In a romantic mood and inspired by the eHarmony.co.uk statistics making the Lake District the most romantic place to propose, the Inn on the Lake in Glenridding (on the shores of Lake Ullswater) is eager to host its first ladies balcony proposal on 29^th February.

The 29th February marks the completion of the hotel’s major ground floor refurbishment – but that’s not what has got staff in a spin. It’s the fact it’s Leap Year and a chance for ladies to propose that has excited them – and they are keen to help ladies make their proposal something special. The Inn on the Lake wants to be the first to have a leap year proposal and they think with new décor and balcony bedrooms overlooking Ullswater, plus a few treats to encourage her, they may just inspire a brave lady.

Gary Wilson, General Manager of the Inn on the Lake for 12 years, has seen over a hundred and forty proposals and 1500 weddings since he became Manager and knows how to get it right. “We can provide music, champagne and chocolates and we can get the guy onto the balcony, but because tradition dictates that the 29^th February is officially ‘the Ladies Privilege’ she gets to pop the question. Imagine how romantic it would be, views across the lake, candles, music playing and the love of your life proposing from the patio whilst you stand on the balcony. What man would say no!”

As a gesture to support nervous ladies, Gary and his team are offering a ‘Ladies Privilege Pack’ – providing the music, champagne and a romantic dinner for free – just as long as they hear the proposal from the patio. And if they end up booking the hotel for their wedding, they will be treated to the honeymoon suite free of charge.

To mark the end of the refurbishment work, and to entice the couple to the hotel for 29^th February, there is a special offer – dinner bed and breakfast with a second night bed and breakfast free from only £114pp. If the lady asks the hotel to help propose, they get the second night’s dinner free too.

The Ladies Privilege allowing ladies to propose on 29^th February is a tradition that dates back to the 5^th century when St Bridget complained to St Patrick that ladies had to wait too long for a proposal. St Patrick said yearning females could propose but only on one day in February every four years and named it ‘The Ladies’ Privilege’.

To book a Ladies Privilege Break and organise a proposal, contact Gary Wilson at Inn on the Lake on 017684 82444. For more details about the Inn on the Lake visit www.lakedistricthotels.net/innonthelake

Did you know?

For many centuries in English law the 29^th February had no legal status, it wasn’t until 1288 was the first legally documented occasion whenScotland passed a law that allowed women to propose marriage to the man of their choice in that year. They also made it law that any man who declined a proposal in a leap year must pay a fine. The fine could range from a kiss to payment for a silk dress or a pair of gloves.

Lake District Hotels Limited is owned and run by the Graves family in Cumbria. The family have created the largest group of independent hotels in Cumbria. There are six hotels in the group – as well as the Inn on the Lake at Glenridding, there are the Borrowdale Hotel and the Lodore Falls Hotel in Borrowdale, the Kings Arms Hotel and the Skiddaw Hotel in Keswick and theGeorgeHotel in Penrith.