Laura Ashley The Belsfield is where quintessential British style meets substance...and the location’s not bad either.
Think of Laura Ashley and its beautiful fabrics, prints and furniture spring to mind. It’s one the world’s best-loved British brands, so who wouldn’t want to stay in a hotel that is decorated head to toe in this sumptuous design?
Laura Ashley The Belsfield Lake District opened in 2014 after a major renovation and is the second boutique hotel the design brand has launched in recent years. Located next to Lake Windermere in the charming town of Bowness-on-Windermere, the Grade II listed hotel has breathtaking views across the lush Lake District landscape from near enough every window you look out of – including our elegant lake-view suite.
We felt spoilt, not only by the delicious truffles left for us on the super king-size bed, which was dressed in Egyptian cotton linen and super-plump duck down pillows, but all of the contemporary mod-cons you could come to expect in a hotel of this calibre, including the big under-floor heated bathroom with electronic toilet seat that had more functions than we knew what to do with, and the extendable 38” HD television – perfect for those lazy mornings in bed.
As part of our two-night break, we enjoyed both breakfast and dinner in the hotel, which meant we were able to sample both the restaurants located within.
After a lovely day taking in the sights and sounds of Bowness, we sat down for our first evening meal in the Brasserie, which offers a relaxed menu of classic British dishes. Three courses later, standout dishes included the twice baked Lancashire cheese soufflé and decadent sticky toffee pudding.
On the second evening we dined in the Belsfield Restaurant, which has two AA rosettes. We took our seats overlooking the lake in the grand dining room and toasted the gastronomic night ahead. Rocco Abazia, the food and beverage manager, made our night perfect with his charming conversation and exceptional service throughout the five course menu, which combines elements of nouvelle cuisine and traditional British dishes.
The high level of service from everyone we encountered at the Belsfield is of note, and proved that the hotel is simply not style over substance.
It’s interior design certainly lives up to its luxurious namesake, but for me it was the people within the hotel that made our stay so very special.
Laura Ashley The Belsfield Lake District, Kendal Road, Bowness-on-Windermere, LA23 3EL. Tel: 015 3944 2448, www.lauraashleyhotels.com
