For the first time since 2020, the Lake District Hotels' family owned hotels located within the Northern Lake District are set to reopen their doors on Monday 17th May and welcome in guests for overnight accommodation and indoor dining!

The hotels have been closed for 38% of the year and the total number of businesses set to reopen in full on Monday include: 6 hotels, 11 restaurants and lounges, 2 pubs, 1 cocktail bar and a spa. Although indoor dining will once again be permitted, the hotels anticipate outdoor dining on the hotel terraces to remain highly popular when the weather is nice throughout the summer.

Overnight accommodation - It seems many Brits are in search of a little countryside escapism in the picturesque Lake District, as the average hotel occupancy on opening night currently stands at 75%. This figure has rocketed since March when uncertainly was high and bookings were low, with hotel occupancy sitting at 0% as a result. This dramatic increase in bookings has been extremely positive for Lake District Hotels, helping the business to bounce back stronger and once again offer guests memorable Lake District getaways in the most popular areas.

Mizu Pan-Asian restaurant - As well as providing guests with a comfortable bed for the evening, customers will finally be able to ditch their woolly hats and waterproof parkas and pull up chair inside for a meal as indoor dining will also resume. In light of this, all of Lake District Hotels restaurants will reopen including the award-winning Pan-Asian restaurant, Mizu. The demand for the Lodore Falls Hotel & Spa's oriental restaurant has been tremendous, with many locals and visitors sharing a mutual excitement about the flavours of the Far East returning to Cumbria. Mizu is already almost fully booked for many evenings from May 17th onward, however there is good availability at lunchtimes. Tables can be booked by calling 017687 77285 or visiting https://www.lakedistricthotels.net/book-table.

LB’s Pizza House - Another one of Lake District Hotels restaurants that is scheduled to reopen on Wednesday 19th May is LB's Pizza House located just off Keswick's Market Square. As Keswick's original pizzeria, LB's will transport you to a continent slightly closer to home, where the restaurant's head chef Fabio, originally from Venice, will be serving up authentic thin-crust sourdough pizzas and traditional Italian pasta dishes inspired from his home country. The new menus have a strong emphasis on homely Italian cuisine and for the first time ever, includes a 'Fan Flavour' pizza which was designed by a customer and selected to join the menu through a series of Instagram polls. The winning pizza went head-to-head with 7 other 'fan-designed' pizzas that were selected as finalists by Lake District Hotels and its creator won 10 free pizzas as a reward.

Spanish Tapas at the Skiddaw Hotel - While holidays abroad are still looking somewhat questionable for summer 2021, the Skiddaw Hotel is set to bring the exotic flavours of Spain to the bustling market town of Keswick with the introduction of an authentic Spanish tapas menu.

In 2020, the 4-star Skiddaw Hotel situated in the heart of Keswick was awarded its first ever AA Rosette after hiring new head-chef, Bobby Fillingham. The hotel is set to reopen on Monday 17^th May and talented chef is quite literally bringing some exciting new ideas to the table.

Bobby's brilliant plans include the addition of over 15 authentic Spanish tapas dishes to the Bar & Conservatory menu which will be available 7-days a week from 12-9pm, as well as a weekly Spanish-themed night set to launch in June. Both of these have been heavily inspired by the 18 years that the chef spent working in Spain before moving back to the UK.

The hotel’s weekly ‘Tapas Thursdays’ will see the vibrant culture of Spain come alive in the heart of Keswick, as the evening will incorporate authentic tapas dishes, jugs of sangria, continental beers and Spanish entertainment.

“I learnt all about Spanish food from a range of highly experienced chefs in the Balearics” Bobby told us, “From the old-school traditional right through to when the new wave of technical creativity became popular in kitchens; I gained so much valuable knowledge which I have adapted into the new menu.”

Alongside your typical tapas favourites, Bobby’s recommendations are: 'Garbanzos con Chorizo' (chorizo, spinach & chickpea stew with flaked almonds), 'Calamares a la Romana' (deep fried squid with lemon) and 'Pimientos de Padron' (fried baby green peppers with sea salt flakes). “The fresh Padron Peppers are being supplied to the hotel directly from Spain and as a member of the chili family, about 1 in 10 are quite spicy so it’s a lottery who picks a fiery one” says Bobby.

As well as introducing authentic Spanish cuisine to the bustling market-town, the hotel’s crown jewel, Brasserie 31, also reopens on May 17^th where a new Summer menu is available to tantalise the taste-buds.

Using only the finest local ingredients, the new menu includes a series of appetizing British dishes each with their own Cumbrian twist; offering guests an exciting dining experience in a relaxed yet sophisticated atmosphere.

Brasserie 31 is open 7-nights a week and you can book a table online by vising https://www.lakedistricthotels.net/book-table.