Windermere Manor Hotel

We had dinner here one evening, and the food was spot on with generous portions. Breakfast was great too. The indoor pool was a nice extra and a decent size. It's a lovely hotel with a good atmosphere and an easy walk to the nearby town and Bowness lake. Couldn't fault it.

The way the staff dealt with finding mould on the buffet bacon was what left us most disappointed. When we showed it to a staff member who seemed to be in charge, she pulled a face, made a disgusted sound, and told us to put it on a plate. She didn't properly inspect it. Seeing a staff member react that way to food the hotel was serving did nothing to reassure us. Later, another employee said they'd spoken to the chef and apologised. We appreciated the apology, but it felt dismissive and insincere, and we wondered why the first staff member had passed the issue on instead of dealing with it herself. Before that, we were enjoying our stay. The room and location were good for the price. The sink was partly blocked and needed some maintenance, but that hadn't bothered us. Finding mould on food was concerning, and the response made the experience worse.

The staff were very friendly and the service was very good. We stayed three nights in an annex room with a terrace. The bathroom in particular could use a decorative refresh, but that wouldn't stop us booking again. Bowness is about a 25-minute walk away, while Windermere Village is around 15 minutes on foot. We'd definitely recommend the hotel.

After a long day walking and exploring, it was great to come back and unwind in the pool. The food was very good, the service was too, and I could relax with a drink in one of the comfortable rooms afterwards. I'd read comments about unhappy staff and the hotel looking tired, but from the moment I arrived I was greeted with a smile. Everyone was helpful throughout my stay, and the hotel and my room were both clean, tidy and comfortable. It was my first visit to Windermere Manor Hotel, and I'll be back.