Base Pizza in Bowness-on-Windermere feels like a treat to visit and has become one of my favourite places to eat in the area. Every pizza I’ve had at Base has been consistently good, which isn’t always easy to find in busy Lake District areas like this one.
Serving sourdough pizzas made fresh in house topped with high quality produce, which is locally sourced where possible, I think it’s easy to see why Base has been featured in The Times’ top 50 pizzerias in the UK.
It’s some of the best pizza I’ve had in the UK and find it hard not to think about the crispy but chewy dough and the rich tasting tomatoes. It’s not just about the pizza either. The restaurant itself is modern, casual but classy, bright and filled with natural light. Even when it’s busy, it still feels welcoming.
It’s the perfect place to head to after a long day of walking in the Lake District, have a relaxed evening meal or get a takeaway and head to the Windermere shore which is only a few minutes’ walk away. Anyone who appreciates really good pizza will love this spot.
Food & Drink at Base Pizza, Bowness-on-Windermere: What to Expect
Pizza is very much the focus here, and around three quarters of the menu is dedicated to their sourdough pizzas. The rest of the menu is made up of salads, garlic breads and a small selection of desserts which complement the pizza’s well. They also have a full bar, with several local and independent craft beers as well as soft drinks, wines and spirits.
I really like how the menu feels thoughtfully sized. At the time of my last visit, there were nine main pizzas and a special to choose from – so usually ten in total. They all feel different enough that you could easily return another evening and not feel like you’ve exhausted the menu.
At least four of the pizzas are vegetarian and many of these can also be adapted with vegan cheese, and you can also add on premium toppings like fennel salami and n’duja sausage.
Every time I’ve visited, there has been a real focus on high quality ingredients. You can just taste that in the finished product. There seem to be a few locally sourced products too like the local Lakeland lamb on the Stand By Your Lamb pizza.
Even if specific items on the menu aren’t available, they make some adjustments seasonally, so you’ll always find something interesting.
On my last visit, I ordered The Good Life pizza with vegan cheese to see how it compared as a viable option (because not all veggie and vegan options seem to set a high standard). It arrived absolutely loaded with toppings. The rich but fresh tasting tomato sauce tied everything together beautifully and the dough just felt so comforting.
The service has always impressed me too. The last time I visited, where I took most of the photos for this review, it was just after a sunny bank holiday weekend and the restaurant was incredibly busy. In fact, they ended up selling out of dough whilst we were there. We did have to wait about 20 minutes to be seated, but once we were, we weren’t waiting long for food.
Considering the quality and how filling the pizzas are (there’s pretty much always leftovers too), I think Base Pizza is good value. The prices are fairly typical of Bowness-on-Windermere, with most pizzas sitting around the £14.50 mark and the highest priced option costing £16. On my last visit, two pizzas, two soft drinks and a beer came to just under £40.
What I’d order if I was visiting for the first time:
- Margherita
- The Good Life
- Big Sal
Dietary Options at Base Pizza, Bowness-on-Windermere
Base Pizza are pretty good when it comes to vegetarian and vegan options with at least four of the pizzas being vegetarian with the option to switch out to vegan cheese. Their dough is also vegan.
The vegan cheese is actually really nice, it has a delicate flavour a bit like mozzarella but without any nasty gluey-ness you often get from vegan cheese. It complements the pizza really well and doesn’t feel like you’ve been short changed. Though you do have to pay an extra £3 for this, which I do think is a bit expensive, considering you’re omitting regular cheese.
Even if you’re vegetarian and end up visiting Base twice on a trip to the Lake District, I still think there is enough variety in their veggie options that you could not feel like you’ve exhausted the menu.
If you’re looking for somewhere that does gluten free pizza, unfortunately, Base Pizza don’t offer that option at all. This is because of their specific dough fermentation process and it’s not possible to get the same pizza without gluten. Because the rest of the menu is very small, you will likely be best looking elsewhere.
What to Know Before You Go
Here’s a few things that I think are worth knowing before you visit Base Pizza, Bowness-on-Windermere:
Opening times: They currently open from 5pm until 9:30pm and are closed Sundays and Mondays. However, this can vary around holidays so it’s always best to check Google Maps to see if there are any adjustments to this.
Waiting times: You can expect to wait a while to be seated if you visit at busy times. Think school holidays, bank holiday weekends, sunny weekends and summer. The restaurant itself is small, so they only have a select number of tables.
Takeaway: You can’t phone ahead for takeaway, so you need to order at the bar and wait for your order.
No reservations: They only take walk ins so I’d arrive early at times you know it’s going to be busy as they can run out of dough. However, there is generally a fairly quick table turnover, so you probably won’t ever be waiting ages.
Wheelchair access: Like many older buildings in the Lake District the wheelchair access isn’t amazing. The lower part of the restaurant is accessible, but the section up a step is not, and that means the toilet is inaccessible too.
Dogs: Dogs are welcome, but at busy times, I’d consider leaving your dog at home if you can.
Walks Near Base Pizza, Bowness-on-Windermere
Bowness-on-Windermere has a few low-level walks that are in the same area as Base Pizza. You can easily head down to Windermere lakeshore from Base Pizza, then take a left and walk down to Ferry Nab. This is a really pretty short walk where you can see the marina areas (you can also rent boats or take a boat ride on Windermere from here).
You’re also quite close to Orrest Head, which sits above Windermere village and gives you some really beautiful views out over the lake, this is a very family friendly walk. You can, in theory walk from Bowness to Windermere, but you might prefer to park in Windermere for this one.
If you want to head slightly further for a walk near Base Pizza, you’re very close to the Ambleside end of Windermere. From here, you can easily get to walks like Rydal Cave, Loughrigg Fell, Elterwater to Skelwith Bridge and Elterwater to Cathedral Caves which are all iconic walks I’ve linked up our guides to above and that I’d highly recommend.
Base Pizza, Bowness-on-Windermere: My Honest Review & Quick Take
Worth it: Yes! And you’ll want to go back.
Who’s it good for: Anyone who loves good pizza, perfect for veggies and vegans as well.
Value for money and pricing: For the area, portion size and quality of ingredients, I think so. Most pizzas are around £14.50 currently with the priciest ones on the menu being around £16.
Who should skip it: If you want gluten free options.
Wheelchair accessible: Partly, the lower section is, but the bathroom and upper section aren’t.
What to order on your first visit: I always think a margherita is a great way to tell if a pizza place is good, and Base do this incredibly well!
When to visit: Weekdays if possible, or earlier in the evening on weekends.
If you like Base Pizza, Bowness-on-Winderemere, you’ll also like: Chesters By The River, which we’ve also reviewed, especially if you’re on the hunt for really food veggie and vegan food in the Lake District. Even if you’re not, you’ll still love it, and their cake is special. Set near Skelwith Bridge, this day time cafe is well worth a stop.
About the Author
- Based in the Lake District, Fay Doyle is also co-founder of This Expansive Adventure
- Walks these routes regularly
- Writer and photographer specialising in the outdoors, with extensive local hiking experience
- Focused on firsthand experience walking guides