“A beautiful hotel, wonderful food (needs a la carte menu for dinner) bathrooms could be better”
The hotel and gardens were beautiful, as was the location. Breakfast and dinner were superb, the drinks were great, and the barman and restaurant staff were friendly and attentive. The room was stylishly decorated. Breakfast included a traditional Cumbrian English breakfast, the best smoked salmon ever with scrambled egg and muffin, roasted Shiitake with poached eggs and prosciutto crudo. Dinner was also incredible, with a choice of 8‑ or 4‑course set menus; we chose the 8‑course menu for £150 per person, which is expected for a Michelin restaurant. The bathroom was particularly small, with no dedicated shower or bidè, so I had to climb into the bath for a shower or to clean after using the toilet; my partner has knee problems, making that difficult. We weren’t told that there was only one restaurant in the hotel and that it had to be booked for evening meals in advance, so when we arrived early afternoon the restaurant was fully booked and we had to eat out after a long drive. We also didn’t know that the restaurant only offered two set‑menu options (4 and 8 courses) and no a‑la‑carte menu; the prices weren’t easy to find, and £150 per person for the 8‑course menu is a wonderful meal but not something you want every night. I think this should be looked at to accommodate hotel residents so that a smaller but equally high‑quality option could be available. Reception staff could be a little more friendly; they were professional but not as welcoming as the bar and restaurant staff. There was no safe in the room, which is a negative for a high‑end hotel with a fine dining restaurant; like other similar hotels, a safe should be provided for valuable items.
Jonathan·2 months ago