Blenheim Lodge is situated in Bowness-on-Windermere, a bustling village well endowed with plenty of eateries. Close by, no more than 5-15 minutes’ distant, are other villages and towns with many lovely restaurants too. The proximity of all these places to eat is probably not going to do one’s waistline any good; nonetheless, if one is on holiday, why not?
This weekend just past saw a family celebrating a 60th birthday with a stay at Blenheim Lodge. Top on their list was a treat for the birthday boy at L’Eclume, Michelin-star Simon Rogan’s restaurant. Our guests were so enamoured of the food that they snapped an image or two of the platters they were served. (www.lenclume.co.uk/sr/restaurant.htm)
On Sunday, we received four guests from Singapore. This quartet consisted of a mother and her three boys, the latter of whom enjoy Western cuisine. Having told them about the 20-30 places to eat that can be found in Bowness-on-Windermere, they plumbed for the Village Inn, a mere 5-minute walk from our front door. A very happy family returned to say they had had a lovely meal together.
Less recently, in November 2012, a couple from Malaysia stayed with us for 8 nights. Finding that they were missing some comfort food, they decided to try You and Me, a 2-minute walk from our guest house. You and Me is a Chinese restaurant. Our guests were so pleased with the food that they returned to the restaurant another couple of times.
On a sad note, there is now only one Indian restaurant left in Bowness-on-Windermere. The Emperor of India shut down a few months back. Nevertheless, the variety of cuisines represented in our small village is remarkable, considering that most holidaymakers can eat at a different restaurant each night, and all within a 2-7 minute walk of our guest house. Cuisines encompass English, Italian, Thai, Chinese, Indian, Spanish and a fusion of these.
Eateries in Bowness-on-Windermere range from the informal to the slightly more formal settings found in hotel restaurants. For instance, one can eat at a cafe, bistro, pub, or restaurant. Some takeaways also have seating areas for dining. (Please note that we do not allow takeaways in our guest house.) Prices vary greatly, but are generally on par with prices in city restaurants.
Foodies looking for truly high-end restaurants may decide on restaurants with red AA stars or Michelin stars. One of the former may be found in a local hotel, about 5 minutes’ walk from our door. Two Michelin star restaurants are within 5 and 15 minutes’ drive of our house.
Thus, for anyone interested in a gourmet weekend, Bowness-on-Windermere is a great place to stay. Whatever you do though, please do not forget to try some of Cumbria’s iconic foods, from Cumberland sausage to Herdwick lamb to sticky toffee pudding and Grasmere gingerbread. And for added sweetness, how about Kendal mint cake?
Blenheim Lodge . . . panoramic Lake views, peace and tranquillity, nestled against acres of beautiful fields and woodlands, in the heart of the English Lake District National Park.’
Leave a Reply