Blacksmith Arms in South Lakeland

So I’m not normal one to leave a review, that being said overall I was hugely disappointed with the meal I had at the Knipe Grill at Gilpin Lake House. Firstly - we were show to our table and and iPad dropped on the table. Yes this is a menu and yes I can work and iPad. But with the hotel boasts 5 stars I expect a little more interaction. -With an experienced chef David with many an accolade, unfortunately I was underwhelmed. You quote “My food is fun, there’s always a bit of a story behind it, a bit of nostalgia and playfulness” Sadly there was no story no fun. This was primarily down the the service and the lack of engagement, talking us through the menu, championing and highlighting locality, seasonally and recommendations. The level of service we received for the price paid just wasn’t up to standard. - and finally whilst I know this is a hotel with a hot tub, there is something about having a group of people in bath robes walking through the restaurant heading to the hot tub a little strange. I wouldn’t expect this from a restaurant in a 3 star Spanish hotel, let alone a 5 star very expensive hotel/restaurant in the lakes In summary the restaurant's inexperience staff led to poor service, which significantly impacted the dining experience. The lack of knowledge and attentiveness resulted in frustration and dissatisfaction. While the food showed potential, it ultimately fell short of the expected standard considering the price paid. Overall, the combination of what seemed like inexperienced staff and underwhelming food quality makes this restaurant a less than satisfying choice. Sorry for this review but unfortunately this is a true reflection of my/out experience.

We were looking for somewhere to stop for a bite to eat on our way up to the Lakes. We came across the River Bela cafe and certainly weren't disappointed! A lovely little place with friendly hosts and delicious food. All this and dog friendly too, which is a must for us. We had the lovely home baked, hand carved ham sandwiches. On the way back home 2 days later we couldn't resist calling in again, this time for a lovely cooked breakfast - scrumptious! We will definitely be returning and recommending to friends and family.

Staying locally and last day treat a fab cooked breakfast. Cooked fresh, lovely service and atmosphere. Would recommend a visit. Thanks.

Wow! What a fabulous experience from start to finish! We visited for my friend’s 40th and everything was perfect! Location, service and food- just beautiful! I have coeliac disease and they were so attentive and careful and went out of their way to ensure I didn’t miss out on anything. I even had different kinds of bread- believe me, this is wildly unusual for anything GF and I felt so special! All of the food was divine. I ate the lot, but totally regretted the sugar rush later on when I had a two hour drive home :-) Everything was perfect - the best afternoon tea I’ve ever had!

This was my first time visiting at a 3-star Michelin restaurant as well as eating at the Chef's table. Firstly, from now on I will definitely attempt to do the Chef's table experience at a restaurant when it is available. It is a much more entertaining affair, and more interesting and informative experience than your traditional restaurant experience. Whilst preparing each of the individual and unique courses, the chef clearly explained the inspiration/ingredients behind each course. He also shared how L'enclume are trying to be more sustainable and how Simon Rogan has his own farm nearby in Cartamel to source fresh local produce for the restaurant. The chefs table experience also allows you to speak to other groups of people present and share their experience and why they are there and their opinions. It's a great experience for foodies and highly recommended. For l'enclume and Aulis Cartamel , the food is great, organic, beautifully presented and expertly prepared. My personal favourite is the Orkney Scallops and Corra lim pudding caramelised in Birch sap. This restaurant is a true English restaurant, that is worth 3 stars