On the afternoon of Tuesday 9^th November, local Keswick business owners were invited through the doors of the recently refurbished Skiddaw Hotel and transported onto the streets of Spain to sample some of the vibrant tapas dishes available on the hotels’ new bar & conservatory menu.

The complimentary familiarization event which was hosted by the Skiddaw Hotel and organised in collaboration with Keswick Tourism Association (KTA), served to spread a bit of cheer to business owners after the busy summer season and gave KTA members a chance to sample the Spanish offerings available at the 4-star hotel.

More than 12 authentic Spanish dishes were available to taste, each met with strong praise from those who attended the event. The colourful dishes were prepared by Head Chef, Bobby Fillingham, whose tapas expertise stems from over 18 years living and working as a chef in the Balearics before returning to the UK with a deep-rooted passion for Spanish cuisine.

Vanessa Metcalfe, Tourism Manager for Keswick Tourism Association stated “The overwhelming feedback on the food was that it was fantastic and everyone who attended will be spreading the word, not just to their guests, but to friends and family as well.”

The dishes available to sample ranged from typical tapas favourites such as ‘patatas bravas’ (roasted potatoes with spicy chilli & tomato sauce), ‘chorizo a la cidre’ (chorizo sausages in cider) and ‘croquettas de queso de cabra y espinacas’ (spinach & goat’s cheese croquettes with nutmeg)

to the more uncommon Spanish dishes including ‘caldereta de sepia y gambas’ (cuttlefish and prawn stew) and Chef’s speciality tapas including ‘garbanzos con espinacas y albaricoques’ (spinach, apricot & chickpea stew with flaked almonds & a hint of cinnamon).

Complimentary jugs of sangria were also available and flamenco music set the tone. Bobby was also on hand throughout the event to answer any questions on the food and discuss his many years spent cooking in Spain.

"It was great to see all the local business community letting their hair down and relaxing after a grueling summer by enjoying a couple of glasses of sangria and sampling our food.” said Head Chef Bobby. “The feedback was amazing, so thank you to everyone involved."

The Skiddaw Hotel is currently hosting an exclusive ‘Tapas Week’ where guests can enjoy limited edition discounts on tapas bundles and half priced sangria every day until Monday 22^nd November. Authentic Spanish tapas is served in the Skiddaw Hotel’s bar and conservatory from 12pm – 9pm.

The Spanish tapas menu is available to view online by visiting https://www.lakedistricthotels.net/skiddawhotel/menus.