Rothay Manor Hotel

The setting was calm and relaxed, and the service was excellent. Our two-year-old loved the cheesy pasta and homemade ice cream. As for the Sunday roast, it was probably the best I’ve ever had: beef, short rib, pork belly, pork, a giant Yorkshire, excellent vegetables and gravy.

The afternoon tea was beautiful and wonderfully relaxing, enjoyed in the hotel’s own little bubble. I also loved the biscuits, and we’ll definitely be back. After our honeymoon stay, we returned to Rothay Manor and had a completely different experience. This time we really noticed the beauty of the grounds and felt the right atmosphere throughout the hotel. It has a warm, welcoming feel, and being able to do things in our own time made the stay relaxed from the moment we arrived. There were a couple of minor issues, a broken outside light or light switch and a dirty flannel in the shower, but otherwise the hotel was immaculate. The wood fires, dining, staff interactions and overall feel of the hotel and grounds made for a genuinely relaxing stay with lots to take in. The small details are worth appreciating, and the attention to detail is remarkable. The staff genuinely want to help and come from different parts of the world, bringing their own perspectives. Taking time to talk with them and appreciate that diversity adds to the experience. Thanks to Peter and the team.

The garden salad was the one dish that felt a bit ordinary beside everything else. The beetroot soup, by contrast, was silky, earthy and full of depth, and the sides were spot on: Jersey potatoes and tender, charred broccolini. The capered plaice was the highlight, beautifully cooked, buttery and vibrant. It was an incredible dinner at Rowan in Rothay Manor, refined but still comforting, with every dish feeling carefully and precisely made. Easily one of the best ten meals I’ve ever had. Rowan is well worth a visit if you’re anywhere near Ambleside.

Even after we complained, many problems were left unresolved. We felt our concerns weren’t taken seriously, and the hotel has completely ignored the formal complaint letter we sent almost two weeks ago. The room was poorly prepared, noisy and compromised, with extractor pipes running internally through it and others outside. It was above the kitchens and next to staff quarters, certainly not a good room for what we paid. There may be very nice rooms in the hotel, but this one resoundingly failed to meet the £750 a night premium expectations. It was a deeply disappointing, very expensive New Year’s stay. Rothay Manor is overpriced, compromised and shows no concern for guests’ experience once they have your money.