The Ilex Bar and Brasserie in South Lakeland

We stayed nearby and ate here one evening for the pop up pizza .. it was a good decision The location was lovely , the staff were really welcoming and the food good . Pizzas a bit too cheesy but great dough Maybe a veggie one other than plain would be a good idea for the future ..

A Party of 4 staying in Dove Cottage on the Estate. We visited The Ilex Restaurant for Breakfast, Buns only but were good, Scones fresh from the oven and delicious. Only negative, it would have been good to have a full breakfast with staying on the Estate but perhpas there's not the call for it. Saturday Evening The Bess & Barrel Pop Up Bar was open with Live Music and had Pizza which was superb, clearly fresh with a large crusty very light base. Ben the Pop Up Bar and Restaurant Manager was extremely helpful and friendly with faultless Service. All the staff were wonderful and friendly, Victoria who had been very helpful as we entered the Hall Gardens, and others even came over to have a friendly chat with us after they had finished their shifts and were on a night out themselves. All in all a very lovely weekend break and experience.

We came to the Craft Fayre at Holker Hall on Sunday. Outside the brasserie came some lovely aromas from a stall that was cooking lamb koftas and cajun chicken kebabs. We ordered 2 of the latter. My girlfriend had a half lager and I had a can of San Pellegrino - £5 and £2.50 respectively. Never mind - the kebabs were going to be awesome, right?! They arrived and smelt great. Then I tucked in. There was a watery mess under the pitta (tzatziki I think but literally as runny as water). The coriander was fresh and fragrant, the harrissa paste tasted good and then in the heart of the kebab was the blandest, cheapest cuts of what tasted like flavourless boiled chicken. £7.95 for each kebab and mine had a bit of gristle in it. I don't think I've ever had gristle in chicken before?! My girlfriends had chicken skin in it. We had a few mouthfuls and then left them there and walked off. A massive disappointment.

Having just spent around 2 hours in the Gardens we popped into the Bar for lunch. My wife had the soup of the day served with sourdough bread which I had Coronation Chicken sandwiches and salad. Perfectly adequate on a warm day. Afrer lunch it was back to the Gardens .......

Pleasant light lunch in relaxing atmosphere. Sat outside with very good service and food. Will be back over autumn and winter. A bit of relaxation in a mad world. One to travel to but worth it. Lovely view, gardens and house.

Called in today for lunch sat out side and as it was table service only I was pleased to see that the staff were very attentive and observant. I had the fish and chips, which was excellent and good value for money.I recommend this venue happily.

Sunday Lunch at the Ilex had been recommended and we accepted a 1:30 booking as it was full for 1:00 starts. The ambiance is very pleasant and the service too. Prawn cocktail looked good with salad from the Hall garden, but the prawns were bland. Roast beef from lauded local butcher Higginsons looked good too, on top of a pile of vegetables and with Yorkshire pudding beside. The meat was more than a challenge for our teeth and even for the serrated knives, beans less than al dente and Yorkshires chewy too. A lot of our food went back, and we accepted the offer to charge us for one main course rather than two. Would the sticky toffee pudding lift the ending? No, not really as it was on the dry side, and the sauce couldn’t lift it enough. When Sunday Lunch is so competitive, the Ilex needs to live up to the standards of the delightful Holker Hall that hosts it.

Title says it all really! We’d never been to Holker before so it was lovely to see the house and garden. The brasserie is a very calm and contemporary place to have a sit down meal or we also saw a pop up pub and pizza option in the courtyard if you’re wanting something less formal and the sun is shining!Ben was attentive with service. The food was simply delicious. Generous portions for a fair price and a children’s menu was available (though ours just had a smaller portion of the roast). Perfect pink roast beef and the roasted vegetables from Holker’s own kitchen garden were divine. Hopefully more will discover this place - a bit off the usual Lake District beaten track but it’s really worth the journey!

Stopped at the cafe before visiting the garden. On display were some incredibly green (and large) wild garlic scones. These are amazing - quite rustic with bits of green leaf here and there, with an intense flavour. Absolutely delicious.We saw others enjoying a full lunch together with a bottle of wine - this seemed quite popular.Good range of teas and coffees available.

A lovely, smart but casual place - think bright and airy but with dogs welcome. We visited on a Sunday with just the Sunday lunch menu on. It was so tasty, especially the roast itself. Plus you really must try the White Chocolate Blondie - a favourite of the Lord and Lady we were told. The team are really welcoming, that great balance of friendly but not intrusive. Well worth a visit if you're anywhere nearby.

Eaten here a couple of times. In the evening serves high quality a la crate food in very nice surroundings. Visited for the winter market and had a good value buffet again in very nice surroundings. BUT the staff are amazingly helpful and pleasant. Can’t do enough for you. Whilst there an elderly lady came in to eat and had mobility challenges. The staff (two young men) were outstanding, careful , thoughtful and couldn’t do enough for the very appreciative lady. Well done and will definitely be back. All staff are a credit to this excellent country home, gardens and various events over the year. Make this towards the top of your list. Well done.

I'm used to visiting stately homes and normally the food can be ok but nothing special. We visited Holker hall today and to begin with we were impressed with how smart the Ilex Brasserie dining room looked. I have various allergies and enquired if they could do anything for me. They really couldn't have been more helpful. Ben, who was our excellent host informed me that all food was cooked from fresh and as long as we didn't mind a short wait, most of the dishes could be adapted to my needs. This was a great start but improved even more when the food arrived, in my case a vegan risotto. I am half Italian so I do worry about ordering risotto, but I should not have been. It was lovely, as was my mothers dish. The gentle background jazz was a great backdrop to this excellent meal. We were even offered vegan ice creme to follow. As a plus you can visit the restaurant without paying to visit the hall itself. Five stars...

Looks like the afternoon tea is something very special,,,,,, quite massive!Lots of variety and different tastes to tempt the taste buds.

Saturday 4 August The Pop Up Pizza was closed at 7pm as a private event was going on. It was excellent two week before but for us to go to the trouble of turning up hoping for a pizza was very annoying.

I came here today for a family meal and the food was lovely. I thoroughly enjoyed my roast lamb dinner and my smoked salmon on toast and the desserts were fantastic.

The booking was handled efficiently and politely. Service was prompt and efficient. The surroundings were attractive.

Bearing in mind we visited when a food fair was on and the fact that they have their own deli and shop I was thinking the food would be super tasty. In reality the jacket potato was completely over cooked and rock hard on the bottom, the chilli was made with weird ground meat and there wasn’t a lot of it, the bacon fat hadnt been crisped at all and was rubbery and the sausages were extremely dry. The only plus was that the pot of tea was lovely. Not somewhere I’ll be visiting again for food though the gardens of Holker Hall are beautiful and well worth a stroll... The price seems a little steep though (£8 admission).

We booked in for the "Christmas Meal" on the 24 Nov 2017, this was advertised locally as a 3 course with a welcome drink on arrival.

The Ilex Bar and Brasserie always delivers a good afternoon tea. All items really fresh and delicious with good quality teas on offer. Staff attentive and friendly. A great way to spend a pleasant afternoon.

Quality a la cart food, nice surrounding with good service. I would say it can be very quiet. Especially Friday night when the holler holiday site is changing over. But if you like it quiet then this could be the place for you. Worth a visit

We booked here because everywhere else in Grange Over Sands was fully booked and I’m very glad it was. We had a lovely evening with a great menu and I ate things I wouldn’t have normally tried and I’m very glad I did because the food was lovely. The Waiter Max was really charming and the ambience was perfect. I cannot believe this place isn’t packed out, the setting is beautiful and the menu is very fairly priced for the quality and presentable of the food. Will definitely be visiting this hidden charm again.

Booked here for afternoon tea. The food was simply delicious with plenty of good tea to wash it down. The staff are very attentive and friendly. Well worth a visit

Found the Brasserie by chance when at Holker Hall having a cup of tea in the courtyard.We booked for the friday night,it only has limited nights open.The menu is small but should suit most tastes.The surroundings are lovely,the food well presented and tasty.The young waiter,Rohan is a credit to the place,he was friendly,helpful and well trained.It wasn't very busy which is a shame as good places to eat in the evenings are limited in the area,we hope it does well and think it should be promoted more with much more advertising.

Had lovely meal here , and returned in Courtyard and Restaurant with group friends. Staff very attentive, food lovely,fresh, tasty. Sun was shinning down on us. Pretty place offering many attractions. A must Food Hall where delicatessen food can be purchased for gifts or home. Lovely gift shop also offering bags, kitchenware, gardening, children's ware,books etc. Recommended dish Crayfish and Prawn salad. Roast Beef sandwiches, many more lovely choices in Cafe. Don't forget wonderful gardens, and House to visit.

We booked for a family of 12 for a 50th wedding anniversary. The service was amazing.

Been meaning to try Ilex for a few months

My husband and I had dinner on Friday evening with my parents and it was by far the nicest meal we’ve eaten in the lakes. The food was sublime; fresh, delicate and delicious – no sign of a Cumberland sausage or ham hock terrine on the menu – a revelation!

Whilst visiting the house and gardens at Holker Hall we decided to stay for lunch at the Ilex having been tempted by the menu; and what a good decision.

Visited Holker Hall with good friends and had a really lovely lunch at The Ilex Brasserie. Food was great and the service excellent. Especially from Mr J.Hothersall! 👍

We had been wanting to try the brasserie for some time after being regular visitors to the Holker estate for the last few years. We booked a table on a Friday night and upon arrival the restaurant was busy and had a relaxed ambience. We were shown to our table and immediately given menus by the friendly waiter who couldn't have done more to make us feel at ease and welcome. we were given some cucumber

Had afternoon tea with my best friend and it was wonderful. The setting was stunning, smelt so good as there was a huge vase of lillys and every table had flowers on. The staff were really friendly and offered excellent service. The afternoon tea was the best ive ever had. The sandwiches were flavoursome and really fresh. I loved the fact that the cakes and scones were homemade not only did they look amazing they tasted it. Definetly reccomend and im going to go back in the next few weeks

This venue is an excellent restaurant for afternoon tea. Really fresh and good quality cakes and sandwiches. The Islex Brasserie is a beautifully decorated room with a lovely atmosphere.

We are a family of 5 with three children (7,5,2) and were made to feel most welcome in the lovely relaxing Ilex brasserie. We were served by Ben who was very attentive and made an extra effort to ensure the children's needs were taken into consideration. Our afternoon tea kicked off with a tasty shot of warm tomato soup, followed by a delicious selection of sandwiches, scones and cakes, all of first class standard. The Holker Blend coffee was lovely, children had apple juice and we also were given a large jug of ice cold water, most welcome on a warm day. Highly recommended.

We were staying in the Cartmel area for the weekend and had visited the delightful Holker Hall on the Saturday. Whilst getting some refreshments at the cafè (which is very good) we noticed the adjacent Ilex Brasserie and decided to book a meal for the evening.

Think this restaurant is possibly trying too hard, but not quite delivering. The food was all very tasty and well cooked (well the main course anyway, as that was the only cooked course) but portions were meagre. Small is fine if it's blow your socks off food, but this was just 'nice'.

Visited here with our local Gardening Club, a whole bus full of us. Although we had just ordered Soup & Sandwiches everything was delicious and the service was fast & efficient.

14 of us in a family party came here for Sunday lunch after reading all these excellent Trip Advisor reviews. Maybe we picked an off day, or maybe lunch is not as good as dinner. The menu selection and food itself would have been fine except for so many lapses below expectation that we have to rate it average at best. The soup and the crayfish starters were really excellent, but the duck breast starter was tiny and tasteless by comparison. The main Sunday lunch dishes of beef and chicken were again excellent, but the fish alternative was dreadfully over cooked, or had dried out after a very long time waiting on a hot plate. Our sweets were all good, but the filter coffee was dreadful. The service was inexperienced and slow, and much of the food was no longer hot when it reached us. When we ventured to voice our concerns, the young head waiter clearly did not know how to manage criticism. I am sorry to be critical, but a lot of small improvements are called for.

Me and my partner visited The Ilex recently after seeing a leaflet in the Cafe when visiting recently and decided to book a table and pleased to say we weren't let down! The food was delicious and the service was impeccable! Will definitely be returning!

Fantastic evening spent at the Ilex with excellent food and service. The setting is beautiful and the evening relaxed with plenty of time to enjoy the dinning experience. Staff attentive and friendly but not intrusive. Would highly recommend a visit.

First time at this venue and really amazed that this restaurant isn't bombed out! You must come here - the food is gorgeous, the ambience is spot on and the staff are great. I'll be back 😊

We went to The Ilex Brasserie for dinner on 1st April at the suggestion of the receptionist at Holiday Property Bond in nearby Grange over Sands and we were very pleased we had done so. Ilex had not long re-opened following the winter closure of the whole Holker Hall estate so there were not many other customers, which was a pity given the very high quality of the food and the very reasonable pricing (compared to Aberdeen especially). The ambience was nevertheless good and the service was excellent: if there is any justice in business they deserve to be very busy again soon.

I had the pleasure of visiting the beautiful Ilex Bar & Brasserie recently. This newly discovered gem is nestled seamlessly in the gorgeous, historic Holker Estate Courtyard and sits next to its partner sister The 'Courtyard Cafe'. This alluring eatery opened its arched, Georgian style doors on our sunny evening, to the stunning views across the Holker gardens, turned golden by the setting sun. On our excited arrival, we were welcomed by a smart, friendly, professional team lead by Ben the restaurant Manager, and shown to our table. Drinks orders were swiftly taken and I was delighted at the choice of Gins on offer! The Menu was a small (easy) delicious choice of locally sourced, freshly prepared delights and for my starter I chose the 'Goats Cheese Mousse served with sweet Roasted Beetroot & Brioche... it was sublime. For my Main I chose, the Pheasant Breast in Plum sauce served with local roasted root vegetables.. delicious and a long overdue return to 'game'. Soft Jazz played somewhere in the background complementing the relaxed ambiance. Whilst taking in the decor, the term 'quirky' came to mind, contemporary furnishings and soft accent lighting mingled with Vintage touches throughout. Items from the historic Holker Hall, the Cavendish family home have been relocated into the restaurant adding to a relaxed homely feel too! As time went on the Brasserie filled with Romancing couples, a group of eight local jolly, sixty somethings, who told us they now love this local gem, a few groups of four and a lovely chap who regularly dines on his own here, due to the relaxed ambiance and the friendly team. The service was attentive, food delicious and wine choice, small again but superb. At the surprising but inexpensive cost of £20 for two courses or £25 for three, I came away thanking all for a wonderful evening, totally enjoyed by myself and my friend. Staying locally and on the advice of Ben we returned next morning to enjoy coffee & breakfast outside in the delightful courtyard. A young couple were having a meeting on the next table and we couldn't help overhear their excitement at planning their wedding at the Ilex! Wow, looking around the quad with the gardens beyond and the beautiful clock tower above us I couldn't help think how wonderful it would be to be married here in this glorious setting! After a full English and yummy coffee, all locally sourced again, we wished the young betrothed all the happiness and good luck for sunshine on their special day and reluctantly left our haven to get back to reality. I simply cannot wait to return!

Saw the fizz fridays advert and went along for the first time. Food was great, with choice on the set menu, we ended up having the 3 course. Great value with entertainment thrown in!

10 of us spent Mothers Day at the Ilex this year and it was fabulous. Everyone really enjoyed the meal and the service was excellent even accommodating a very fussy 11 year old! Beautiful location, relaxing and friendly.

Had a wonderful meal with friends on one of their theme nights. Most of the waiting staff, but not all, were friendly and efficient. The food was of a good quality and the entertainment was excellent. Will definitely return.

We had a meal here on Friday night on the recommendation of a neighbour we were not disappointed. We ate early so initially we were the only two in the restaurant however we could see plenty tables were booked. We were greeted by a very nice young man who took our drinks order whilst we looked at the menu. Being the festive season the menu was tailored this way. I had the spiced parsnip and apple soup and my husband the duck both were very tasty and generous amounts. Mains we had braised beef and the Cod again very well presented and cooked full of flavour. We were very naughty and choose a desert something we don't normally do Christmas pudding and white sauce and Cranberry, Chestnut and Rum frangipane both again very nice we finish with coffee and a mince pie - wow were we full

Take the time relax in the diningroom. Ther e is a good menu with food nicely serasoned and attractively presented.

We visited on Friday evening (21 October) and although the restaurant was quiet we had a really fabulous meal with excellent service. The cheese bombs were to die for and the tempura king prawns were excellent. For main course the Asian poached cod was very well presented and tasted as good as it looked and the venison loin was just cooked to perfection and melted in your mouth.

A nice find for a very good fixed price lunch when visiting Holker Hall. Slow cooked beef and a nice lump of salmon plus a couple of excellent starters made our day. Well priced, lovely surroundings, good service. We will definitely go again as it was well worth the visit to have such lovely food. Well done The Ilex!

The Ilex is very modern,and presents as well as the food. We had lunch in a very quiet restaurant though the cafe was busy. Excellent food

A superb meal, top quality food in very pleasant surroundings, imaginative starters followed by superb mains.We had the duck which was excellent. We visited on a Friday evening and it was very quite, it deserves to be busier.

Excellent food and very friendly service. We had Sunday lunch. I had slow cooked Cumbrian rolled shin beef served with mashed and roasted potatoes and a variety of veg. Followed by chocolate mousse topped with salted caramel. Both courses were awesome. I highly recommend a visit. The decor of the restaurant is very cosy.

We had lunch here following our dash round the gardens in the pouring rain. We found it to have been beautifully transformed, warm and welcoming. The waiter was a lovely chap, he was friendly and made us feel very welcome. The food was very tasty and there was a good wine selection. A fabulous addition to the hall and gardens.

Beautifully cooked food and nice appropriate portion size. Tempting menu and good wine and drinks selection. All served in lovely location by friendly, helpful but not intrusive staff. Will certainly return.

We decided to try the new bistro at Holker Hall for an evening meal. The menu changes weekly according to what is available and fresh. Cheerful, attentive, but unpretentious service and delicious food. When my steak was slightly undercooked, it was whisked away and returned perfectly done. All too often if you send back an undercooked steak it returns overdone with the rest of the food cold, not the case in this restaurant. We look forward to returning soon.

My husband and I decided to eat out for a change, a little fed up of bar meals we decided to go the The Ilex.

Lovely place with a lovely atmosphere food good also and staff very helpful and friendly will return when ever in the area

We, four ladies, booked the Ilex to celebrate a special birthday. The atmosphere was relaxed and the young man attending us very attentive.

Visited the Ilex Brasserie for afternoon tea to celebrate a special day.

We returned to the lovely Ilex restaurant after being blown away by the quality of both food and setting on our first visit the week before. Not only does the Brasserie occupy the idyllic grounds of Holker Hall, but its thoughtfully cooked, fresh local food, calm ambience also makes for a truly lovely, relaxed family meal out. On each occasion we were treated to succulent, sweet lamb cutlets, fresh Morecombe Bay brill, (both stunning), and polite, efficient, unobtrusive service in a beautifully clean, ambient setting in the calm setting of Holker Hall. Go and relax and enjoy the Cumbrian fayre with family and friends in a peaceful setting near Cartmel.

We booked a table for three people today and upon arrival the restaurant was empty which was disappointing in the middle of the holiday season! We ordered drinks 2 glasses of wine one should have been a Verdejo but I'm convinced I was given another white wine. The menu special fish of the day was deep fried haddock and the alternative was a smoked haddock. The starter of crab and spring onion fish cakes were ok but looked manufactured and were quite bland.

Visited the Ilex with visiting friends on Saturday night. Beautiful place and ambience, and superb attention to detail but without pretentiousness or being unnecessarily stiff.

We have been three or four times for Sunday lunch and also for Evening meal on Saturday. The standard of service is first class and the ambience is very relaxing in gorgeous surroundings. The food is high class English with style and is well presented. The menu is not extensive but usually provides meat, fish and vegetarian alternatives with variety of starters and delicious sweets.