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Forest Side
Grasmere, United Kingdom
Important Announcements
Please note that Mr & Mrs Smith hotels are part of an IHG Rewards Club Program collaboration and are not IHG branded hotels; accordingly, IHG Way of Clean and the IHG Clean Promise do not apply to those properties. Mr & Mrs Smith hotels follow separate health & safety standards outlined here: <a href="http://www.ihg.com/smithsafety" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">ihg.com/smithsafety</a>
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PROPERTY FEATURES
The Premises
A dream come true for the design minded and adventurous epicures, The Forest Side hotel will convince even the most unwavering urbanites to slow down and stay a night (or three) in the Lake District. The draw? A thoughtful renovation of a gorgeous Gothic pile, during which original Victorian fireplaces were saved and once robust gardens were restored. Fluffy Herdwick sheep graze on the grounds, the restaurant serves some of the best food in the Lake District, and the interiors are just right for the countryside setting—all without a spot of chintz.
SMITH EXTRA
Compliments of the House
A gift set of mini bath products from Bramley
View Your Escape
At the Hotel
CHECK-OUT: 11am, but flexible, subject to availability. Earliest check-in, 3pm.
A full-English breakfast is included in the room rate.
FACILITIES
Forty-three acres of grounds and gardens, and free WiFi throughout. In rooms: flatscreen TV, work desk, kettle and teas, coffee-making service, custom-crafted beds and Bramley bath products.
PACKING TIPS
Bring a composition notebook for writing verse as the Lake poets did.
ALSO
A room designed for guests with mobility issues and their assistance dogs is available on request. Also, the restaurant, bar and guest lounge are all wheelchair accessible.
In a nod to the estate’s past, the wooden dining-room floorboards were recycled as dining-room tables, Victorian fireplaces were salvaged, and many of the original garden details were uncovered and resurrected.
In a nod to the estate’s past, the wooden dining-room floorboards were recycled as dining-room tables, Victorian fireplaces were salvaged, and many of the original garden details were uncovered and resurrected.
USEFUL INFORMATION
Children under the age of 8 are not able to dine in the evening for dinner, however are welcome in the restaurant for Breakfast and Lunch. The restaurant is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays. Should a reservation be booked on a bed and breakfast basis, please note that tables in the restaurant are limited so we cannot guarantee a table will be available on arrival if this is not pre-booked.
Rooms
Designer James Mackie perfected the contemporary country look throughout, but for a room with a postcard-perfect view, the Superb is, well, just that. Coveting the cushy Wools of Cumbria carpet as you pad around the room? Admire the source as you gaze out at the Herdwick sheep roaming in the meadow.
Food & Drink
Unforgettable Features
Helmed by chef Paul Leonard, the hotel's restaurant is known as one of the finest in the Lake District. Making the most of Cumbria's natural bounty, Leonard makes liberal use of the hotel's kitchen garden and nearby farms, where lovingly-grown vegetables and first-rate meat can be found. The resulting menu is creative, original and rooted in the Cumbrian countryside. Loosen belts for the tasting menu offered at dinner — an eight-course menu. It's advised tto book in advance as guests staying on a bed and breakfast basis cannot be guaranteed a table.
Liquid Bliss
Order a signature English martini – gin, chamomile-infused English vermouth and chartreuse – and allow yourself to be sucked into one of the deep velvet couches in front of the wood-burning stove.
Experience the Extraordinary
One could happily fill the hours ambling the 43 acres of woodland surrounding the Forest Side. Putter around in the kitchen garden and just try to name all 25 of the herbs and 100 plus vegetables planted there. Or search the fellside and spot roe deer and red squirrels. If venturing off the grounds, the village of Grasmere is just a 20-minute walk along the Old Coffin Trail. Pop by Dove Cottage, the former home of poet William Wordsworth and his sister Dorothy, for a guided tour and a peek into life at the turn of the 19th century. Afterwards, sample something sweet at Sarah Nelson’s Grasmere Gingerbread. Taste for yourself if the spicy-sweet treat created in 1854 is truly the world’s best gingerbread. For a different view of Wordworth’s beloved countryside, set sail with Windermere Lake Cruises; the famed body of water is just a 15-minute drive south of the Forest Side.
Transportation
The Forest Side is scenically set in the village of Grasmere, smack dab in the middle of the Lake District National Park.
Planes
Manchester and Leeds Bradford Airports are both within two hours drive from the hotel.
Trains
The nearest train station is Oxenholme, approximately 45 minutes away.
Automobiles
If you’re planning to cruise around the surrounding countryside, a car is a must. The drive from London is roughly five hours via the M40 and M6, and onsite parking is free.
Other
There’s no proper helipad, but skilled pilots can land at their own risk in the field below the Forest Side (just mind the deer).
Location
Keswick Road Grasmere, LA22 9RNUnited Kingdom
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