The Lodore Falls Hotel in Borrowdale valley is celebrating its latest achievement – gaining AA four start status.

The AA Inspector awarded the extra star to Stephen Johnson, General Manager at the end of this week’s visit, commenting on the quality of the customer service and use of local produce in the menu as just two of the reasons for their success.

The hotel was bought in 2004 by the Graves family who own the ‘Lake District Hotels’ group. They immediately set about a major £2 million refurbishment programme aiming to re-instate the hotel’s top quality status.  Every bedroom has been refurbished, the entire ground floor has been redeveloped and new facilities have been added – including a Beauty Salon and Café Culture – somewhere to enjoy lighter dining in a relaxed atmosphere.

Attention to detail has continued outdoors, with award winning gardens that include the stunning Lodore Falls and a new outdoor hot tub from which to enjoy the views.

Stephen Johnson said “this is recognition for the Lake District Hotels Ltd commitment to the Lodore Falls Hotel; both in terms of the refurbishment investment and the support we have received to build and maintain a very professional team of hotel staff. We are proud of our customer service achievements and the quality of the dining experience we provide.

Our Head Chef Mike Ward has been here for over 30 years and his culinary skills, focus on local ingredients and dedication to building a first class kitchen team are clear to see. The food he produces and the reputation he has built highlights our ethos and commitment to providing excellent service and I know he has enjoyed seeing all levels of quality improving since the years of corporate ownership.”

Kit Graves, Director of Lake District Hotels Ltd said “It has always been part of our plan to have a four star hotel in our portfolio and we are delighted that staff continuity, commitment to training and customer service has been recognized. We can now play host to most Lake District visitors – from those looking for an informal coaching inn to guests seeking a top class hotel with spa facilities.

It is our strong foundations and group revenue that supports the continued development in all our hotels. This success is great news for everyone, both in terms of benchmarking and to demonstrate the benefits and strengths of the group working as a team.”

Anyone interested in finding out more about the Lodore Falls Hotel should contact Stephen Johnson on 017687 77285 or visit http://www.lakedistricthotels.net/lodorefalls

Goosemire Cottages are excited to announce the launch of one new property and one refurbished property within their portfolio.

Firstly their exciting new property is the Castlerigg Farm Cottage at beautiful Armathwaite in the Eden Valley. Castlerigg Farm Cottage is part of a Georgian farm house on a working farm. On a clear day you can see panoramic views of Blencathera, Carlisle, The Lake District and The Pennines. This takes Goosemire Cottages property portfolio to 46 offering properties that sleep from 2 people right up to 10.

The refurbishment and updating of self catering properties is extremely important both for safety, guest enjoyment and to keep up with the large competition of Lake District self catering cottages. Goosemire understand the importance and have carried out extensive refurbishments on their Helm Cragg property in Grasmere. Helm Cragg has been fully decorated throughout with new furnishings including Italian leather sofas and Laura Ashley soft furnishings, a new bathroom and new bedroom and dining room furniture. The breathtaking views from the living room of the lake and fells are now matched by the quality interior.

Goosemire Cottages are a small family run agency offering holiday cottage accommodation in the Lake District, UK (with just a few exceptions) an all-inclusive rental price. Their limited overheads mean low prices and they pride themselves on their value for money approach. There are open all year round and offer out of season or last minute breaks. To help you relax, Goosemire Cottages adopts a “nothing is too much trouble” approach, ensuring a welcoming, informed and personal service. On arrival you will find your cottage carefully prepared, to give your holiday a perfect start. In fact from the point of your initial inquiry onwards they guarantee they will give both you and your holiday the warm friendly attention deserved.

Goosemire Cottages have available 46 traditional self-catering holiday homes for discerning visitors. Most are rustic 17th or 18th Century Lake District cottages or lovely barn conversions.

For further information on the areas, availability and prices of all 46 cottages visit http://www.goosemirecottages.co.uk or telephone 01539 731 801.

The Lodore Falls Hotel raised £700 at a “Lancashire Ladies Luncheon” which was presented in a very poignant fashion to Keswick Mountain Rescue Team.

Stephen Johnson, General Manager at the Lodore Falls hotel decided to raise funds for the Keswick Mountain Rescue because of a very dramatic rescue concerning two of the hotel guests.  Trudy Edgar and her husband Tom became stuck under a 70 ft tree trunk after a freak accident up the mountain behind the hotel. It took Keswick Mountain Rescue, RAF helicopter, local police, fire and ambulance service to rescue her.

The money raised at the Lancashire Ladies luncheon was presented to Keswick Mountain Rescue by Stephen Johnson who invited Trudy Edgar to come along to help present the check and meet some of her rescuers again.

Trudy, who lives locally still loves coming back to stay at the hotel “It is a magical place. I have stayed in some fantastic places all over the world but the Lodore Falls is still one of my favorites – you could be in any luxury location and it’s only 30 minutes from home. What makes it special is the fantastically friendly customer service, the lovely food and a simply stunning location. The fact that the Lodore staff where part of my rescue team only makes me love the place even more”.

Summing up the presentation, Stephen said “The Lodore Falls Hotel regularly supports the Keswick Mountain Rescue Team because we often see them traveling up the valley to help people. It is unusual for us to have such first hand knowledge and we will certainly continue to support them in the future.”

Anyone interested in organizing charity events at Lake District Hotels Ltd Lodore Falls Hotel should contact Stephen Johnson on 017687 77285 or visit http://www.lakedistricthotels.net

The launch of the new dining room at the Borrowdale Hotel was a truly sparkling affair as guests were treated to a Champagne Celebration dinner which included a different champagne with every course.

The new look dining room now appears larger, warmer and more inviting with rich gold’s and burgundy bringing the hotel up to date yet still keeping its charm. It was the perfect setting for Champagne coming to Cumbria.

Stephen Wilcock, General Manager of the hotel took advantage of his Master Sommelier skills to work with Jean Pierre Marniquet – the hotel’s specialist grower and wine maker from the Champagne region. Working with Head Chef they created a delicious menu that married the flavors and textures of the food with the different champagnes produced by Jean Pierre.

Guests heard Stephen explain the history of Champagne and also how this particular Champagne is nurtured through production in Jean Pierre Marniquet’s small, privately owned vineyard. “His seven hectare vineyard is very close to some of the most famous champagne names, but as a small grower producer, Jean Pierre can stay very close to the production process to ensure the best from his grapes.”

Jean Pier and his daughter Cyrille travelled from France especially for the evening. They were invited to explain the complexities and subtleties of each champagne as it was served with each course.

Coffee was served with an old Fin de Champagne which was provided by Pascal Delorme from Grapevine Wine Merchant who also supply the hotel with most of their wine.

Diners described the evening as “truly incredible – a wonderful way to reopen the restaurant and a fantastic introduction to a great range of champagne.”

The redevelopment of the restaurant is something that Stephen Wilcock is very proud of. As a Master Sommelier he is now eagerly waiting for the completion of a Wine Cellar and wine tasting bar in the dining room.  “Guests really enjoyed learning about the Champagnes we served and want to learn more about our wines.” He said “the Wine Cellar is almost complete and we are looking forward to many Wine tasting events in the future. The Borrowdale hotel has come a long way in the last two years – introducing the wine cellar is something new for Lake District Hotels and it will make us unique in the area.”

Anyone interested in finding out more about the Borrowdale Hotels new wine tasting cellar should contact Stephen Wilcock at the Borrowdale Hotel on 017687 77224 or visit http://www.lakedistricthotels.net/borrowdalehotel/index.htm.

Lake District Hotels are pleased to announce a capacity of almost double previously offered for brides to be.

Brides-to-be now have the option of choosing a marquee on the lawn to host their wedding breakfast for up to 200 guests

The Lake District has long been a favourite location for weddings playing host to some of the most picturesque settings you could wish for.  With winter weddings becoming ever more popular – the location can still be picture perfect with spectacular snow capped mountains and frosty lakes.

The Inn on the Lake has lawns that sweep down to their own private jetty on the edge of Lake Ullswater – it is one of the most photographed jetties in the country and is a favourite with brides all year round.

Voted the most romantic location in which to marry, ‘Lake District’ hotels are constantly upgrading what they can offer brides. At the recent Inn on the Lake wedding fair delayed by the November floods, over 150 brides witnessed the launch of two new wedding venues in the hotel gardens.

Almost doubling their capacity, the Lake District Hotels Ltd marquee on the lawn to host their wedding breakfast for up to 200 guests; the views across the gardens, lake and mountains provide a very romantic backdrop and allows the Ullswater area to attract larger bridal parties.

Beverley Kelso, Wedding Co-ordinator at Lake District Hotels Ltd Inn on the Lake says “No matter how large or how small the wedding party, we want brides to fall in love with their venue. As well as offering marquee for large weddings, we have also introduced a very special intimate place to take wedding vows – a Victorian style gazebo close to the water’s edge. There is no other place like it in the whole of the Lakes and it is attracting brides from as far away as London and Dubai.”

The hotel staff challenged themselves to create the ultimate outdoor venue for wedding vows, somewhere unique and very romantic. It was last summer when they began designing the ornate Victorian style Gazebo which was created in the garden during the winter. Spring brides will be the first to christen the gazebo which is set to rival the jetty as a premier location for wedding pictures.

For more information visit http://www.lakedistricthotels.net/weddings/

Goosemire Cottages, the family owned and run Lake District self catering business, are pleased to launch their January sale.

Everyone is looking for a bargain at this time of year so why should the sales be confined to the high street? Goosemire Cottages are offering discounts on full weeks booked in each of their 46 self catering properties. The discounts range from £30 – £50 depending on the property size.

The number of self catering holidays in the UK has risen quite dramatically in the last 2 years. Various factors have contributed to this for example the poor Euro exchange rate resulting in tourists staying in the UK and the cost savings of self catering compared with a hotel stay. A self catering holiday allows freedom, the ability to cook within the property so saving on restaurant bills and is an excellent type of holiday for families and pet owners.

Goosemire Cottages have available 46 traditional Lake District cottages for discerning visitors (Ranging from 1 to 7 bedrooms, sleeping up to 10). Most are rustic 17th or 18th Century Lakeland cottages or lovely barn conversions, where antiquity and modern comforts have been beautifully combined. The atmosphere and idiosyncrasies of each property are reflected on their website which offers full online booking facilities and information and images on each of their properties.

For more information on the Goosemire Lake District cottages January sale or their last minute booking discounts, visit http://www.goosemirecottages.co.uk/special-offers

Developed by Sweeney Properties Ltd right in the heart of the Lake District National Park, this is the latest addition to the Lake District Inns & Cottages portfolio of high quality accommodation.

Located just off the A591 & only 5 minutes away from Keswick on the site of the Old School House and Youth Hostel at Legburthwaite near Keswick, it will be a stunning 40 bed Lodge Hotel. The Lake District Lodge will be opening in the early summer of 2010.

The design, by local award winning architects Savage & Chadwick, fits perfectly into the beautiful landscape, utilising local traditional building features and materials, whilst having a light and airy contemporary feel. This is achieved by a two story glass atrium at the heart of the building and the mixing of cedar wood cladding and local stone work under a Westmorland slated roof.

Company Managing Director Derek Sweeney says: “This is a really exciting project for us as it will add to our ability to cater for another sector of our clientele who are looking for high quality accommodation but do not want the full range of services provided by our Inns.

Derek Sweeney also quoted “over the last seventeen years we have seen many changes in tourism in the Lake District. Our Keswick and Grasmere hotels and cottages are all located in the heart of The National Park and are a very good barometer for measuring the ebb and flow of business over the years. The Lake District continues to be a superb holiday destination both for our domestic visitors and international guests alike. Even with the lure of cheap flights to most European and now international destinations we continue to be extremely busy with both our loyal regular clientele and new visitors.

See full details at http://www.lakedistrictinns.co.uk/lodge.cfm

The weather has been very cruel to the United Kingdom this Winter but why let that stop you enjoying Christmas festivities.

For the last two weeks, Cumbria – the Lake District has been the main focus on all the news networks. This beautiful location may have been battered and bruised by the weather but it is still one of the most beautiful areas of the United Kingdom and fully open for business.

And Christmas is an ideal time to visit the Lake District with its warm hospitality, endless real fires and top quality local produce.

The Castle Inn Hotel and Spa near Bassenthwaite, Keswick have a small number of places available for their luxury Christmas break. This special Christmas break commences on Thursday the 24th of December right through to Sunday 27th December. The mix of organised events and time alone to explore the area or visit the health spa has been perfectly combined.

Set overlooking some of England’s highest fells and Bassenthwaite Lake, the Castle Inn Lake District Hotel is in a beautiful location, just 8 miles from Keswick.  They are ideally situated for those wishing to explore Bassenthwaite, Keswick and the Lake District. The Castle Inn Hotel is one of the finest Keswick hotels offering a warm welcome and the ideal location for relaxing after a busy day discovering the beauties of the Lake District.

Those requiring further information on the festive Christmas break at the Castle Inn Hotel & Spa should visit http://www.castleinncumbria.co.uk or telephone 017687 76401.

The BBC 2 Wake up to Wogan show lunches “Things that Money Cant Buy” auction for Children in Need on Monday 16th November with a Wainwright walking package staring Julia Bradbury and The Skiddaw Hotel in Keswick.

The Wainwright walks have been popularised by Julia Bradbury who often stays at the Skiddaw Hotel when filming in the Lake District. This unique package is set to appeal to walking fans who enjoy bracing walks, fresh air, beautiful surroundings and a touch of glamour too!

The package gives the final bidder and a friend the chance to join presenter Julia Bradbury and the production team from Skyworks TV for a day’s walking in the Lake District some time next year.

The guests will spend the first night as special guests at the Skiddaw Hotel in Keswick, before walking in the footsteps of the famous walker Alfred Wainwright. The walk may be filmed for TV broadcast, but at the very least, the winning pair will have their own private film of their walk – as well as signed DVD’s photo’s and memorabilia from the series.

Kevin Curran, General Manager of the Skiddaw Hotel, part of the Lake District Hotels Ltd group said “The hotel is very popular for walking holidays and we already have a walking break named after Julia Bradbury and Wainwright  – it includes a copy of Wainwright’s Northern Fells book and a bathroom experience pack for relaxing after a days walking on the fells!

Julia likes to stay with us when she is filming in the Lake District, so we were delighted when she mentioned the opportunity to link in with Terry Wogan’s “Want Money can’t buy” auction. Fingers crossed for the bidding on Monday morning.”

A full list of the opportunities up for auction can be seen on the BBC 2 website at http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio2/shows/wake-up-to-wogan/terrys-children-in-need-09-auction/monday/

It was pamper time at the Lodore Falls Hotel this week at a networking event organized by the Cumbria Chamber of Commerce.

The event was a sell out in only a few days and more than thirty ladies enjoyed an afternoon of relaxed networking between treatments and afternoon tea.

The Cumbria Chamber of Commerce has been organizing a variety of different events for members and this is the second time they have gathered at the Lodore Falls Hotel this year. Earlier in May the Chamber hosted an event at the hotel which was aimed at women. The positive feedback from that evening lead Suzanne Caldwell, the Chambers Enterprise & Development Manager to organize this Spa pamper networking event.

Suzanne said “We recently held a golf day which was mainly attended by men so we thought SPA networking afternoon would be perfect for businesswomen who can use the day to meet new contacts and take time to address their work life balance. The Lodore Falls Hotel is a fantastic venue, they are used to catering for groups and events and the food is always first class. The facilities are excellent and we have been well looked after – we enjoyed afternoon tea in our robes and felt very comfortable doing so!”

Kit Graves, Director of the luxury Lake District Hotels Ltd Group said “Christine Bibby our Spa Manager has worked hard to make sure our Chamber guest had chance to experience SPA treatments in peace and tranquility – there were a lot of treatments and it was important to us that they didn’t feel rushed. They were certainly very relaxed when they enjoyed their afternoon tea and I am sure a lot of networking was done too – just in a more informal way!”

Anyone interested in finding out more about organizing group Spa Days at the hotel should contact Christine at the Lodore Falls Hotel on 017687 77285 or visit http://www.lakedistricthotels.net/spabreaks. For more information about events held by the Chamber of Commerce in Cumbria visit http://www.cumbriachamber.co.uk/