Birdcage

30/10/2026

🍻 History, quality and community spirit all under one roof.

A huge congratulations to The Sportsman Inn in Carlisle on being crowned City Pub of the Year by Solway CAMRA.

For centuries, The Sportsman has been at the heart of Carlisle's pub scene, and today it continues to set the standard. From perfectly kept cask ales and delicious home-cooked food to the warm welcome that greets every customer, the team consistently delivers the kind of experience that keeps people coming back.

Its reputation speaks for itself. Alongside previous honours such as Winter Pub of the Season, The Sportsman has earned regular recognition in the CAMRA Good B**r Guide and remains one of the city's most loved traditional pubs.

This latest award celebrates the passion, hard work and dedication of the entire team, who continue to preserve the pub's rich heritage while making it a thriving destination for b**r lovers and the local community alike.

👏 Congratulations to our Publican, Amanda Picken, and everyone at The Sportsman Inn on another fantastic achievement.

28/10/2026

🎃🎉 THE FUN CONTINUES… AND THERE’S PLENTY MORE EXCITEMENT TO COME! 🥳👻
We’ve got another jam-packed few days of fun, games, entertainment, live music and fantastic offers for all the family! 🎶🍻
🎈 TODAY – CHILDREN’S PARTY FUN | 2–4PM 🎈
Bring the little ones along for an afternoon packed with party games and spooky fun! 👻
🪦 Hunt through the gravestones 🍩 Catch a doughnut 🎯 Party games and lots more surprises!
⚽ FOOTBALL TONIGHT! ⚽
Join us for the Aston Villa and Liverpool games, with great food and drink offers to enjoy while you watch!
🍽️ KIDS EAT FOR JUST £1! 🍽️
That’s right — little ones can enjoy a meal for just £1, making it a great time to bring the whole family along! ❤️
✨ TOMORROW – MAGIC & BALLOONS | 2PM ✨
Get ready to be amazed! 🪄 We’ve got a fantastic magician and balloon modelling to keep the children entertained. 🎩🎈
🎃🎸 AND THEN… OUR TWO-DAY PARTY WEEKEND! 🎸🎃
We’re getting ready for a fantastic weekend of fancy dress, live music and Halloween fun!
🔥 FRIDAY 🎸 Live music from Scorchers 🎃 Pumpkin carving fun 👻 Fancy dress and party vibes!
🎤 SATURDAY 🎶 Live music from Chris Banderas 🪩 Afternoon disco for the children 🧙 Fancy dress and even more Halloween fun!
There’s something for everyone, so gather your friends, bring the family and come join us for a brilliant few days! 🥳🍻🎉

27/10/2026

WOW 🔥

This has been such an honour to be a part of!

Huge thanks to Coca-Cola for championing community leaders around the UK and for picking our very own Simon Dafforn-jones as Local Royalty!

It was a privilege to have portrait artist to royalty, Jamie Coreth, capture Simon in his natural habitat, the FBI.

Read more here 👇🏼

https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/pub-landlord-given-royal-treatment-37812329

27/10/2026

Kids karaoke is about to start for the afternoon.

27/10/2026

Today starts our Halloween half term fun for the kids.
2pm we srart with kids karaoke. Let them sing 🎶 their hearts out.

Don't forget kids eat for just £1 with any full price adult meal.

We also have your ales at 50p off a pint.

And football tonight.
Free pool between 5 and 7pm.
Team that with our two mains for under £15. 5pm till 7.45.

26/10/2026

Other entertainment this week
Monday to Thursday 5-7 free pool.
Tuesday through Saturday 2pm kids Halloween entertainment 🎃
Thursday quiz night
Halloween weekend.
Friday live music by the Scorchers
Saturday live music by chris banderas

26/10/2026

This weeks sports

26/10/2026

🎉 TODAY’S LINE-UP IS LOOKING GOOD! 🎉
🍳 BREAKFAST | 9–11:30am
Start your day the tasty way!
🍔 FULL MENU | 12–8pm
Come hungry, leave happy! 😋
🍟 KIDS EAT FOR £1 | From midday
Little tummies, tiny prices! (With a full-price meal.)
📺 KIDS’ TV | 3–5pm
Keep the little ones entertained!
🎱 FREE POOL | 5–7pm
Rack ’em up and get playing!
🍺 50p OFF A PINT OF ALE
Cheers to that! 🍻
Whatever your plans today, we’ve got the food, fun and drinks covered. Get yourselves down and make a day of it! 🙌

26/10/2026

🎉 HALF TERM IS HERE! 🎉
🌧️ Cold and soggy outside? No worries! We’re warm, dry and ready to welcome you inside! ☕️
🍽️ KIDS EAT FOR JUST £1 ALL WEEK! With every full-price adult meal, the little ones can tuck in for less!
🎃 HALLOWEEN FUN IS COMING! 👻 🧙‍♀️ Tuesday – spooky fun for our little monsters! 🧛‍♂️ Friday – it’s the big ghouls’ turn to get their fright on!
Good food, warm welcomes and a whole lot of fun! 🦇🕸️
Ditch the drizzle and join us for a spooktacular half term! 🎃👻

25/10/2026

25/10/2026

Todays roast chicken

20/10/2026

At Punch, we're proud to see young talent thrive across our pubs and support teams. From first jobs to leadership roles, remains one of the UK's greatest industries for developing skills, building confidence and creating rewarding careers.

That's why we're backing a hospitality-wide call to Government ahead of the Budget, championing the sector's ability to create jobs and opportunities for young people.

Hear Harry Bourne's story and why he's proud to support this message.

07/10/2026

Britain’s pubs are worth up to £30 billion in wellbeing value to communities across the UK. But rising costs and high taxes are putting pressure on pubs that bring people together.

This Week of Action, join the campaign today and tell your MP to keep pubs open and pints affordable.

https://www.longlivethelocal.pub/letter 🍍

25/09/2026

Actress Daisy Edgar-Jones filmed 🎥 a promo for her new film, Sense and Sensibility in our Canonbury pub, The Marquess Tavern for Vogue 🥰

The team at Vogue were searching for a shooting location that oozes class, was timeless and in-keeping with the theme of the movie... so where else were they going to film?! 😏

Take a look at the promo - Daisy is in character as Elinor Dashwood throughout!

Sense and Sensibility hits cinemas TODAY! 🎬Why not pop into The Marquess Tavern to wash down your popcorn! 🍿🍷

!

22/09/2026

We're on board, are you?

Join thousands backing Britain's pubs and breweries.

www.longlivethelocal.pub ❤️🍺

21/09/2026

This pub is a gem! 💎

The Wig & Mitre in Lincoln's Cathedral Quarter has reopened following a £100k investment. ⛪

Anne-Marie and Paul Balcomb have taken on the 14th century pub... "We’re thrilled to take control of such an iconic pub and can’t wait to meet all of our wonderful guests" ❤️

📷 Courtesy of Tory McTernan

17/09/2026

Welcome to The Buck Inn 🦌

New Management Partner Adrian McShane-Chapman has taken over the Thornton-le-Dale pub following a whopping £490k investment 🤑

🗨️ “I arrived in the UK 22 years ago from Australia, armed with just a backpack and no real plan... I’ve dipped in and out of hospitality over that time but the fire inside me to run my own pub burned bright.” - Adrian

If you're in Yorkshire, pay Adrian and his team a visit and check out this stunning pub for yourselves. 🤩

15/09/2026

Rory takes the keys to the refurbished Cross Keys pub in Nottingham! 🗝️

Our new Management Partner Rory Calladine has taken the reins at the popular city centre pub following a £100,000 investment.

🗨️"I was instantly drawn to the pub and as soon I discovered it was available in a partnership with Punch, I jumped at the chance." 🍍

Regular guests at The Cross Keys will instantly notice the pub’s traditional feel and special characteristics have been retained throughout but that a complete refresh has taken place. 💫

11/09/2026

We have reopened the Keyworth Tavern following a quarter-of-a-million refurbishment 🔥

The Keyworth pub in Nottingham, run by our Management Partner John Francis, had been closed for 5 weeks while we tore out the bar, stripped the pub back and replaced everything with new, modern furnishings. 🤩

Great work by everyone involved in the transformation 🥂

03/09/2026

We're quite fond of it too, Prime Minister! The Dog House

28/08/2026

Our Publican Beth at The Beeswing Inn 2013 has raised circa £250K for charity 😍 so if you're in the area this weekend, pop in and enjoy the music, food and drink!

Well done Beth!! 🥳

The Beeswing in East Cowton is hosting its 13th ‘Glastonbury’ festival to raise money for end of life care at a nearby hospital.

27/08/2026

Newly married couple Gareth and Jamie Furness have take the over The Bay Horse Inn in Pickering. 🔔

The pub has received a £400,000 investment and Gareth says it has been very well received by locals. 😃

“We are seeing more locals returning to the pub, faces that haven't been seen here for many years and we are seeing them on a regular basis... The refurb has really put The Bay Horse Inn back on the map and firmly at the heart of the Pickering community.” ❤️

Well done to everyone involved in this brilliant transformation 👏