is atypical for starred establishments.
Ingredient Stars
From Visitor Experiences
The most honored or signature ingredients at the Michelin-starred Dog and Gun Inn in Skelton include:
Lobster: Featured prominently in the signature dish "lobster thermidor cannelloni," lobster showcases the restaurant's use of high-quality seafood from local sources like Maryport, prepared in a refined yet approachable manner.
Venison: Used in the "venison suet pudding," this ingredient reflects the pub's connection to local game and traditional British cooking techniques, offering a rich, hearty flavor that is both seasonal and regionally significant.
Cumbrian honey: Highlighted in the "Cumbrian honey parfait with raspberries and honeycomb," this ingredient adds a local sweet element that balances the menu with a delicate, natural sweetness and showcases regional produce.
Triple-cooked chips: Though not a single ingredient, this preparation method is a signature technique at the Dog and Gun, emphasizing texture and quality in a classic British side dish.
These ingredients are significant because they reflect the restaurant's commitment to local sourcing, traditional British flavors, and refined yet honest cooking that respects the ingredients' natural qualities. The dishes combine local game, seafood, and produce to create memorable, seasonally inspired plates that align with the Michelin Guide's recognition of quality and authenticity.
Menu & Pricing
Current Offerings & Prices
Tasting Menu
- Not specified in the provided text, but it is mentioned that there is a tasting menu available.
A La Carte
- Twice-baked Torpenhow cheddar and black truffle souffle: £££
- Wild rabbit pie in brown butter pastry: £££
- Smoked heritage potato terrine with shallots and blackcurrant balsamic: £££
- Maryport Dover sole with scampi, vermouth butter sauce and chips: £££
- Pringle House lamb leg and harissa pie with confit shoulder: £££
- Grass-fed Dexter beef fillet with onion rings, sauce poivrade and chips: £££
Prices
- Average Price: £30 - £49