Forest Side Hotel

Dinner was a real highlight. We’d booked the tasting menu with wine pairing, and they handled my husband’s dietary requirements with small changes to the menu. We were also given a complimentary upgrade to a stylish room when we arrived, after a warm welcome. We came to Forest Side for a special occasion on a family member’s recommendation. It’s a beautiful hotel with lovely gardens and grounds, and we even saw red squirrels from our breakfast table. We’d happily recommend it.

The food was out of this world, from the unbelievable herb juice in the starter to the glorious sorbets. There was so much depth of flavour and variety in the textures. Course after course arrived, and the setting, presentation and service made the whole experience worth every penny. My daughter and I chose the six-course lunch during our annual holiday in the Lakes, after seeing Neil on GBM. It was the best decision I ever made. I even found myself using all the phrases I’ve picked up from cooking shows and running out of superlatives. Thank you to everyone involved!

The rooms are stunning, and the wine and service are at the highest level. If you can, stay overnight and enjoy the full food, wine, room and breakfast experience. Keep an eye out for midweek offers. I’ll be back very soon. Forest Side is one of the Lake District’s gems, a beautiful escape for serious food lovers, a romantic break or any celebration. The food is stunning. It has one Michelin star, but I think it’s heading towards two. We had the 12-course lunch, and every course was faultless. The portions are tiny, but the food is highly technical and a huge amount of effort goes into each few bites. The bread is amazing, and you can ask for more if you’re still hungry. The desserts are world class.

The jacket was torn when it was brought back to us. It was a designer jacket that can’t be repaired. It had been forced against a metal fixture instead of put on the clear hanger built into it, and this kind of damage doesn’t happen through normal handling. It showed a complete lack of care. We told the staff straight away. They apologised and said the manager would contact me, but nobody ever did. At these prices, and with Michelin status, that lack of responsibility is unacceptable. This happened during what should have been a simple birthday lunch for my wife and me. While I was parking, a staff member took her jacket and was rude and impatient with her for no reason, making things uncomfortable. The food was alright, but portions were extremely small and the quality didn’t match what I’d expect from a Michelin-starred restaurant. Some staff were friendly, while others seemed poorly trained. I don’t usually leave one-star reviews, but people should know what happened. I’m justified in complaining: a staff member damaged expensive clothing, there was unnecessary rudeness, and the promised follow-up never came. When staff take guests’ belongings, they should handle them carefully and take responsibility if something goes wrong. I’d strongly advise against handing them anything valuable, since there seemed to be no accountability. The food didn’t live up to its reputation, and the way this was handled made the whole visit fall far below what I’d expect from a restaurant of this level. I’ll never return and will advise others to stay well away.