THE licensees of a popular Lake District pub are celebrating an impressive milestone.

This year the Golden Rule in Ambleside celebrates an incredible 300-year plus milestone of serving real ale in the heart of Cumbria after starting life as a brewery in 1721.

In a coincidence, licensees John and Margaret are celebrating their 42nd year of running the pub while being the 42nd landlords in the pub’s 300-year history.

Since 1981, this joyful duo has remained steadfast in their commitment to preserving the character and charm that define the Golden Rule.

Reflecting on their early days, they reminisced: "We both began working here in April 1981, just before Robinsons acquired Ulverston Brewery Hartley’s. Back then, we had huge peaks and troughs of trade, good Friday we opened at 12pm closed at 2am then opened again at 7am and closed at 10pm, and the queue was all the way up the road with people waiting to come in.

“It’s fascinating to see how things have changed now. Trade has stabilised, and we’re busy all year round and every single weekend due to increased tourism to the area.”

Curiously the origin of the pub's name remains a mystery. When they started, John and Margaret requested a hanging sign, and to this day, visitors can be seen capturing photos of the sign depicting the Good Samaritan from the Bible.

They believe that the name the Golden Rule may have derived from the practice of not serving alcohol on Sundays due to work impairments the following day. Only one other pub in the UK shares this name - and it is located in Edinburgh.

The Golden Rule pub also serves as a gathering place for various local committees and community groups, including gardeners, allotment owners, and the Ambleside sports committee.

It has become a focal point for the Ambleside community, attracting a diverse clientele of residents and visitors alike.

John said: “We are very lucky, we attract such a great clientele, with myself, Margaret and our staff being the catalyst. We are so blessed with good staff, we don’t know where we would be without the staff we’ve got, they’re fantastic.”