Laura Ashley At The Belsfield, Bowness, Lake District: Review

The Space:

A boutique hotel in the small lakeside town of Bowness, The Belsfield is one of just two Laura Ashley hotels in the world. Sitting on the east bank of Lake Windermere it combines a Victorian-era building with well thought through, modern décor (complete with Laura Ashley’s trademark plush drapes, dark wood furniture, glittering chandeliers, mirrors and cute accents).

The Vibe:  Being a serial renter, Laura Ashley isn’t a décor style I’m used to surrounding myself with, and the juxtaposition of modern, kitsch homewares and a traditional hotel is not something I’m used to experiencing on holiday either.  But though I’d feared an assault of florals, the décor has come down on the right side of tasteful.

The Belsfield is a marriage of brands owned by the same company, Corus Hotels and Laura Ashley – so it made a whole lot of sense to merge the two. And the result has probably made the parent company wonder why it didn’t think of it sooner.

The feel is cosy and homey, with a heavy lean on pastel colours and bird motifs and thanks to the modern lighting and mirrors it feels open and bright.

Any concerns I had that Laura Ashley interiors wouldn’t have the right sense of occasion, or wouldn’t translate on a large scale were fortunately put to rest as we walked into a bright, welcoming reception area.

The Lake District is the beating heart of the British ‘staycation’ and it’s nice to find a new take on the getaway, with not a dark outdated carpet in sight.

With weather heavily unreliable couples and families alike head to the Lakes with full knowledge that they need to be prepared for wet weather play and the Belsfield more than caters for this, with a well-stocked bar, powerful central heating and comfy sofas throughout its sprawling floorplan.

And usually in any Lakes holiday you’ll be rewarded by a few glorious days to balance out the damp.

We were lucky enough to wake up to a beautifully bright winter’s morning on our first full day. Knowing the hotel was busy we headed early to breakfast to ensure a window seat affording fabulous views of Bowness Bay, the Cumbrian hills in the background and Lake Windermere stretching out as far as the eye can see.  And it’s worth getting up just to catch the rising mist that lifts from the lake first thing, giving it a magical quality.

The Belsfield combines up the desire to hunker down in the warmth and cosiness of big, inviting sofas and luxurious thick white duvets, with the encouragement to get out there and enjoy the countryside.

The Brag: Whisky and a lakeside view @TheBelsfield on Lake Windermere. Hello sunset! #lakedistrict

The Instagram Shot:

The Hits:

The staff are brilliant. Our waiter has the gentlest, most soothing voice as he invites us to our dinner table, chats recent snowfall and recommends some local activities.

He becomes a firm favourite of mine, but the Scottish bar manager - who helps us choose our whisky - is phenomenally knowledgeable too and our white-gloved dinner waiter is also a legend, fantastically attentive (and not just to us, we see him working the room with the same enthusiastic expression).

The food is delicious. There are two diner options available – a main dining room affair that offers a la carte options in three or five courses, or a more relaxed bistro affair in the adjoining room that’s a livelier affair with lower key but no less tasty meal choices.

The five-course dinner in the main restaurant isn’t to be missed. As well as your choice of starter, main and dessert, there are daily amuse bouche and sorbets to cleanse the palette between courses and the wine list is comprehensive and well chosen.

Don’t miss local Lakes Trout to start, which is crispy skinned and probably the best we’ve ever tasted.

For mains, our absolute favourites include the Lakeland lamb, paired with creamy mash and a delightful sweet butternut squash puree, and the pan fried Barbary  duck breast, which packs a big gamey flavor matched by a fluffy rosti potato and  tangy Asian vinaigrette that cuts through the lot.

For dessert choose the dark chocolate tart with ale ice cream. That’s an order.

The location is also a major boon. As well as being right on the banks of the lake it’s a 20-minute cab ride from Oxenholme – the gateway station to the South Lakes where Virgin trains between London and Glasgow stop on a regular basis, meaning you can forget about a long, tiring drive and instead hole up in a comfy train carriage for three hours with the paper, a good book or your tablet (wifi is being worked on but was fairly reliable for most of our journey).

We took a cab straight to the hotel from Oxenholme (around £35), or you can get a connecting train to nearby Windermere town, which is walkable or a five minute cab.

The Misses:

Though I have to admit I found it rather charming, the pool is something of a sore spot for the hotel. Manager Mario describes it as ‘retro’ and excitedly reveals plans to renovate the pool area and install a state of the art spa, hopefully in the very near future.

I hit the pool both nights I stayed, and enjoyed it very much for all its simplicity. In the early evening it’s quiet, warm and everything I need from a hotel pool.

However I have to admit, a new spa would be the ultimate finishing touch, fitting in perfectly with the Laura Ashley aesthetics and ethos the Belsfield now has, thanks to its refit.

After a weekend of feeling blissfully wrapped in cotton wool, I will be first in line to come back when this next phase of its renovation has been completed.

The Deets And Damage: Double rooms at Laura Ashley Hotel The Belsfield (Bowness-on-Windermere, 01539 442448, lauraashleyhotels.com), start from £150 B&B.