· · · · · · · ·

5 of the best restaurants in the Lake District

Spring in the Lake District is a time of transition and awakening. And itÂ’s a particularly good time of year to enjoy its world-class cuisine. Yes! Cumbria has become quite the foodie mecca and is now home to 4 Michelin-starred restaurants and a vast array of award-winning, artisan foodie products. Recently nominated for World Heritage status, at this time of year the ancient mountain and lake scenery of the UKÂ’s largest National Park is quiet and idyllic, with all the hope and optimism of Spring around the corner, and less of the crowds. And what better thing to do than while away an afternoon or see the evening out, in some of the finest restaurants in the UK. We take a look at 5 of the regionÂ’s best eateries. LÂ’Enclume, Cartmel The unassuming medieval village of Cartmel in the South Lake District is home to 2 Michelin star restaurant LÂ’Enclume, which is currently number one in Britain and has been for 4 years. Continuing to win local as well as national hearts, we cannot fail to mention it here, even though chef and creator Simon Rogan is not strictly a ‘Cumbrian ladÂ’. Although RoganÂ’s French training is evident, not least in the meticulous attention to detail and the restaurantÂ’s namesake (meaning Anvil), open since 2002 the chefÂ’s commitment to regional and largely foraged produce means this is a celebration of the very best of CumbriaÂ’s bounty. White-washed interior walls and stone flag flooring, everything is locally sourced, from the tables and crockery to the staff. In fact, most of what you eat has been gathered that day from RoganÂ’s own farm in the same village. No air miles here, except for the wide-ranging customers who flock to this magical riverside hideaway. L Enclume Shorthorn beef with leek, horseradish and bone marrow A tasting menu serves up either 8 or 12 extremely unique and very experimental dishes, clearly designed around the produce rather than a pre-planned menu budget. If your pocket can handle it, weÂ’d recommend visiting LÂ’Enclume at different times of year to experience the breadth of the teamÂ’s creativity. The fresh and bright colours of precisely cubed gels and fastidiously organised stacks, with gravity defying foams, whisks you away to a world of passion and dedication to exceptional food. A dining experience at LÂ’Enclume is a memorable journey to go on, hopefully when poor weather makes Cartmel Fell or Witherslack less appealing! On the other side of the River Eea, a more informal experience can be enjoyed in LÂ’EnclumeÂ’s sister restaurant, Rogan and Company, set in a more stylised ambiance, with relaxed open fire and warm interior design. DonÂ’t forget to pop into UnsworthÂ’s Yard to complete your culinary mecca to Cartmel! The Forest Side, Grasmere Secondly, we thought weÂ’d add a relative newbie on the block. Open in 2016, The Forest Side restaurant, which despite its tender age, was awarded a Michelin star within a year of opening. Just outside Grasmere, in the Central Lakes, this is where head chef Kevin Tickle has brought his love of turning foraged goodies into gastronomical delights which, incidentally, he cultured from his time at LÂ’Enclume and Rogan and Co., to this £4 million pound refurbished mansion. The Forest Side Grasmere is the Lake DistrictÂ’s chocolate-box hamlet and attracts tourists by the droves during busy Summer months. Winter and early Spring is a great time to visit to avoid the understandable pull that is the villageÂ’s star tourist attraction, Dove Cottage, former home of our countryÂ’s best-loved poet, William Wordsworth. Tickle is a local and in fact has not worked outside of Cumbria. Such is the standard of dining in the Lake District today, cookery apprentices no longer have the pull of London and Paris to enable them to join the ranks of the Le Rouxs and Pierre Whites. The dining experience at The Forest Side is every bit as grand as the stunningly renovated mansion house and grounds and one to try before word of its opening spreads like wild mushrooms. WeÂ’d also recommend sister restaurants Hipping Hall in Kirby Lonsdale and The Ryebeck in Bowness-on-Windermere. The Old Stamp House, Ambleside Located centrally in the Lake District, in the market town of Ambleside, The Old Stamp House is a newly opened restaurant that doesnÂ’t necessarily try to whisk you away on a culinary journey, but very much wants you to pull up a chair and celebrate all things great about Cumbrian food – its heritage, people and landscape. A similar look and feel as LÂ’Enclume, sparse and unpretentious, white-washed walls and stone floor. You enter down steep steps, passing by the board declaring the restaurantÂ’s philosophy, ‘Food Inspired by CumbriaÂ’, and into a series of unassuming, but welcoming, chambers. The Old Stamp House Serving produce from local suppliers and with provenance as the raison d’être, weÂ’d recommend trying their Herdwick Hogget, from Yew Tree Farm (formerly owned by Beatrix Potter). Hogget, in case you hadnÂ’t yet had the pleasure of sampling, is older than lamb, so more flavoursome, yet younger than mutton, and thus extremely tender. Indeed, Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall claims Yew Tree Hogget to be “the finest he has ever tasted”. For the reasonable price of £35 you can choose a faultless 5 course tasting menu, seamless experience and all the creative flair and finesse of young, highly experienced chef and owner, Ryan Blackburn. It is well worth visiting this relatively new restaurant, set purposefully in the very heart of the Lake District and within the very building where the Lake Poet William Wordsworth held a positon as ‘Distributor of StampsÂ’, to fund his own creative passions. Holbeck Ghyll, Windermere An old-timer, Holbeck GhyllÂ’s traditional country manor bar and restaurant has been welcoming diners since the 70s and has gained an international reputation for a classical French menu using quality Cumbrian produce with a contemporary and clean finish. In 1888 Holbeck Ghyll, outside the chocolate-box village of Troutbeck, was bought by one of the richest men in the country, Lord Lonsdale, who had very fine tastes indeed. And today it still has its fair share of glitterati, with Renee Zellweger taking up residency during the filming of ‘Miss PotterÂ’ and comedianÂ’s Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon enjoying lunch for BBC comedy series ‘The TripÂ’. Holbeck Ghyll Jake Jones 460x385 Step into the ‘Oak RoomÂ’ and find yourself sat at a formally laid-out oak table, in an arts and crafts dining room, complete with oak panelling and gold-tasselled, heavy curtains framing one of the very best views in the Lake District. Lord Lonsdale certainly knew what he was looking for when he bought this as his hunting lodge. Set above Windermere, looking down onto the sparkling lake, green countryside and craggy mountain backdrop of the Langdale Fells, the Holbeck Ghyll commands one of the finest views in the Lake District. It is this view and the exceptional food that makes the Holbeck such a timeless classic on a foodie trip to the Lakes. The exceptional £68 table dÂ’hote is an exciting offering and includes a pretty ‘HillsideÂ’ starter, clearly inspired by the local scenery and hearty Shorthorn main. This is an exclusive residency where guests can arrive by helicopter or a short journey in the hotel car from a nearby train station links this restaurant easily with Manchester airport and London. Yet still you feel like youÂ’re being welcomed into a gentlemanÂ’s home. The dining experience is elegant but intimate and relaxed. Lord Lonsdale was quite the character, with a very gregarious taste for the finer things in life including cars, horses, sport and cigars but with it he was also very generous. Early this year Holbeck welcomed 26 year old head chef Jake Jones into their new state of the art kitchen, combining the very best of ‘inspired food and inspired viewsÂ’ and we think now is a good time to see if the restaurant can get its former Michelin-starred status back. With promises like the 7 course tasting menu, £88, delivering ‘an adventure through LakelandÂ’s finest produceÂ’ plus a new bar and restaurant in April 2017, weÂ’re very excited to see what is to come following the great legacy that is Holbeck Ghyll. The Drunken Duck, Ambleside The Drunken Duck is where youÂ’ll find yourself if youÂ’re looking for food in a good pub and we mean a seriously good pub. Set above Ambleside, the reputation of The DuckÂ’s kitchen is what draws most people. You enter through the bar and immediately you know that this pub is serious about food, drink and hospitality. Passing the welcoming open fire, at the bar large blackboards offer insight into the very best wines, which are showcased high in the shelves behind the bar rather than tucked away. Several bottles of Champagne are generally to hand, often in a giant silver plated ice bucket and from the polished hand-pumps, of which there is always a choice, you will find ales from their onsite and meticulous microbrewery, Barngates. Cracker Ale and Tag Lag are both excellent! The Drunken Duck Inn This pub, with more formal restaurant through the bar, is less than a 10 minute drive from the bustling town of Ambleside. The superb walking country of Tarn Howes, Coniston Old Man and Langdale Pikes is only a few minutes drive away and it is raised up within 60 acres of private countryside high above Lake Windermere – the enviable setting matches this superb Lake District inn. So slick is the dining experience here, you can book evening meals online. Lunchtime is a more relaxed affair, and of course you can choose from the kitchenÂ’s sophisticated take on ‘pub grubÂ’ classics, which are fulfilling after a morningÂ’s ramble. Whilst provenance is of course part of the culture in the DuckÂ’s restaurant menu, a visit to the Drunken Duck is about feeling thoroughly satisfied. A tantalising menu, with starters, mains, and desserts that you cannot resist, a very friendly and highly polished service team and relaxed setting. The whole experience is irresistibly high. The consistently high standards at The Drunken Duck mean you always come away with a ‘SpringÂ’ in your step, regardless of the season. Paul Liddell is the Managing Director at Lakelovers. If you would like to be a guest blogger on A Luxury Travel Blog in order to raise your profile, please contact us.

Did you enjoy this article?

Receive similar content direct to your inbox.

4 Comments

  1. The Drunken Duck is a firm favourite in our family and has been a meeting place for many a celebrations. It has such a superb atmosphere, where you’re welcomed as a local. Whether we’ve arrived dressed to impress for a celebratory lunch in the restaurant or with our walking gear on following a hike up Latterbarrow at Hawkshead, the Duck just feels so ‘at home’. During warmer months a pint of their own beer on the benches across the road, looking down across stunning Lakeland views is one of the best ever. We like food in our family and this is a superb place to meet as it is relaxed and unpretentious. It is very good quality and so feels ‘special’, without being too stiff. It’s not just the Duck’s that leave a bit tipsy! A place with lots of happy memories.

  2. We are looking to come and visit the Lake District a bit more this year as we live only a short distance away. It is always good to have a selection of nice places to eat and although I must confess that we are more of pub grub kind of people, we will be sure to try some of these out.

  3. For me the Holbeck Ghyll, which is actually just a little outside Windermere, has always been rather special, if a little formal. I have yet to eat in the Forest Side in Grasmere, but the quality of the re-fit and comfort of the furnishings are truly outstanding! I didn’t have time to eat when I called in, but the food that I spotted being severed looked magnificent. Clearly a place for a very special evening.

    One of my favourites however, is still The Britannia Inn, in Elterwater. Simple food, served in old familiar surrounds and while its certainly not in the same league as many of the fancy restaurants in the Lake District its great value, honest food and comes with a choice a several local beers. What could be better?

  4. We’ve just come back from a little gourmet break to the Lake District! It’s amazing how many great restaurants there are in such a small area! Love The Old Stamp House, and we also went to Rothay Manor, which was quite the surprise, did not expect the food to be so good, as we hadn’t really heard of it before! The Lake District is definitely on the foodie map!!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *