South Lakeland Parks (SLP) Forum

Hi everyone,

Got lodge last week and intend to make good use over this summer therefore any recommendations for good food, good pubs and kid friendly(11/13) pubs or eating places.
ps/ does it ever stop raining here?

Not too sure about the kid friendly thing, ours have now grown up.

However, the most popular pub seems to be the "Hole in the Wall". Turn right out of FB towards Bowness and keep the car park on your left. The "HITW" is about 500 yards on your left. Has a large outdoor area so you can sit outside with the kids. The White House just further on on your right is a very nice bistro and does cater for kids (need to book at weekends). In Bowness there is the Nissi Restaurant (Greek ish) which is ok.

A good suggestion is Zefirrelis in Ambleside. It is a cinema and vegetarian Italian restaurant combined. Really good food and they do a really good deal on cinema and dine packages, need to book.

To be honest though we eat mostly at the lodge as it has a better view than any restaurant and is a lot cheaper

Last place you will find most people on site is the Boathouse and Barn

Yes it does stop raining, but usually starts again straight after

FB

.

Have to agree with Fallbarrow - best place to eat is right on your own doorstep - you've paid a lot of money for it so why not eat there too and enjoy it - it's kid friendly too!!!

Other than that, Wainwright's Inn has served us well in the past (pre lodge owning past, we always eat at the Lodge now), in Chapel Stile -which is up to Ambleside, basically turn left at the top of the Lake and go through Clappersgate, turn left at the Skelwith Hotel, enjoy the stunning scenery including the Langdale Pikes, pass the entrance to the Langdale Timeshare Complex and it's immediately on your left (it is owned by the Langdale complex). On a summer's evening have a tasty lamb shank in the family part of the pub then take your drinks outside and watch the baby lambs playing in the field opposite!! Even Sally Whittaker from Corrination Street has eaten there with her family - we've seen her there.

In Bowness - though must admit haven't tried it yet so don't know what the food is like - but The Ship along Glebe Road has lake views and can't be that expensive, and for us must be better than somewhere without a view.

We had friends stay with us earlier in May this year, and the weather was absolutely fabulous - they treated us to a meal out to thank us for a free holiday - fish and chips from the Seafairers just outside the Park gates, packed into a kull bag (without the ice packs) and eaten sat on the wall by the lake opposite the Glebe - Enjoyed by All!

Yes it does rain in the Lake District but overall for all the time we've spent in the area it evens out just like anywhere else in the UK, and remember this .....

There is no such thing as bad weather in the Lakes.
Just the Wrong Clothes!!!

In Ambleside - Lucy's, Log House( special occasions)

Crook - Sun Inn is great ..especially for Sunday lunch or before you hit the M6 for the journey home

Sizegh - Strickland Arms has good food and beer

Windermere - Chinese is good and also for takeaway


No go place for now - Mortal Man ( limited menu), Queens Head ( new owners), Watermill ( good beer but food average)

Agree with John's recomendation in Grasmere

Thanks for the recommendations, to be honest had a great meal Saturday in 'Americanos' in Bowness, a good breakfast in the 'barn' on the park and excellent fish and chips from the nearby chippy. Impressed with the 'deli' on site and if the pub refurb is going to be of that standard then we are looking forward to it!

Boro lodge owner wrote:Thanks for the recommendations, to be honest had a great meal Saturday in 'Americanos' in Bowness, a good breakfast in the 'barn' on the park and excellent fish and chips from the nearby chippy. Impressed with the 'deli' on site and if the pub refurb is going to be of that standard then we are looking forward to it!

Hmm, forgot about the chippy on the way in. We usually call for fish and chips on a Friday night as we arrive.

Interesting your views on the Barn. I only tried a coffee there and found it weak and overpriced.

To be honest, not bothered about the upgrading of the pub, prefer to drink at the lodge or in town.

FB

Eagle & Child at Staveley - often call here on way to or from lodge.
Excellent food with a nice beer garden front and rear. They have special offer Mon-Fri (not sure about Saturday) whereby they have a special menu at lunchtime with a main course for a £5. All homecooked food, good size portions, excellent veggie food (only 1 option on the £5 menu). On Sundays they do Sunday lunch, 2 courses for very reasonable price. Regular Real Ale Festivals.

Wilf's Cafe again in Staveley - don't let the name "cafe" put you off. It's lovely food with seating at the rear overlooking the river. Next to a brewery. Bakery a few doors away sells lovely bread & cakes.

Pippins Cafe (Lake Road) in Ambleside (now renamed and is a restaurant). We used to love their burgers, pizza and pasta but now it's a "restaurant" rather than a cafe its opening hours aren't as good for us & prices have gone up in the evenings so unfortunately don't go as often as we used to.

As some of the others have said, there's nothing better than eating out on your decking and just enjoying the surroundings.