Merewood Country House Hotel

Breakfast had plenty of hot and cold options, and the lovely lady looking after me was joined by Nicola, who was helping out. Throughout the visit, the team felt genuinely friendly and welcoming. You can usually tell when a welcome is just put on, but this was first-class service all the way through. Check-out was smooth, and they asked if the stay had gone well. I left planning to visit again. After checking in, I settled into the lake view room, which is also a bridal suite. It was very spacious, with non-alcoholic drinks and a birthday card waiting for me. The room also had a kettle with tea and hot chocolate, a Nespresso pod machine, the hotel's own filtered water in a bottle, and sweets in a mini milk bottle. A request for an iron was ready when I returned to the room. The bed was very comfortable, and I slept well. I'd booked through the Sunday night deal on the hotel's own website for 30/11/2025. Nicola and then Adam helped me through the booking, including with dietary needs and a request for a birthday message. That was a lovely touch, with a card featuring the venue on the front and a nice message inside. On arrival, the signs direct you to the upper car park. If you have accessibility needs, turn left into the area near reception and park there if a space is available, rather than going right and uphill. There was a short wait at reception while other guests were being seen to, but then I was welcomed warmly. I received a room slip with the front door code in case I went out and found the door locked on my return. They also gave me the free guest WiFi details, though I found it didn't work well for registration on an Apple iOS device. A staff member then gave me access to another WiFi network, and all was well. Thanks to the lady who looked after me during scones and tea. Once settled, I came down for scones and tea or coffee in the comfortable room next to the bar. I enjoyed them, though the scones broke apart a bit too quickly. Dinner in the dining room was well looked after from start to finish, including around my dietary needs. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

We ate at The Grill Restaurant during our stay, and the food was perfect. The grounds are beautiful, and the staff are all lovely and helpful. The location works well for the Lake Cruise across the road to Ambleside, Bowness, and other places. Zip World is just over the road too, if that's your thing. We spotted a deer in the woods around the hotel 😁 and also loved seeing the Highland Cows on the drive in.

My wife and I eloped to Merewood Country House Hotel with our two small dogs, and we fell in love with it. The views were stunning, and the extra thoughtful touches were an unexpected treat. Every interaction with staff felt sincere and really meaningful. Tegan, the wedding coordinator, and Adam at reception were so friendly, as were all the attentive restaurant staff.

The tasting menu was memorable, with excellent cooking and some unexpected flavours. Nothing was extreme, but every course felt fresh and stuck with me. It's not a three-star Michelin menu, yet at this price the standard is very high and the chefs clearly care about what they're doing. I'd have liked the courses to arrive a little faster, though it wasn't a major issue for the price. Staff may be a bit young and inexperienced, but they were perfectly friendly and went out of their way to help. I've stayed at all three hotels in the chain, which are a stone's throw apart, and this one may be my favourite. It's an old country house with many original features, open fires, and lake views. It gives you that feeling of being tucked away from the real world for 24 hours. The rooms are very nice and spotlessly clean. We paid £269 total for a night, including breakfast, a tasting menu for two, cream tea, and a bottle on ice on arrival. Very, very good value. I get the impression they run a tight ship to keep prices fair, but I'd love to see what the kitchen could do with free rein. It could be something very special. Even now, it's easily one of the most memorable meals I've had. I'd happily recommend it, and it'll be my first choice next time I'm in the area.