Forest Side Named Most Romantic UK Hotel

Cumbria’s Forest Side has been recognised by the Good Hotel Guide 2018 as the UK’s most romantic hotel.

Each year the Guide’s editors present the ten best hotels of the year with a César Award. Named after César Ritz, known as “king of hoteliers, and hotelier to kings’’, possibly the world’s most celebrated hotelier.

The Good Hotel Guide is the leading independent guide to hotels in Great Britain and Ireland. It is written for the reader seeking impartial advice on finding a good place to stay. These modern-day awards have come to be regarded as the Oscars of hotel keeping.

This year’s awards were presented on 09th October, at Daunt Books, Holland Park, London and afterwards award winners and distinguished guests adjourned to enjoy dinner at Outlaw’s at The Capital.

Good Hotel Guide Britain and Ireland editor, Astella Saw, said: ‘’The Good Hotel Guide’s annual Césars, awarded to the ten best hotels of the year, are the Oscars of hotel-keeping. Elegantly re-imagined, Forest Side certainly looks the part of Romantic Hotel of the Year. In acres of landscaped gardens and dappled woodland, every aspect of the Victorian Gothic mansion impresses, say Guide readers — from the friendly, attentive staff to the beautiful bedrooms and fantastic Michelin-starred meals. It’s just the place to ensconce yourself away from the tourist throng of the Lake District.’’

Andrew Wildsmith, owner of Grasmere’s Forest Side, said: ‘’We are thrilled to have been presented with a Cesar. To be lauded as the UK’s most romantic hotel is a double honour, especially as we are in the spiritual home of the Romantic Movement, Grasmere. Yet again the hard work of every member of the team has paid off. There’s no doubt 2017 has been a bit of a whirlwind year, and now we will take stock and prepare ourselves to push on in 2018.’’

Photo: Left to Right: Caroline Raphael, Editor in Chief, Gareth Newton, Restaurant Manager, at the Forest Side, M. Astella Saw, Editor and Andrew Wildsmith, owner of the Forest Side.