Holbeck Ghyll Restaurant Review

I have always considered Holbeck Ghyll Country House Hotel and Restaurant to be the one of the best venues in the Lake District. It has been awarded a Michelin star every year for the past 10 years and is also one of the Small Luxury Hotels of the World. Stars like Tom Cruise and Rene Zellweger, along with footballers and other famous faces have all dined and stayed here. So, you can imagine my excitement when I had the opportunity to experience fine dining in this top class hotel and restaurant!

I arrived at the impressive Victorian house, on a beautiful sunny day and could not believe the stunning views of Lake Windermere and the Langdale Fells. They were breathtaking, one of the great views of the world! Holbeck Ghyll was once owned by the richest man in the country, Lord Lonsdale, the first president
of the Automobile Association, who used the house as his hunting lodge. It has recently been taken over and the new owner will not only capitalise on the hotel's incredible food reputation, but also introduce some
innovative ideas of his own. For instance, during your stay you can now hire a luxury supercar or even
take up the option of being flown here by helicopter!

My colleague and I had a warm welcome, as we came into the magnificent entrance hall where there was a log fire burning. The friendly restaurant manager took us through to one of the elegantly furnished and relaxing lounges, with incredible views of the lake. Whilst we looked over the sumptuous choices on the  menu, we were given a selection of lovely canapés to whet our appetites. These included beautifully  prepared olives, very tasty breadsticks and a mouth watering truffle cream cheese to dip them in.

We were led through to the magnificent oak panelled restaurant, to be seated by the window, to enjoy the stunning views. There was also a fabulous outdoor terrace restaurant for use on warmer days. We were
offered a selection of freshly baked breads that consisted of white, wholemeal, raisin, walnut and apple, along with a very tasty smoked chicken amuse-bouche. To start with I had Cartmel Valley smoked salmon, served with pickled beetroot and horseradish crème fraîche, which was of exceptional quality. My colleague
had a salad of juicy, warm Scottish langoustines with lobster and celeriac rémoulade, which was
absolutely delicious. For my main course I had opted for the fish, which was a roasted fillet of John Dory, served with spiced cauliflower, braised gem, dill gnocchi and horseradish velouté. It was beautifully
presented and it tasted even better than it looked! It was light, easy to eat and very flavoursome. My colleague chose the Cumbrian lamb served with shallot puree and rosemary jus. The slices of lamb were medium rare, cooked to perfection and were extremely tender and succulent. The desserts were a delight! My colleague had the crème brûlée with apple sorbet, poached apple and cider sauce, served out of the
ramekin to great effect. I had a selection of British and French cheeses presented in a circle from mild to strong, each one a real taste sensation.

We retired to the lounge, for a cafetiere of coffee, served with chocolate truffles to discuss what it was that made Holbeck Ghyll so good? We came to the conclusion that whilst the food was fantastic and very affordable at only £29.95 per head, the service perfect, the atmosphere relaxed and informal, what sets it apart from the rest, is that Holbeck Ghyll managed to make us feel like we were in our own luxurious home!
Holbeck Ghyll is a marvellous place. We had a great time!

Review written by Mark Prada