The Borrowdale Hotel in Allerdale

We had a lovely dining experience for our anniversary. We had the steak which was quite salty along with the fries. The service was quite slow too, but everything was made up with the dessert which was exquisite. Beautiful presentation, perfectly balanced taste. Friendly welcoming staff.

The Borrowdale having been newly refurbished , was a pleasure to be in. The dining room , very comfortable , food lovely, cooked and presented with out being over faced. Staff very attentive and helpful , I do however miss the table cloths, from previous experiences, put it above standard dining. Coffee in the conservatory. Was a very nice to finish. We will be back . Good Value for money

I wish the food wasn't so overpriced because for what you get, it's really not worth the price tag. The food was nice, and I ate it all so I'm not complaining at the quality, although could've done with more seasoning. It's just not worth the price tag in my opinion. It was pot luck if you got a knife that could actually cut anything. The staff however were friendly and attentive and the environment is well decorated and tidy

How nice to see the Borrowed Sunday lunches are back to where they belong. Best in area. of the three roasts, Rst Sirloin from the carvery was just pinkly delish, Roast leg of pork with crackling and Leg of some tasty sounding Lamb.too. Congrats all round.

Was advised as £20 for 2 course or £25 for 3 rang hotel to book asking if dogs welcome and if offer available told no dogs in restaurant but allowed in conservatory and deal was on. On arrival no one in conservatory could sit anywhere no £20 offer menus so asked was told only available in restaurant we decided to choose off main menu anyway chicken and ham pie with chips . The meal came asked if there was gravy coming yes will bring some said waitress still waiting eat pie was only 2 small 1/2 inch pieces of chicken 3 even smaller ham and a bit of congealed white sauce frozen chips very dry vegetable was 2 pieces of broccoli 1/2 cut lengthways carrot 5 green beans . Price £19 99 The waitress returned only to clear plates said she asked chef for gravy but none made asked how was meal I said very poor she said she would talk to bar person who offer 20 percent discount or a new meal . My husbands meal was Welsh rabbit £10 95 and not any better. On a positive the garden was beautiful we were there on Thursday but not a sole in restaurant only 3 people in garden with 3 dogs eating and 1 other couple in bar eating if they keep serving food like this they won’t survive such a shame as in a beautiful place the hotel was lovely

As a follow up to the previous review this review is solely on the restaurant. Having stayed at the hotel many times and in that time given five star reviews on the food, sadly on this stay the quality seems to have taken a hit with the latest refurbishment. On our first evening we thought we would try the Cumbrian Menu, beware, the lamb hogget was one of the toughest pieces of meat we have ever experienced. Being aware that hogget is a one to two year old lamb I wasn’t expecting melt in you mouth lamb. What we both got was what I guess was a very tough and grisly knee joint without any flavour, most of it went back. On our second evening we played safe and had the roast sirloin of beef with all the trimmings. Well the toughness of the beef surpassed the hogget. It had obviously been cooked sous vide and then quickly seared. A cooking technique I use occasionally myself. Well all I can say is that somebody there needs lessons on how to do it, how sirloin can be so tough is beyond me. As for the Yorkshire pudding, it resembled the local Bowder Stone in shape at texture, inedible! Tenderstem so undercooked that it was still bitter. On collecting the almost full plates the waitress asked if all was okay. The above was pointed out, her response, ‘I’ll tell the chef’. If she did he didn’t even have the guts to come out and either apologise or defend his cooking. On the third night we’d given in went to the conservatory and had steak and chips and fish and chips. It was okay but not what we used to go the the Borrowdale to eat. My view is that there is an issue within the kitchen of the hotel, who knows what it is. Too much change for the chef on the change of menu? Incapable chef? But there is no doubt a problem and it has saddened me to write this review.

From booking to checking out it was faultless, booked, follow up call checking in all effortless. Food amazing and staff some of the best!! A credit to all.

Really great food, but super service on top of that. We weren’t residents but we’re staying nearby, they were very happy to seat 6 of us including 2 children at short notice. The staff were really friendly and a big thumbs up for David the general manager who arranged everything for us. We have returned on two more occasions and the service and food have been fabulous all 3 times.

We have just returned from a short break at The Borrowdale hotel. The room was very comfortable and the breakfasts were excellent. The staff couldn’t have been more friendly and helpful and they were all very welcoming to dogs. The hotel is well situated for numerous lovely walks and also a ferry stop. Thank you for a great stay.

great food.. highly recommend this hotel to eat even if you are not staying in the hotel. great food and service.

Beautiful location but the service was poor. No cutlery provided to eat with, no drinks menu, we had to keep going to the bar to order drinks, request for leftovers to be boxed up was ignored. Most of the food was very nice, but some was undercooked and inedible.

A trip for my husband Absolutely great that they allowed our 3 small dogs to go and the room was fab The food is spectacular The staff - all by one, were so friendly and helpful Great little walk nearby too Hidden gem that could look a little old fashioned but give it a go We would go back for sure

We stopped for lunch during a drive around the area. Superb staff and service and the food was excellent.

Great food in a great setting. The variety provided on the menu was also excellent with provision made for gluten free options on most dishes. The little touches with a small entree and a fish course make it extra special.

Nick looked after us from the moment we arrived, carrying our bags to our rooms. He was very attentive and professional.

We do like coming here to try the new menus which they seem to change regularly. My wife likes vegetarian options and there is always a good selection

Pre Christmas break - hotel very well looked after- fully decorated for Christmas. Rooms were clean and comfortable, everything provided and replenished each day. Breakfast was good with the usual assortment- no buffet service due to Covid. Coffee could have been a little hotter, but a minor point. Waitress was helpful and friendly, as was the cleaning girl

Food served at Dinner acceptable, but breakfast truly appalling. Worst breakfast ever experienced in any hotel in UK or abroad. Quality breathtakingly bad.

If there was a menu that i could choose all the options of courses! Also very accommodating for a family with dietary requirements. A very interesting and affordable wine list. Never had to wait for service.

Love this place, we call in after a long walk and have lunch. Good Choice of food, lovely sandwiches, and other food. Well presented good quality food, staff great, ambiance great.

Stopped booking at this Hotel because of the large number of dogs in the Hotel at our last visit. We have just returned and found the dogs were not too intrusive. However the Hotel was not full. I am allergic to cats and dogs so being in close proximity causes a problem. We booked a dog free room and had no effects. We are pleased we returned because the room was excellent and the food was most enjoyable. The Staff were very friendly although turnover was noticeable but not to the detriment of delivery of service. It is interesting that the Dining Room Manager has over 43 years experience here and it shows. Will return !

Nos alojamos en el hotel, así que aprovechamos el restaurante. Teníamos la comida de 4 platos y lo disfrutamos. Tuve la grupa de cordero que estaba cocinada a la perfección y mi marido tenía besugo que le encantó.Sin embargo, nadie nos dijo que fuera a buscar el té y el café después. Solo lo encontramos por accidente.

My sister and her husband had been here a couple of times recently and had really enjoyed it, we had all decided to get together for a family Sunday lunch so a table at the Borrowdale hotel was booked!I hadn’t been in for quite a few years so I was really impressed by the decor and refurbished that had taken place since then! It still retains the original old character and charm but with a fresh look to it!We sat in the bar area to meet up and order the food, there is a good choice of tasty dishes to choice from and we were soon escorted through to the dining room!Were our table awaited, Everyone enjoyed each course they had ordered and there was even a complementary glass of Prosecco as well!Service was awesome and very professional (Silver service!) After we had all eaten and cleared all the delicious food we retired through into one of the lounge rooms for tea and coffee!All in all the perfect Sunday lunch experience!Thank you Borrowdale hotel!

We stayed at the hotel for three days over Christmas and had all our meals in the restaurant. Christmas lunch and the other two dinners offered an excellent choice of dishes, as did the breakfast menu. Hot and cold buffets were offered at lunch (and Christmas day evening) as well. All the food we chose was superbly cooked and tasted delicious. Service was friendly and efficient. An excellent choice of wines and other drinks is also available.

Had lunch here with my family on Christmas Day , the staff were very helpful and friendly , the food was nice , the only thing I can complain about is one of our party was vegan and unfortunately there was nothing on the menu for her , we had let them know a week or so before that we had a vegan and vegetarian coming ,there for maybe should have had some thing on the Christmas menu ,they did manage to Russel up a dish for her , the rest of the food was very nice , and as I have said the staff were very nice hence the 5 stars , Hopefully will go again as this is a beautiful hotel with lots of potential ,

Stopped for lunch which we had by the fireplace in the bar area as this seemed the best atmosphere for a winter's day. There is also a much brighter conservatory. Food is very good - not cheap, and portion sizes reasonable. Reasonable choice of lunches including sandwiches, salads and hot meals.

We stopped off here hoping for Sunday Lunch despite being rather muddy and unkempt. We were welcomed to dine in either the restaurant or conservatory. We felt that we were better suited to the conservatory! An excellent 4 course lunch for plus coffee was enjoyed over a couple of relaxing hours. We wouldn't hesitate to return. Service was excellent.

Disappointed with our previous eatery in Borrowdale we chose today to go to this fine old Hotel for lunch. It seems to have been very tastefully up-graded since our last visit some time ago and seated in the conservatory was a pleasure.We both chose Fish Pie and were delighted with it, as also with the excellent vegetables. A creamy sauce, full of very fresh cod, salmon, prawns and other fish was topped with piped mash and cheese and grilled. Just right.

Nos hemos alojado aquí en varias ocasiones anteriores y sigue siendo una excelente elección de un lugar para alojarse en los lagos. Tuvimos un trato para la cena, alojamiento y desayuno, alojándonos en una de las habitaciones adaptadas. Están muy bien adaptados. Soy dependiente de una silla de ruedas y encontré todo ideal para mí. La comida es excelente, deliciosa y con una excelente selección de platos. Una mención especial para Cath, la camarera principal, es muy servicial y considerada, un verdadero activo para el hotel.

Tuvimos una excelente comida en el acogedor salón que admite perros. Podríamos haber elegido comer en el conservatorio. El servicio era excelente, el menú tenía una excelente variedad para elegir y el ambiente acogedor era perfecto. El hotel está perfectamente ubicado para hermosos paseos. Tuvimos una velada encantadora.

Trip Advisor me ha pedido que reescriba mi crítica original, ya que el hotel se ha quejado de que no se trataba de ellos, y que pensaban que mis comentarios eran injustos.

Visité el fin de semana. Nos alojamos en el anexo, la habitación era muy agradable, mucho espacio, limpio y la cama cómoda. El baño estaba limpio, buenas toallas suaves y mucha agua caliente, además de una buena ducha. El personal era muy amable y servicial. La comida era deliciosa. Tuve el huevo de pato en un nido de fideos de papa seguido de cordero que estaba muy tierno. Buena opción para el desayuno también. Nos hemos alojado en este hotel muchas veces durante los últimos 35 años y es cierto que su calidad bajó hace un tiempo, sin embargo, han trabajado duro y ahora están de vuelta en la cima de su juego. Esta es nuestra segunda visita este año y esperamos nuestra próxima visita.

Meet up with family and friends, a party of 20 for Sunday lunch.The lunch menu at £24.95 is excellent value, quality of the food, very good. The beef which many of us enjoyed was as good as it gets.

I am sorry to say we had a very poor dinner experience recently. We arrived at the hotel for dinner and could not understand the member of staff on the bar. White wine could have been a bit more chilled. Waited a long time to take order and to be shown to table. No bread in the bread basket which I assume is included in the price. Food was OK but nothing startling. Finished meal - went to lounge for coffee which never came (but was charged for). Staff need to cheer up a bit. Poor ambience, poor service, will not be going back.

Very well sized room with comfortable bed. The TV wasn’t working and the WiFi connection is poor. However the bath was great (especially after a long walk!) The food in the conservatory was delicious with a good selection of dishes. Excellent variety of foods for breakfast.

We enjoyed a lovely lunch of Cumbrian ham with apple chutney sandwich, smoked salmon sandwich , Brie and bacon sandwich. All beautifully presented and tasted delicious. Love this place, so peaceful and relaxing. The decor is beautiful too.

Family birthday meal. Lovely welcoming hotel and attentive staff. The meal was delicious, i had the locally caught fish with steamed pots and veg, and to finish sticky toffee pudding which was lovely and light. Altogether a lovely evening. Would like to stay there next time.

Decidimos comer aquí en la noche cuando estuve en Keswick y quedé impresionado en general.

Lovely setting with large comfortable lounge area and conservatory. Good quality food. Prices are the going rate.

Arrived Monday stayed till Friday, an excellent hotel, friendly staff ,lovely food and large comfortable room and bed . Very enjoyable stay, would definitely recommend Thank you Borrowdale Pat and Jim

Escogimos este hotel porque decía ser amigable con los perros y parecía estar bastante aislado y queríamos escapar de cualquier incendio. Me alojé 3 noches DBB en una habitación Prestige. Nos sorprendió un poco encontrar el hotel engalanado para Navidad, pero creó un ambiente acogedor en una tarde oscura y lluviosa.

Lovely situation with a very pretty conservatory overlooking the garden, a very pleasant place to have tea. We had an excellent dinner with good service. The breakfast was first rate and my coffee came with hot milk which was a nice surprise.

Just returned from a wonderful stay at this hotel. Was a bit dubious before we arrived because of recent negative reviews on this site but were extremely pleased to find these were all irrelevant. Staff and management were all very courteous and efficient, the room was very comfortable and had an amazing view over the lake, even tho we only paid for a standard room and every meal we had (breakfast, dinner and cream tea-Autumn break deal) was delicious. We had a fantastic experience and would definitely recommend to anyone.

We have stayed at this hotel twice now and can’t wait to return again, I really can’t fault it. It’s in a great location with many various walks starting straight outside the front door. The food and wine selection is excellent and the rooms are of a high standard. I was a little worried when I first booked as it welcomes dogs, which sadly I’m allergic to, but they have pet free rooms available. Love arriving back at this place after a long walk on the fells for a pot of tea and a scone. Hope to be back there again soon.

Stopped by after a long walk for a pint of Jennings. Good service and spotless toilets. Beautiful garden.

Just returned from an amazing Sunday lunch to celebrate my birthday. Great welcome on arrival by Cath and Reception. Lovely table for 2 reserved by the window as requested when booking.

Service was cold and not welcoming at all, long wait on mains (over 60mins).

My husband and I have been staying at the Borrowdale hotel for over 10 years and other than the restaurant (however the meals are always outstanding), the service has always been fantastic.

We had dinner here twice whilst on holiday and the food was excellent on both occasions. There were some lovley touches that made it feel special.

Popped in for a 'Superb Afternoon Tea' - great service and excellent food. Relaxing, comfortable, clean environment.

Lovely walks nearby, especially the board walk over the marshland. Very peaceful and the conservatory lovely.

Stayed here for a night after winning a photo competition run by the Lake District hotels group. The room was nice, as was the breakfast, but the evening meal was somewhat disappointing. We waited a long time for our main course to arrive, and the couple sat next to me finished the whole meal at the same time as us despite arriving an hour later. They brought us the wrong main course (beef stroganoff instead of the sole) and we had to ask multiple times for things like bread, butter and the wine menu. We were also not offered things like cranberry sauce which the couple next to us were. The food was very nice but the hotel/restaurant really needs to improve on their service before I return there. There was also a huge number of flies present in the restaurant area but I acknowledge that this is something which the hotel had minimal control over given the warm weather.

My family have been going to The Borrowdale for Sunday lunch for over 30 years so I requested the booking from my Father on a July 2018 visit from New Zealand. The Roast Beef menu option is served from the silver trolley and the Horseradish Sauce is the best I have tasted. There are several lunch menu options including the Roast Beef and the veggies are hand-served by the wait staff. Nice and traditional :-). Bottomless coffee/ tea is self-served after the meal so go wander and find the bar, one of the guest rooms or on the day we visited outside in the glorious sunshine!

Excellent food and excellent value, great service as well. Menu changes every night, could almost be considered fine dining.

After a day at Buttermere we ate in the conservatory which was lovely. The staff were very pleasant and the food was reasonably priced and good.

Great choice of menu that changes daily. Difficult to choose from it with so many possibilities. Good value 3 or 4 course a la carte menu. Silver service in the restaurant makes for a special experience although there are also bar/conservatory seating areas for less formal dining. Superb quality meals using local produce.

Still dog friendly, which is good. In a way wish it wasn't as then we'd have gone elsewhere and saved our money. Turned up for weekday lunch, and were the only customers. Had checked that morning that still dog-friendly and open for business etc. However was given no warning that the B5289 road from Keswick to Borrowdale was completely closed due to roadworks, necessitating lengthy detour. The (expensive) beer was either off or mixed with water from the pipes. My wife couldn't drink her shandy for the same reason. The Ribeye Steak (ordered medium but delivered rare) came with half a tomato and half a mushroom. NO other veg or greens at all, just some distasteful underdone chips. No sauces were offered (just gravy!). My wife asked for cutlery for her chips and was handed a fork by the waiter (who was clearly down with a cold) holding the prongs in his hand ! The meal was not cheap, and we were certainly not cheerful. HINT: 2 x Ribeye steaks, bigger and better, from M&S; for under £12, or two Ribeye steaks from Tesco/Morrisons for £7. Maybe we were just unfortunate that we went on a Monday and hand a stand-in "chef"?

Five booked for festive afternoon tea at 15:00hrs. Seated quickly then a 30 minute wait in the half empty conservatory. When the food arrived it was unceremoniously plonked on the table with the announcement "afternoon tea for five". No build up, no explanation of what the brown things were. Well let me tell you what we got. Sandwiches, thick sliced bread with little filling and crusts on, slightly stale and dry to touch. Smoked salmon with limp cucumber. Probably turkey and cranberry but could've been pork still undecided. Cheese with some kind of sweet stuff perhaps apricot chutney? No service, no top up no checking if everything was ok. Warm stollen bites were ok as were the scones. Xmas cake brownies and star shaped ginger biscuits. Some kind of brown swiss roll, and tiny choux eclaires. The Lemon posset was a pleasent passionfruit surprise, served in glasses without spoons. We used our teaspoons but they didn't reach the bottom of the glass. The waiter cleared the table next to us, no enquiries about our satisfaction or even if we wanted anything else.

Still in outdoor gear after a day up the crag, had a nice dinner in the bar. Service was friendly from our server though one of the other waiters was a bit offhand. Would go again

It's a beautifully positioned hotel with lovely staff were lovely. The menu was interesting, ambitious, good value and delicious. The dining room and conservatory was beautifully done up and full of character. Excellent veggie choice

Friendly hotel, good food (4 course evening meal, and good selection for breakfast), accepts dogs. We come here again and again.

We stayed for 3 nights dinner bed and breakfast. Had a perfect stay. We went for a walking break.

We made a return visit to the hotel after several years and spent a very enjoyable three day break. We took the disabled accommodation and can only describe it as perfect in design and comfort. The staff were helpful and friendly at all times. All the meals were excellent and you had a good. a range of choice and the dinner menu varied from day today. The bar also offered a good range of meals for lunch and in the evening for those who preferred a less formal atmosphere.

We stayed for one night at the hotel. We booked a dinner bed & breakfast package, at a discounted rate. We had a room on the ground floor which was quite nice, as a disabled room it was very spacious with a walk in shower.

This is a lovely place to stay, quiet and relaxing in lovely settings, the room was clean and had all...

Nos alojamos en el Hotel Borrowdale como parte de una aventura de REI. El histórico hotel está en un precioso entorno en el Lake District. La habitación era cómoda, y la comida era excepcional. Mi única queja fue que la conexión WiFi no llegaba a...

Mi amigo y yo estábamos en el Borrowdale habitual en la década de vuelta cuando eran jóvenes libres y individual. Comimos allí al menos dos veces al mes.

I ate here two evenings running last weekend, I was happy with my meals on each evening, although the menu was not that inviting, as a non resident, with not a lot of choice of places to eat for dinner around that area, it was easier to stick with what I knew. The service was good, and the eating area around the bar was comfortable too, my only negative was the meal was a little over priced for what it was, but this is a small point really, at least I was always made welcome by all the staff, which is more than could be said for other places around that area I tried to get a meal at.

We called for lunch at The Borrowdale & enjoyed good tasty food, the menu ranges from light bites to full meals. The hotel has a beautiful setting with views over lake & mountain. Aspects of it are old fashioned & there is a traditional air about the place but the conservatory where lunch is served is modern & pristine with a delightful outlook over garden. Service was attentive & polished, slightly formal even (indeed they still practice silver service at dinner). There was no music & the atmosphere was rather hushed with just the clink of cutlery on china until more diners filled the room. It's all rather charming & made for an idyllic venue for a long lunch on a glorious sunny day.

We went for Sunday lunch (again) and weren't disappointed. Friendly staff with the usual warm greeting, especially from the Restaurant Manager. Food is exceptional and well presented. You must go into the conservatory for coffee and mints with views over the fells. Nice touch by the management for small chocolate Easter eggs as well as after-dinner mints. Well done. Keep it up !!

We haven't stayed at the Borrowdale Hotel, but we have had a family afternoon team here. 2 of our grandsons go to Borrowdale School which is a short drive from the hotel, another goes to Keswick Grammar. We all met up to celebrate my birthday. We were later than the rest of the customers as we met after school, but this meant we had the conservatory to ourselves. The staff were extremely friendly and we all had a brilliant time. The food was great. Some of the sandwiches were a bit exotic for the children, but with a request before hand enabled the chef to make some children friendly sandwiches. Wonderful spot, lovely walk round the garden afterwards.

這次湖區之旅住的是一泊二食的飯店，原先計畫是想要體驗搭帳棚露營的，但夏天的住宿一位難求，連租帳篷營地都的銷售一空!最後找到了這間，環山面湖已經150年的老飯店，內部裝潢已做更新並保留了維多利亞特色，重點是包了早餐和5道菜的晚餐，很划算!

We have recently stayed at The Borrowdale Hotel for one of the Christmas Party nights. We were greeted this year by an extremely abrupt and surly receptionist who placed us in a very uncomfortable situation when providing our book in details. We have been visiting The Borrowdale for the Christmas Party Nights for fourteen years along with family and friends and arrived in a happy, upbeat mood as we always look forward to this night each year. We have come across this receptionist several times over the years and are almost relieved when we arrive to find someone else on the front desk. Thankfully there was a male receptionist also on the desk who presented uncomfortable with the situation and chose to take over. We went on to have a lovely night however and found all other staff very friendly and professional.

Our daughter and her friends recently spent an excellent afternoon at the Borrowdale Hotel, as a birthday treat, experiencing their fantastic festive afternoon tea. The exceptional service from all of the hotel staff, fantastic setting and range of offerings made for a memorable afternoon for 9 young ladies.We will definitely return to the hotel the next time we are back in Borrowdale and a massive thank you to the staff from two very impressed parents.

Have been a guest at this hotel for dome years now and this time been very disappointed. The room/service/staff/food excellent. Unfortunately for me there were far to many dogs in this hotel.. On our last night in the main lounge area there were ten all over the floor.All various sizes. Having enjoyed an excellent meal we were enjoying our coffee in the main lounge area and had the spectacle of a dog owner having his face licked by his dog.Going for a coffee on returning nearly being tripped over by a dog. We went to bed about 10.30 and heard a dog whining next door left alone in the room by it's owner. Visited the Lodore Falls nearby and heard dogs barking in the main lounge area.Judging by our experience Lake District Hotels have seen a niche market here and exploiting it!

It's nice to go away for a weekend and be totally pampered,from the moment we arrived I new this was going to be a good place just to kick back, and we were right. We will definitely go back, the staff are very obliging.

I stayed here while on a photography workshop in October and can gladly say I very much enjoyed the hospitality and service at this hotel. Part of the workshop meant having to get up at unreasonable hours but the staff made sure breakfast was available before we left each morning. We dined in the bar rather than the restaurant, and the staff were excellent! Very friendly and helpful and the food was delicious.I would recommend this hotel to anyone looking for a place to stay near Keswick (and the Lake District in general!)

Stayed here one night with my fiancée hotel itself very nice , location great with a bus stop outside for trips into Keswick. Im afraid the staff badly let this place down , on arrival into the bar we were faced with a very unhappy barman not a good start he really should get another job! Unfortunately this continued with service being very average, there is a lot of staff but don't seem to have any direction and indeed a bit uninterested at times.Thought this was a real shame as food and as said location great.

We called in for Sunday lunch whilst walking in the area (no reservation). Despite the fact that we were in our walking attire the friendly staff happily showed us through to the restaurant where a good four course lunch with silver service was available for just over £20 each. There was a handful of choices for each course. Starters and desserts were fairly traditional but the star of the meal was the very good roast dinners we enjoyed (beef and turkey with all of the usual accompaniments). The service was excellent throughout - professional, friendly and attentive. We would definitely recommend and would visit again when in the area.

We booked a 1 night stay through secretescapes.com and enjoyed tea and scones on arrival which were nice. We walked around the lake to get the launch into Keswick which was a pleasant walk and a good boat trip into town. The hotel is in a great location. The room and en-suite were nice. The restaurant was a little dated and I thought this might be reflected in the food however I was very wrong. Our starters were lovely and the steaks were perfectly cooked. By this point, pudding was completely unnecessary but it was yummy!The breakfast the following day was also lovely and there was plenty of it!

This is a lovely hotel in a fantastic setting. We found it quite by chance when we were driving over the pass and back into Keswick. We called in on the off chance and had tea in the garden on a beautiful sunny day. Afternoon tea isn't cheap but well worth the experience, A lovely location.

This was our 3rd visit to The Borrowdale Hotel. Location very good excellent for a good walk round the lake to Keswick. The bus stops outside the hotel and there is a launch service into Keswick.The room we had was very nice, but we did pay extra for the Lake View. The dining room was my disappointment in the hotel. No background music, so making it very quiet and lacking in atmosphere. My breakfast was an omelette (good job James Martin didn't see it!!!) I really could have cooked it better myself. The meals seem to be portioned on a budget as I was given 2 very small new potatoes, half a floret of cauliflower and 5 dwarf beans with my pork. This was the worst food I have ever had at this hotel......shame really.

Stopped for lunch and sat in the garden with our pet dog. Slightly off the beaten track but well worth the drive. This is the true Lake District, not what Bowness has become! Quiet,peaceful and dignified with superb views. Good,friendly service and very welcoming to the dog. She was treated like a guest! The garden setting was lovely and plenty of car parking. Of note,were the spotlessly clean toilets. Only slight downside...could have done with bigger portions, but,nevertheless,the food was delicious. We will repeat our visit on our next trip to the Lakes,and happily avoid the touristy and tacky areas that are spoiling this beautiful part of Great Britain.

Deliberately picked borrowdale hotel for week stay with our dog. Good price for 6 night stay. Room was a good size and ideally located near rear stairs to access car park and easy to keep our dog away from main part of the hotel as we didn't want to disturb other guests. Food was adequate and the breakfast selection could do with more choice. The two main criticisms would be that despite saying would could eat in bar and conservatory with our dog this wasn't allowed with the dinner menu which was part of the package deal. We ended up eating in our room each night. Our initial contact with reception was very poor. The lady on reception wasn't welcoming and made us feel uncomfortable when we asked about eating with our dog. Her attitude was that we were creating issues for her, maybe she would have preferred us leaving our dog in the room to potentially disturb other guests. George managed to redeem our opinion of the staff, he was obliging, professional and very polite. Most of the foreign staff had a very good level of customer service. We were disappointed as we had previously had a fantastic stay at the Ladore Falls hotel which is part of the same group. Would rate the borrowdale as 3 out of 5 and would have been higher if our first contact with the receptionist had been more positive, she has a very abrupt manner. Not entirely dog friendly as no real area to eat with dog if having the dinner menu. Adequate stay but will look for another hotel for next visit to Cumbria.

Restaurant had lovely food and brilliant staff but no atmosphere at all. All they needed to do was turn the lights down a little, add candles to the tables and it would be a totally different experience. As it was, it was like sitting in a 70's café.

Every day, the main menu changes and I missed the lamb on the first night we were there but didn't have to wait too long, got it finally before our stay was up! One of the choices is a joint carved from the Trolley at the table - different every evening and irresistable. Needless to say, we tried a good selection of what was on offer and couldn't fault a thing to my mind.A fantastic wine list complimented the food.The service is what one would expect in Restaurant of this standard, as well.Congratulations to the Chefs and Cath and her waiting staff.

This beautiful hotel serves lunch in the conservatory or in the garden. No need to dress up-hikers and dogs are welcome too. The lunch menu is excellent value, and on Fridays a variety of fresh fish dishes are on offer -when we were there this included loin of cod, plaice, bream, swordfish-all for under £11.

Don't be put off by the restaurant dress code as the alternative conservatory is a lovely venue overlooking the garden. Waterproofs and boots were made to feel welcome here! Beautifully cooked food - superb lamb on couscous for me cooked just right. If you like big meals then just get some extra chips - well worth paying a bit more for this quality.

We sat in a lovely glassed in area that featured view of the garden. It added to the overall exquisite atmosphere. We were delighted with our food choiced (lamb & fish) as well as wiht the desserts.

I was staying with friends locally who took me to lunch here. We had arrived on this side of Derwentwater by ferry from Nichol End on the other side and walked up from the Lodore landing. A nice way to sharpen the appetite for lunch! The hotel is in a lovely setting with well-kept gardens surrounded by typical Lake District scenery. At this point, you are beyond the end of Derwentwater so it's not on the lake - but you get to see plenty of that while out and about, so no matter. I was more interested in the food and it did not disappoint. We had a table in the airy conservatory overlooking the gardens - tables beautifully set, and very comfortable. The lunch menu had something for everyone, from sandwiches to sole and everything in between. This was reflected in our choices- one of us had a Caesar salad, one the Dover sole and I had a veal escalope. My veal was cooked nicely- no horrid breadcrumb coating, just lovely moist pink meat. It was served with beetroot - interesting and it worked well - and a morel sauce of which there was just enough if, like me, you don't like your food swamped. We were all pleased with our choices, and noted those at other tables tucking in with pleasure. Service was professional and prompt both at the bar beforehand and during lunch. We enjoyed an excellent bottle of Pinot Noir from Romania- not typical but delicious all the same. My companions had tried it on a previous occasion, so what may seem an odd choice came with their endorsement and they were gratified by my enjoyment of it too. The full wine list is extensive and very interesting if you are into your wine. When the bill came I thought it very reasonable. We repaired to the bus stop right outside the hotel for a ride into Keswick and, after a wander around the town, we took the walk through the fields back to home to Portinscale, replete and content.

We arrived a little before noon so we had to wait in the reception area for the bar to open, but we took advantage of the hotel's free wi-fi to pass the time. The bar dining area was tastefully decorated and comfortable. Service was a little slow even though there were only three couples dining and/or having drinks. We had the lasagna and the stuffed Cumbrian chicken with asparagus and potatoes and were pleased with both. The price wasn't too bad. An excellent place to have a quiet, delicious lunch on your journey through the Lake District.

First a word about the many foreign staff. They are excellent, humble, willing to learn, industrious, friendly and thoughtful...with one exception...but that's for later.The location is excellent in a great area for walking but you should know it is not on the lake, despite being nearby. It is also a great base for setting out by car in the northern lakes.We were warmly greeted on arrival, but the first thing you notice, stood at reception is the stale damp smell, presumably due to so many walkers returning from the rain over the years.There is no lift. Our room was tired, cramped and old-fashioned.We booked a DBB break, which has the delightful bonus of free afternoon tea (well, scones jam and cream...)Having spent much of the day driving and walking, we decided to rest, read and relax in the sunshine outside, surrounded by typical Lake District hills.Having changed for dinner (which we had pre-booked for 7.30pm), we decided to sit in the conservatory, where there are many tables that you can sit at and soak up the warmth and sunshine.It seems likely that some people have lunch or a snack there. We decided to drink the excellent value house champagne. But then things went downhill.Having seen the menu outside the restaurant, I had already decided by the time we sat down for our drink at 6.50 that I fancied the Dover Sole.We sat and we waited and we drank and nobody came to offer us a menu. People were coming into the inside lounge and having their orders taken. A couple who came into the conservatory after us had their orders taken.Finally, after 35 minutes, at 7.25, the waitress asked us if we would like a menu. When she returned to take our orders she informed me she had just sold the last Dover Sole.What is the point of asking us what time we want dinner when we booked if nobody seemed remotely interested in where we were or what we wanted.I mentioned all this to the Restaurant Manager, who was solicitous, had a word with the waitress concerned and that was it.The food is competent and unpretentious and we enjoyed it. Breakfast was also typically Cumbrian the next day.When we checked out we were asked if everything was OK and related the story again, so it was obvious the feedback had not been passed on.So I'm afraid we won't be returning here either. There are many excellent hotels in the lLake District. This one has to up tts game.

From the afternoon tea on arrival, the great dinner menus & delicious breakfasts, cooked to order, this was a good three day break.You can't fault the staff, they were all brilliant & seemed to enjoy their jobs. We were there for the walking, with the dog & all of us enjoyed the experience. There is a £10 per night charge for the dog. Downside? Well the room was on the second floor with no lift so many trips up & down. The room was fine, if a little small & had a sliding bathroom door which made rather a lot of noise. The really strange thing for a hotel with doggy guests was that there was no outside bin for the poo bags.Overall though, a really nice hotel.

From stepping inside on our arrival and until we left this place was fantastic, food "to die for", accomodation first class and staff were brilliant.Excellent lounge to relax in and could not pick a prefered meal as selection changed each day and choices were faultless. 5 star Chefs.

Having just returned from our third visit in as many years to this fabulous hotel we felt we needed yet again to post a review.This hotel can not be faulted. It provides a perfect base from which to explore this part of the Lake District. You can even purchase a book of walks from Reception many of which start and finish within yards of the Hotel door. We made good use of the "drying room" on our return from walking around Derwent Water on a particularly wet day. On each of our stays we have been given a different room, all of which have proved to be warm, comfortable, clean and well equipped. The bathroom facilities are all of a good standard and well stocked with all the necessary toiletries.The standard of service in the restaurant is exemplary, it is gratifying to find a place where things are done "properly" . The menu changes daily a wide selection for each course, with something to please everyone. The staff could not be more pleasant, courteous, friendly and well mannered.We can not recommend this hotel strongly enough to, it is a jewel in the Lake Districts crown.

This hotel is one of the friendliest in the area, the staff are not just seasonally but they return year after year therefore you can expect the usual high standards you are delighted to receive on your visit, every time you go back.

Me and my partner decided to visit the Borrowdale Hotel after recommendation from a work colleague. We both had drinks and three courses which were all fantastic. To start I had a spicy prawn salad which was indeed very spicy but not too much for me, it was perfect size for a starter and had a very fresh and tasty salad. My partner had creamy leek and potatoe soup which he really enjoyed. For our mains I had crusted salmon with saffron potatoes and vegetables which was delicious, my partner had braised fillet of beef with fondant potato and vegetables, there wasn't a thing left on the plate apart from a few mushrooms which he doesn't like anyway. I'm not entirely sure what he had for dessert but I had a fruit platter with yogurt, it came with a great selection of fresh tasty fruit and a lovely pot of plain yoghurt. All in all I've got to say the meal was absolutely delicious and definitely worth the price and dangerous journey to get there (it was snowing heavily between Carlisle and keswick, so had to drive very slowly).The staff were very attentive and couldn't have done more for us, even though we phoned and told them we would be a little late because of the snow they were still very accommodating and held our table for us until we arrived. Will definitely return to the borrowdale hotel again!!

A revised Christmas do, delayed because of the floods. A lesson in how to serve a large party with excellent food in a professional and efficient manner, well done to all the staff.

We have eaten here on several occasions - for afternoon tea, and most recently for Sunday Lunch. There is a wide choice of traditional dishes with each course, beautifully cooked, with silver service from very pleasant staff. The number of local residents eating there is an indication of regular good quality and ample helpings. Do try the Borrowdale - it is a delightful experience.

My boyfriend and I had a really lovely stay here at The Borrowdale Hotel. The rooms were cozy and modern and the hotel itself had a really cozy feel to it. We had a 3 course dinner in the restaurant which was lovely and also a breakfast in the morning which was nice. The bar area is great to relax in after dinner. Lovely location. Would recommend for a weekend break.