Nestled away in the heart of the Lake District, Rothay Manor Hotel is a magnificent country house estate, set within the middle of endless lush green landscapes and only minutes from Lake Windermere. I’ve never really explored the Lake District much, other than a couple of quick fleeting visits over the years – but my latest trip has really made me rethink my choices when looking for a break away in the UK. It’s such a beautiful part of the country and there is so much to do – you’ll be spoilt for choice.
We arrived at the hotel a little early and so our room wasn’t quite ready. It was cold, wet and evening snowing outside – so we sat in the lounge and tucked into a good book to pass the time. The lounge is small, but beautifully decorated and incredibly cosy. Weather your’e staying here or not, it’s a great place to spend some time in and the perfect pre-lunch/dinner space to enjoy a drink or two. The hotel recently underwent a £1 million pound refurbishment and you can tell. It’s stunning.
We were staying in one of the stunning suites and when we arrived in our room, it took my breath away for a few moments. All of the suites offer little differences, such as a 2-bedroom suite for all the family, or a romantic hideaway with a jacuzzi – but I think this one is my favourite. A huge bed (probably the comfiest I’ve ever slept in) takes centre stage and a bath in the corner which you won’t want to get out of.
The room even has its only lounge. We quickly settled into it and ordered a glass of wine to our room (plus tucked into the well stocked mini bar). It was a little wet outside when we visited and this room was so comfortable – you simply won’t want to leave and we didn’t. A few glasses of wine and a romantic movie later, it was time for us to get ready for dinner.
As I mentioned, the bed is one of the most dreamiest I’ve come across all year and so much so I actually modelled my bedroom redecoration on it once we returned (and yes you can ask for photos if you’d like to see it!). The bold designs, sumptuous pillows, comfiest ever mattress and perfectly placed lighting meant for such a lovely sleep. I also liked the fact the TV was in the lounge and not in the bedroom, meaning you could really sleep and not be distracted.
Aside from that incredible bath in the room, there was also separate shower room with basin and loo. The shower was excellent (nice and powerful) and the Noble Isle toiletries (one of my favourite brands) was a lovely touch to help create your own in-room spa experience.
If the room wasn’t already big enough, there was a gigantic walk-in wardrobe, which even featured views down over the small stream. A huge wardrobe, chest of drawers and vanity station. We felt incredibly spoilt in this room and only wished we could move in.
The main dining room is jaw-droppingly beautiful! I didn’t quite know what to expect from Rothay Manor, but I don’t think I expected it to look just this stunning. The million pound refurbishment was looked after by the ever so talented Matt Hulme, owner of Dynargh Design and so expect to be wowed at every corner. The main restaurant is all bout fine dining, but if that isn’t your thing then the adjacent Brathay Room offers a simpler, more laid-back evening to enjoy dinner. For dog lovers, the main fine-dining restaurant has a connecting, separate room where guest can dine with their canine family.
All dressed and ready for dinner, we had a cheeky pre-dinner cocktail in the lounge first, before tucking into a stunning selection of breads, salivating oyster and array of canapés that really got us excited. Especially the beef toasts topped with lashing of shaved truffle.
Head chef here is Dan McGeorge and if the food is anything to go by, he’s looking to make a big impression on the foodie scene. Dan has already been awarded three AA Rosettes and I’m confident a Michelin star is on the way if our meal was anything to go by. One dish which really confirmed that for me was this cumbrian venison tartare with mushroom, bone marrow, elderberry and rye. The tartare was concealed under the slices of mushroom and I only wish I took a photo of the reveal. The colour of it was stunning, the texture of the meat melted in the mouth and the flavours of everything were spot on.
In fact, every dish here was pure perfection and I really mean that. We spent six days travelling around the Lake District and surrounding areas with a new meal every night and I really couldn’t compare any of them in terms of quality and technique to this. This dover sole, salsify, onion, sea beet and lemon was such a fresh and pure plate of food, you couldn’t help but take the smallest of mouthfuls to make it last as long as possible.
My favourite dish from the entire meal was the suckling pig with a loin belly lollipop (if memory serves me well), brawn, onion, chervil and douglas dir. Visually it looked stunning and the cooking and flavour of it were just as well matched. If there was ever a dish to secure that shiny red Michelin star, this would most certainly be it.
Desserts were yet again, sensational. A delectable plate of white chocolate, lemon, saffron and coriander was a dream to eat. But my favourite was the prune, pistachio, brown butter, stout and sheep’s yoghurt. The flavours were so perfectly balanced and array of textures made for some very satisfying mouthfuls.
Before heading to bed, we moved back into the lounge, snuggled up next to the fireplace and indulged in one last cocktail. A negroni for me. It was the perfect way to end what was a truly stunning evening.
Weather wise, we did spend a lot of it hibernating (mostly due to endless blocked roads from the rain and lakes taking over small business’s), but for us it was the perfect excuse to simply do as little as possible. We did however visit Lake Windermere which is just a few minutes from the property. Snowy topped peaks, autumnal coloured scenery and gorgeous misty covered mornings. Next time we come back and in safer weather, we’ll certainly be exploring it more.
Genuinely, I think Rothay Manor Hotel might well have been my favourite hotel of 2020 so far and whilst some areas still need to be improved to blend in with the newer parts of the property (such as communal hallways and exterior tidying), the overall sense of this property is just so relaxing and visually it’s beautiful inside. The food felt Michelin starred, the room was like something straight out of a design magazine and the location was picture perfect. If we’re ever in the area again, I’ll most certainly be booking a return.
Your room looks amazing! Especially that bath!