Waterhead

The winter breaks package was a real treat, and the food and sleep were both spot on. Our booking got mixed up, but the team resolved it quickly and gave us two fabulous, spotlessly clean rooms for our one-night stay. The service was top-notch, with friendly goodbyes and helpful recommendations for dishes that made our meal even better. I can’t recommend the place enough.

My husband enjoyed his steak, and the waitress who sorted out the problems was friendly and professional. But the rest of the meal was a letdown. My son and I didn’t think our food was very good, and by the time he’d managed to eat some, we were well past his bedtime. We left having eaten what we could. We’d got stuck in Ambleside because of traffic during half term and stopped for an evening meal. We were told the three meals would take half an hour, which was fine, but after about 45 minutes only one arrived. The other two had gone to another table. They eventually put it right politely, but the place felt disorganised and chaotic even though it wasn’t especially busy. Some of the staff seemed harassed and less approachable. I rarely leave poor reviews, but we didn’t enjoy the experience and probably won’t return with so many other places nearby.

The buffet breakfast was so tasty, with the usual continental and full English choices as well as plenty of fruit. The staff kindly let us eat there even though breakfast would normally be for guests staying at the hotel, and we paid for it. The inside decor is gorgeous, and many windows look out over the lake in Ambleside. It’s right on the front in a perfect spot. We browsed the regular menu and specials too. They’ve got a great selection, which is a shame for us since we don’t live locally.

The lake view was the highlight, but the stay was well below what I expected for the price. We also ate dinner at the inn, and the shrimp linguine was a disappointment. Its sauce was so watery it seemed more like soup than pasta, and the dish felt like a rushed home meal. After a full day travelling, we arrived exhausted, hot from the heat wave and carrying backpacks. Train delays had put us much later than planned, and although we’d checked in online, the room wasn’t ready. We waited by getting a bite at the bar, where we were told they only served “small bites,” which was fine. But when the bartender asked for our table number, we explained we’d never been there and couldn’t see any numbers on the tables. We had to point at a nearby table and ask what number it was. It was awkward and made us feel unwelcome. We were eventually given an accessible room, though I’m not sure why that was the one assigned to us. We were too worn out to question it. There was no air conditioning, just a small fan. The bathroom layout was frustrating for us as non-disabled guests: every shower left the whole floor soaked, so even getting to the toilet meant crossing puddles. The sink was very low, so we had to hunch over to brush our teeth and spit into it, and there was no counter space. For what we paid, I expected much more. Birds seemed to be nesting or scratching in the attic above us and began making noise around 4 a.m., waking us repeatedly. It was one of the worst nights of sleep on our trip. The next day we asked to leave our bags while we explored. The staff seemed confused by the request, as if it were unusual. After discussing it, they agreed to put our bags in the corridor.