Review: A luxury stay at Lake District's Langdale Chase Hotel

I’ve never taken so many photographs on any holiday. I’ve got pictures of the sign at the entrance; the panoramic views of Windermere - the largest lake in England - and the mighty impressive Langdale Pikes and Coniston Fells, as well as the jetties.

And that’s before I had a nosy in every room type imaginable and don’t get me started on the most Instagrammable food you could ever imagine.

The private dining room at Langdale Chase Hotel (Image: Langdale Chase Hotel)

Everything about Langdale Chase oozed that wonderful combination of luxury and comfort and it was clear the moment I stepped into the spectacular surroundings that I was in for a real treat.

The property was built as a private lakeside retreat in 1890 and transformed into a hotel in the 1930s. Now, after a renovation lasting more than a year, Langdale Chase reopened in November last year. The grade II listed landmark is back with a bang – during our stay we chatted to locals who were thrilled the property was open again – many have memories of events there over the years.

The lovingly sensitive restoration of the hotel is evidenced in the hall with original wooden features such as a carved staircase and an inviting fireplace plus historical photographs from 1890. The hall has truly been restored to its former glory.

Inside the Fellside room (Image: Langdale Chase Hotel)

On arrival, my partner and I were greeted by welcome host Annmarie, who certainly lived up to her job title as I don’t think I’ve been made as genuinely welcome to a hotel ever before. We were greeted in the boot room, to the left of the entrance, which is a reception area and where you can plan everything from picnics to cold water swimming.

Guests are contacted before arrival to check any requirements - the hotel’s Defender Land Rover can even be booked to pick you up or take you to your destination in the Lakes.

I politely declined Annmarie’s offer of getting our luggage from the car while we enjoyed lunch as it wouldn’t have been a straightforward operation – I’m not the most efficient packer, it has to be said.

Sticky toffee pudding at the hotel (Image: Langdale Chase Hotel)

I didn’t, however, pass on the offer of a glass of check-in champagne as I checked out the lunch lounge menu and it took me all of two minutes to decide on my choice of New England lobster roll. The butter-poached lobster in a brioche roll was melt-in-the-mouth delicious finished elegantly with pickled shallot and chipotle mayonnaise, which had a lovely subtle kick. A lightly battered piece of lobster was placed enticingly over the mayo pot.

My partner’s choice of club sandwich with grilled chicken, crispy bacon, egg mayonnaise, lettuce and tomato was also a huge hit. 

The bar where we enjoyed lunch is relaxed, cozy and overlooks Windermere and the stunning views – have I mentioned the views? Cocktails from the cool mixologist are a must – I can recommend the French 75 and Negronis.

Inside the Great Hall (Image: Langdale Chase Hotel)

The hotel gardens are a whopping four acres and slope to the lake. They were planned and laid out in the 1890s by Thomas Henry Mawson, a landscape gardener of international distinction.

The hotel, a Daniel Thwaites property, is building on original designs and working with the internationally recognised garden designer and lecturer Annie Guilfoyle on a project to reimagine Mawson’s masterpiece.

An amazing additional asset to the hotel is the private cinema room. Two movies are lined up daily or you can ask the team for other options. This is such a clever option if the temperamental Lake District weather isn’t behaving. There’s also complimentary ice cream, Haribo and crisps to tuck into. Bliss.

Views from the Lakehouse (Image: Langdale Chase Hotel)

On the way to the cinema you’ll pass the cellar where wine tastings can be arranged.

Other welcome spaces include the cozy, tranquil Reading Room, hidden above the hotel’s entrance – again with wonderful Windermere views; the Sitting Room with large bay window and the grand Oak Room with dark, wooden décor and fabulous fireplace plus more panoramic views – to the south, gazing down the lake, and to the west the vistas of the iconic Langdale Pikes.

The Dining Room is totally elegant, boasting floor-to-ceiling windows and underfloor heating. This is definitely up there with the most impressive dining spaces I’ve ever enjoyed.

The restaurant has two AA Rosettes and executive Chef Michael Cole is renowned for creating unique dishes with the finest local produce inspired by the Lake District and its coastline – think Herdwick lamb, rare breed cattle, local fish and shellfish as well as artisan cheeses.

The cinema room (Image: Langdale Chase Hotel)

I quickly realised ‘no’ is not a familiar word at Langdale Chase – in fact the team relish a challenge.

This clearly extends to the dining experiences.

The vastly experienced sommelier took us through wine options and then a delicious amuse bouche and bread with incredible butter was delivered.

Our first night choices for dinner were easy – Orkney scallops with cauliflower and golden raisin and venison carpaccio with caramelised parsnip and Old Winchester cheese, followed by sea bass with curried mussels and fennel and fillet of beef with crispy oyster.

The following night the saddleback pork with apple and mustard I fancied for starter was off-the-menu and was about to choose something else when the wonderful member of team serving us said the chef could do me a Cumbrian cheese souffle with creamed onions and leeks with black truffle – which turned out to be my favourite dish of the night.

Butter poached cod with smoked turnip and with bottarga fish roe.

The view from the Windermere Panoramic Room (Image: Langdale Chase Hotel)

For dessert, we tried out ginger parkin with apple and calvados and the expertly delivered passionfruit souffle with white chocolate ice cream.

You’d think after such an extravaganza, breakfast would be the last thing on our minds the following day – not so.

My first choice of the avocado dish was unavailable so I devised my own breakfast of sourdough bread topped with black pudding and poached eggs. The kitchen was only too happy to oblige and it was so incredible, my partner chose it the following morning.

Having experienced – and loved - breakfasts, lunches and evening meals, our final culinary delight was afternoon tea – and what a way to end the most incredible two-night stay.

Created by passionate pastry team, led by Camilia Leao Marafioti, the afternoon teas are available daily from 12-4pm, and are genuinely worth the £55 per person.

Talk about a wow factor.

Inside the Windermere Panoramic room (Image: Langdale Chase Hotel)

Firstly, sandwiches. In order of my preference. Butter poached lobster, chipotle and picked shallot; confit chicken with curry mayonnaise and apple; salmon gravadlax, beetroot and horseradish crème fraiche; free range egg and watercress mayonnaise; cucumber dill with cream cheese; honey-glazed ham with Cumberland mustard.

Then savoury. Potted shrimps on crumpet; cheddar cheese and truffle custard filled doughnut; beetroot and goat’s curd crème Brule; duck croquettes with damson ketchup.

And if you’ve got a sweet tooth you’d adore the little individual fancies of key lime pies; pineapple coladas; black forest gateaux, apple crumble and banoffees. And that’s not the end….homemade scones with preserve and clotted cream (I did eat some of this off the back of a spoon when no one was looking).

Tea and coffee was available but after a swift 20-minute walk into Waterside, a cool lager was the order of the day.

The hotel has 30 rooms – situated in the main house, the Lakehouse and one suite in the historic Boat House, which is the only bedroom to sit directly above Lake Windermere, with its own private entrance, terrace and direct beach access. This romantic room, as you would imagine, has shown-stopping views and a copper slipper bath with picture window. There are even Japanese toilets.

I had the opportunity to check out a few of the rooms – you genuinely wouldn’t be disappointed to stay in any with a mixture of original features, fireplaces, stained glass windows, beautifully and sensitively decorated. There are also dog friendly rooms and the pooches even get welcome packs with biscuits with their names on a doggie menu. Cuteness overload.

The rooms’ marble bathrooms are stunning and the products from Cumbrian company Bath House are fabulous – I loved the bamboo and jasmine hair and body wash.

A view from the Windermere Panoramic room (Image: Langdale Chase Hotel)

We stayed in the Langdale Pikes suite where the amazing views were accentuated thanks to the turret – which gave off major fairy-tale castle vibes. The binoculars in the room were put to good use.

The bathroom with stand-alone bath plus stained glass window was my second favourite element in the suite. We also took advantage of the complimentary mini-bar, the tropical session IPA Paradise No.3 was a huge hit with my partner. The funky can of citrussy pale ale went down a treat. And I loved the damson gin.

As you can tell, you don’t need to leave the hotel and its grounds if you don’t want to. We walked into Waterhead, which took about us about 20 minutes, and then a further 15 minutes into Ambleside. We also took the Waterhead-to-Windermere lake cruise – which I highly recommend. The commentary was really good and even though it was rather breezy, I still took one of the front seats on the top deck.

After a mooch around Windermere, we walked back to the hotel – which nicely whetted our appetite for that evening’s meal.

The two words that stand out for me when recalling my tremendous trip are setting and service. The Windermere setting speaks for itself, I’ve never stayed in a property with such uninterrupted, panoramic, beguiling views.

And service - every member of general manager Mike Vincent’s team are there to ensure every guest’s stay is memorable and the best it could possibly be. Annmarie said the hotel operates a ‘warm hospitality ethos’ – I experienced this first-hand in spades and Langdale Chase is without doubt the ultimate place for memory-making.

Standard doubles, in low season, start from about £290.

For more information, visit langdalechase.co.uk/