The Hive at Poppi Red

Hawkshead is beautiful, with some lovely walks nearby, but the price doesn’t match the quality here. We’d visited before and were looking forward to coming back, but this second stay fell short. The room was nice, though the dressing shelf was coming away from the wall, the TV couldn’t cast from a phone or laptop, and the carpets need a refresh or deep clean. Breakfast was good, but dinner was disappointing and far too expensive for simple food like pizza. Chips in a mug for over a fiver felt unacceptable. There was no music or real ambience in the evening. We heard staff chatting about Christmas shopping, sugar bowls were left on tables at dinner, and fake flowers took up space on every table even though space was limited. The staff were pleasant enough, but could use more training and attentiveness. One person serving smelled of cigarettes, and the smoking area was right by the entrance and exit, with cigarette ends scattered around. That needs more thought. The light at the back entrance never came on when we went in or out. There’s a step there, so it feels like an accident waiting to happen and needs urgent attention. If you stay, be mindful of it. It’s remote, and I realise winter probably brings fewer visitors than summer, but these prices for this standard are unacceptable. Sadly, we probably won’t return to The Hive unless it has new owners. The dried flowers need to go.

A handy little place to stay in a tiny town, and a great base for exploring the Lakes. The rooms were clean and warm, the beds comfortable, the restaurant food was good, and the staff were so helpful. I’d gladly stay again.

We had a lovely two-night stay. The place has a quirky feel and is in an excellent location. Staff here and in the restaurant were really friendly and helpful.

The Hive is right in the centre of Hawkshead, with lots of cute shops and cafes close by. Our room was clean, the staff were friendly, and breakfast was hot and included. We had a lovely stay.