February Beer Club at the Kings Arms Hotel, Keswick

Posted on February 1, 2012 by admin

Kings Arms Beer ClubBeer connoisseurs rejoice!

Every first Monday of the month at the Kings Arms Hotel, Keswick is Beer Club time. Join us for a 2 or 3 course meal paired with a flight of beers.

Monday 6th February

To Start

Castilian garlic soup served with a crusty roll
or
Spicy prawn gambas

Paired with the light and floral Spanish Cruzcampo lager.

For Mains

Venison stew in red wine served with ‘tatties and neap’s’
or
Chicken and haggis parcel wrapped in bacon with new potatoes, vegetables and a whisky & orange glaze

Paired with the smooth Scottish Innis and Gunn ale.

To End

Raspberry and white chocolate waffle pudding
or
Riz au lait (rice pudding)

Paired with the fruity Belgium Chimay.

2 courses with all 3 beers – £14.95
3 courses with all 3 beers – £17.95

Book your table now – call 017687 72083

Posted in Food and Drink, Kings Arms Hotel News | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Inn on the Lake 11th anniversary refurbishment is well underway

Posted on January 30, 2012 by admin

The Inn on the Lake is celebrating 2012 in style with a complete ground floor refurbishment set to be complete by the end of February 2012.

The hotel, in Glenridding, Ullswater, was taken on by Lake District Hotels 11 years ago and was previously known as the Ullswater Hotel. After a name change to Inn on the Lake and a large investment in renovating most of the interior, the hotel soon became well known for its great hospitality paired with unrivalled views.

Now 11 years on it is getting a fresh new look, which began with phase 1 being completed in November 2011. The Lake View bar lounge and the Glenridding function room were decorated in luxurious fabrics with a mulberry colour running throughout. See below for pictures of the bar and Glenridding room completed.

Inn on the Lake lake view lounge

Lake View Lounge Bar

Inn on the Lake lake view bar

Lake View Bar

Inn on the Lake restaurant

Glenridding Room set up for dining

Inn on the Lake restaurant

Setting up the Glenridding Room for Christmas Dining - December 2011

By the end of February 2012, the main Lake View restaurant, lake view lounge and reception and lobby will also be complete. Here’s a glimpse of the men hard at work to bring this refurbishment to reality!

inn on the lake builders

inn on the lake refurbishment

inn on the lake refurbishment

Ken Donald, our trusty joiner, was also involved in the refurbishment 11 years ago!

Posted in Hotel News, Inn on the Lake News | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Newly refurbished bedrooms at the Skiddaw and Borrowdale Hotel

Posted on January 4, 2012 by admin

To welcome in the New Year, the Borrowdale Hotel and Skiddaw Hotel are excited to announce that 10 new bedrooms have been refurbished. Here are a few pictures to give you an idea of the fabrics and colour schemes used in the new rooms. More photos to come soon.

new rooms at the Skiddaw hotel

Newly refurbished bedroom at the Skiddaw Hotel, Keswick

bathroom at the borrowdale hotel

Brand new bathroom at the Skiddaw Hotel

new bedroom at the skiddaw hotel

Earlier in 2011 …

Lake District Hotels are proud of the fact we consistently invest money into updating and refurbishing our bedrooms. Here are just a few of the rooms which were done in 2011 across the group of hotels.

The Inn on the Lake had balconies added to four of it’s Lake View bedrooms.

Inn on the Lake Balcony rooms

Lake View balcony rooms at the Inn on the Lake

Inn on the Lake balcony room

Lake Views from the balcony rooms at Inn on the Lake

The Inn on the Lake balcony rooms overlook Ullswater giving you that extra space to your bedroom, and get every opportunity to breathe in the fresh Lake District air we all love! All the balcony rooms have also been refurbished to our usual high standard and look similar to the photo below.

Inn on the Lake balcony room inside

Inn on the Lake's balcony rooms have been fully refurbished inside too

It’s also important that are bathrooms are clean and bright, just like the one below, also at the Inn on the Lake.

Inn on the Lake bathrooms

A bathroom in one of the Inn on the Lakes new bedrooms

The Kings Arms Hotel, Keswick, has also had several of its rooms refurbished in 2011. The comfortable rooms have a cosy feel and mix modern and traditional textures and patterns.

Kings Arms new bedroom

New bedroom at the Kings Arms

Another refurbished room at the Kings Arms Hotel, Keswick, has a bright and airy feel to it.

New room at the Kings Arms Hotel Keswick

New bedroom at the Kings Arms Hotel, Keswick

If you’d like to stay in one of our newly refurbished rooms please call our reservations team on Freephone 0800 840 1240 for prices and availability.

Posted in Borrowdale Hotel News, Skiddaw Hotel News | Tagged | Leave a comment

Fantastic family fun in Penrith at Beauty and the Beast pantomime

Posted on January 4, 2012 by admin

Over 80 guests enjoyed the festive panto in the ballroom at the George Hotel in Penrith last week. The production of Beauty and the Beast was performed to generations of families and sitting on cushions at the front of the stage were young children who screamed loudly at the Beast.

pantomime at the george hotel penrith

The panto actors from Beauty and the Beast

Grannies, Granddads and Mums and Dads all gave a glowing festive verdict on the performance, suggesting it was a great afternoon and just the right length for little ones.

General Manager Justin Wales said, “We had so much good feedback from last year’s panto that we booked them again for this year well in advance. It was great to see Grandparents bringing their grandchildren, giving some Mums a chance to shop. The children all stood up and screamed loudly – a good measure of their involvement with the story! The Ballroom is perfect for performances and we have quite a few grown up ideas planned for 2012 – including a Titanic event in April.

beauty and the beast pantomime

Some of the children who watched the panto with the actors

The panto performance allowed the ballroom to relive its day as a theatrical location and heart of community life in Penrith. In the 1860’s the Assembly Rooms (now the ballroom) was at the core of community activity -  it played host to famous theatricals  that included ‘Signor Boscow from the London Theatre.’ Since this main function room has become home to local groups  and playing host to entertainment from celebrities like Lenny Henry and Vic Reeves, Bob Mortimer, Paula Yates and Jooles Holland.

Last year was the first time a panto was performed for 100 years.

If you’d like to book the George Hotel’s Ballroom for an event please call 01768 862696

Posted in Hotel Events, The George Hotel News | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Barely room at the inn this Christmas

Posted on December 14, 2011 by admin

Staff at all six of our Lake District Hotels are gearing up for one of our busiest ever Christmas and New Year holidays because almost all of the rooms and self catering accommodation are fully booked.

The group has a very loyal guest list, with many repeat bookings for Christmas and New Year, a year in advance. This year we’ve seen an increase in new guest bookings which has led some of our hotels being full for Christmas since September!  With just under two weeks to Christmas the hotels are now 97% full making it one of our most successful Decembers.

christmas at the lodore falls hotel

Lodore Falls restaurant set up for Christmas dinner

The Lodore Falls Hotel has been fully booked since autumn and there is no room at the Inn on theLake, Ullswater, for Christmas or New Year. The George Hotel in Penrith is also packed for Christmas and there is only one room left at the Borrowdale Hotel. And whilst there are still a couple of rooms left in the Kings Arms and Skiddaw Hotels in Keswick for Christmas Eve, they too are fully booked for New Year.

Stephen Johnson, General Manager at the Lodore Falls Hotel said “Few hotels contribute so much to making the festive season so special. The group invests thousands of pounds to make sure the decorations look amazing and the festive menus are planned months ahead. At the Lodore Falls Hotel the Nutcracker ballet theme has been a real hit and talking point with guests, but it still looks different to last year, with more elaborate tutus and presents scattered around the hotel. The Nutcracker ballet was fully booked and the Jack and the Beanstalk panto on 21st December is selling fast. It’s about having a range of activities to suit everyone – guests who stay and local visitors who enjoy dining with us.”

christmas in the lake district

Kit Graves, Director of Lake District Hotels Ltd said “We are a family owned and run group so we like to keep close to our guests, making them feel part of the family. There is a lot of effort in preparing for Christmas – it takes a whole year. Our hotels do well in the festive season and that’s down to the friendliest of welcomes, a great atmosphere, fantastic festive fayre that focuses on the best local ingredients and wonderful family entertainment to make a traditional Christmas feel special. Our success is also a reflection on the service our staff provide, ensuring guests want to come back time and time again.”

There may be no room at the Inn on the Lake for passing strangers on Christmas eve – they will still be welcomed in Keswick – both the Skiddaw Hotel and the Kings Arms still have a couple of rooms, but they too are usually snapped up by last minute walkers wanting to get away.

Anyone looking for a late room at Lake District Hotels for the festive season can contact central reservations  on 0800 840 1240 or visit www.lakedistricthotels.net.

Posted in Hotel News, Uncategorized | Tagged | Leave a comment

Nutcracker ballet launches Christmas at the Lodore Falls Hotel

Posted on December 14, 2011 by admin

The magical Nutcracker Ballet heralded the start of Christmas events at the Lodore Falls Hotel when the Starkey School of Theatre Dance in Whitehaven performed to two packed houses.

nutcracker ballet 2011

The Nurcracker Ballet Troup

This is the second year the school has performed and an extra date was added, allowing over 270 guests to see the stunning ballet and enjoy the festive afternoon tea. Those watching the performance included parents Don and Lorraine Coulter from Whitehaven whose daughter was taking part. They saw it for the first time on Sunday and said “the kids did really well, it was great to watch. The hotel looks simply stunning with so many ballet tutus, masks and decorations and the afternoon tea was delicious.”

nutcracker ballet 2011

Performing the Nutcracker Ballet

The cast of 32 were aged 9 – 24 and there were numerous costume changes and a new leading man – Liam Millar (15) to play the role of Nutcracker. At 6’2” he towered over the 4’10” Clara played by Kate Johnston.

Nutcracker Ballerinas at the Lodore Falls Hotel

Nutcracker Ballerinas at the Lodore Falls Hotel

Liam Millar had never had the opportunity to dance until he began rehearsals 6 weeks ago for the lead role. Liam said “It was my singing teacher that suggested I get involved, because I want to pursue a career in theWest End. Karen Starkey had several boys in her class, but none old enough for this role. I have thoroughly enjoyed it, she is a great teacher and performing at the Lodore falls hotel was very special.”

clara and the nutcracker

Clara and the Nutcracker

Karen Starkey, Director of the production said “The Lodore is the perfect location for this Christmas tale and it is great fun to stage. The dancers have to get 85+ honours in their exams to be included in the ballet – it is a great incentive. Every performance was sold out and we have already been requested to come back again next year.”

nutcracker ballet cumbria

Sweets for the audience

The next festive event at the Lodore Falls Hotel is the Children’s panto Jack and the Beanstalk held on December 21st. For more information contact Tanya Sentance on 017687 77285 or visit www.lakedistricthotels.net/lodore

Posted in Christmas, Lodore Falls Hotel News | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

15 reasons why you should buy a Lake District Hotel gift voucher this Christmas

Posted on December 13, 2011 by admin
Lake District Hotels gift vouchers make the perfect present for Christmas, birthdays, anniversaries or any other present buying occasion. If you’re not sure it’s the right choice then why not read on as we give you some very valid reasons for buying a gift voucher for Lake District Hotels:

  1. You don’t have to leave the house to buy one;
  2. So you don’t need to get dressed to buy them either – buy online or call 0800 840 1240
  3. You won’t get blown away in the wind walking to the shops
  4. No queues for paying
  5. No fighting to get the last one – we guarantee we’ll never run out of gift vouchers
  6. There’s a wide choice of unforgettable experiences to choose from such as luxury afternoon tea, Sunday lunch for 2 or 4 people, hotel and spa breaks and much more;
  7. Or let the receiver choose with a monetary value gift voucher
  8. For those awkward-to-buy-for people, a monetary value gift voucher is a great present so they can choose what they want to spend it on
  9. They come in attractive gift boxes so no extra wrapping necessary!
  10. Left it to the last minute? We can email the voucher to you (no gift box provided)
  11. Tell us who wouldn’t want to receive a gift voucher for champagne afternoon tea with a glass of champagne, cream cakes, finger sandwiches, scones, tea and more?
  12. Because vouchers start from just £25
  13. They can be used at any time of the year
  14. No disappointing faces like when they open that ‘great idea’ present you bought from JML
  15. You might even get invited along to join them for that afternoon tea!
Lake District Hotels Gift Vouchers
Posted in Christmas, Hotel News, Interesting | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Christmas Butter Carvings – a Lodore Falls Hotel tradition!

Posted on December 2, 2011 by admin

Every year Mike Ward, Head Chef at the Lodore Falls Hotel, and several members of his team put a lot of time and effort into creating works of art out of butter in time for the Christmas celebrations at the hotel.

The Christmas butter sculpture tradition has proved to be very popular with locals and guests alike who can’t wait to see what the next year’s carvings are going to be.

This year, you can win a luxury afternoon tea for 2 people* at the Lodore Falls Hotel if you can guess what 2011′s butter carvings will be. To enter, ‘like’ our Facebook page and post on our wall: “I think 2011′s butter carving will be …….” with your answer in the space.

Enter competition on our Facebook page here

Here’s a showcase of their best carvings over the last few years.

butter carving

chefs at the lodore falls hotelfantastic mr fox butter carvingfantastic mr foxbutter sculpture

butter sculpture at lodore falls hotel

*It might be quite difficult to guess what this year’s butter carving will be so one winner will be picked at random from the correct or nearest answer. The winner will announced once the butter carvings have been revealed. Competition ends 11th Dec. 2011. Entries must be made on our Facebook page. Winner will be notified through Facebook.

Posted in Food and Drink, Lodore Falls Hotel News | 1 Comment

Mike Ward makes New York inspired dessert on BBC Radio Cumbria

Posted on December 2, 2011 by admin

Mike Ward, Head Chef at the Lodore Falls Hotel, is becoming quite a regular on the Mike Zeller show on BBC Radio Cumbria. Today our Mike describes how to make a New York inspired pudding following his trip to the Big Apple last week…

Chocolate Banana Bread & Peanut Butter Pudding

Ingredients -
  • 285g/ 10oz Plain Flour
  • 1tsp Bicarbonate of Soda
  • ½ tsp salt
  • 110g/ 4oz Butter, plus extra for greasing              
  • 225g/ 8oz Caster sugar
  • 2 Eggs
  • 4 Ripe bananas
  • 85ml/ 3 fl oz Buttermilk (or normal milk with 1 ½ tsp lemon juice)
  • 1 tsp Vanilla extract
  • 100g/ 4oz Dark Chocolate chips or chopped chocolate
Method - 
  1. Pre heat oven to 180˚C/ 350˚F/ Gas 4
  2. Sift flour, bicarb & salt into bowl
  3. In a separate bowl, , cream butter & sugar together until light & fluffy
  4. Add eggs, mashed bananas, buttermilk & vanilla to the butter & sugar mixture & mix well, then fold in flour & chocolate
  5. Grease loaf tin (20cm x 12.5cm/ 8”x 5”) & pour in mixture
  6. Bake in oven 45-50mins until well risen & golden brown
  7. Remove from oven & cool in tin for a few minutes, then turn out onto wire rack to cool completely.

NB: Keep in an airtight container.

Chocolate Custard - 
Ingredients - 
  • 1 pint/ 570ml Double cream
  • 8floz/ 225ml Milk
  • 6 Egg yolks
  • 2oz/ 50g Caster sugar
  • 2 Level tsp cornflour
  • 4oz/ 100g Dark chocolate (chopped)
Method - 
  1. Heat milk & cream together
  2. Pour onto chopped chocolate and stir until dissolved
  3. In another bowl, whisk egg yolks, sugar and cornflour together
  4. Whisk hot cream and chocolate mixture into egg and sugar gradually until all incorporated
  5. Return to pan and gently bring to simmering point stirring all the time.
  6. Remove from the heat.
To serve the pudding:
  1. Slice the banana bread into finger thick slices
  2. Spread the crunchy peanut butter on the banana bread
  3. Arrange the slices in a buttered oven proof dish, slightly overlapping
  4. Pour over chocolate custard (enough to cover)
  5. Leave to soak for 15-20mins approx
  6. Bake in a water bath in the oven 40-45mins approx
  7. Remove from oven and serve with double cream or ice cream.
Try a slice with a cup of tea or coffee – Lovely!
New York inspired dessert
Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Top 6 Champagne Tips for the New Year

Posted on November 28, 2011 by admin

If you don’t know your Bollinger from your Taittinger or are looking for some new Champagne cocktail ideas then read our top Champagne tips from our very own Master Sommelier, Stephen Wilcock of the Borrowdale Hotel. 

champagne tips

Stephen & Dani discuss the perfect Champagne in the wine cellar at the Borrowdale Hotel

Making Champagne cocktails

The classic Champagne Cocktail is simple to make: run a sugar cube over the skin of a lemon then soak it in angostura bitters. Pop it into a flute, add a measure of brandy and top with iced Champagne.

A Jade Cocktail adds a bit of colour:  Into your glass add ½ a measure of Blue Curacao ½ a measure of Midori and top with iced Champagne.

A Mimosa – so called because it resembles the colour of the Mimosa’s attractive yellow bloom. Juice of 1 passion fruit, ½ measure orange Curacao, crushed ice, topped with Champagne.

Champagne with food

Often Champagne is served as an apéritif – before a meal to stimulate the senses (or just to kick start the party!) so during a meal why not try a heavier style of Champagne like Bollinger, or Veuve Clicquot so you don’t lose the taste alongside the food.

At midnight – Celebratory Champagne

When not eating, try a lighter style like a blanc de blanc (white from white). It’s made from the Chardonnay grape rather than the Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier and Chardonnay grapes found in heavier champagnes. Try the houses of Perrier-Jouët, Lanson, Mumm, Ruinart or Taittinger.

Did you know?

Champagne bubbles carry alcohol into the lungs so it can go straight into the blood stream, by-passing the liver. Time to get the party started!

Wine and Whisky events planned for early 2012 at the Borrowdale Hotel

Burns whisky weekend, 27-28th January

A piper welcomes you to the special Scottish dinners where the menus have been created to compliment malt whisky tasting. 2 night break from £220pp

 To book a room, call 0800 840 1244

Australian wine night Friday 17th February

Learn more about wines ofAustraliaat the Mitchell’s wine dinner, features wine and food from the region of the Clare Valley, South Australia. £45pp

To book a table, call 017687 77224

And remember – drink responsibly!

Posted in Borrowdale Hotel News, Food and Drink, Wine Tasting | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment