Lakes Hotel & Spa

We booked a stay at Lakes Hotel & Spa for my birthday and, if I’m honest, I became slightly apprehensive in the run-up after reading some of the recent reviews. In hindsight, we really needn’t have worried. From the moment we arrived, the service was warm and welcoming. We were greeted at the gate with “Welcome Mr and Mrs Joyce,” and as we drove up to reception, a member of the concierge team came out to meet us, again addressing us by name and directing us where to park. Check-in was straightforward, and we were welcomed with a complimentary glass of prosecco before being given a brief tour of the hotel and shown to our room. We stayed in a standard room, which was a great size and had a lovely, comfortable bed. Was it 5-star? In our opinion, no. It was clean and comfortable but definitely showing signs of age, including in the bathroom. The TV signal didn’t work (not that we had much intention of watching TV), but with a large corner sofa and big television, you would expect everything to be in working order. Wifi wasn’t very good and we also had one occasion where housekeeping removed our used towels and didn’t replace them. We spoke to reception who quickly brought some more, although they turned out to be hand towels. These are only small issues, but they do highlight that the hotel isn’t quite delivering a true 5-star experience. We spent a lot of time by the pool, which we thoroughly enjoyed. Being able to order drinks from the bar and enjoy them poolside was a real treat. The drinks were all good quality and reasonably priced. Again, there were some signs of wear around the pool area and the ladies’ changing rooms could do with a little TLC. Everything was functional and stocked with lovely Elemis products, but it just lacked that polished 5-star feel. We ate at Mizuumi and had been slightly concerned after reading some negative reviews. Honestly, we were left wondering whether people had reviewed the wrong restaurant because we had a fantastic experience. The setting was lovely, the food was excellent, and we would absolutely recommend it and happily eat there again. The location is another huge plus – just a 5 minute walk into Bowness, making it ideal for exploring the area. Was our stay perfect? No. But would we stay again? Absolutely. There are some issues that need addressing, so don’t go expecting a flawless 5-star experience. However, if you’re looking for a comfortable stay, friendly service and a fantastic location, Lakes Hotel & Spa is a great option and one we’d happily return to.

A Bit pricey . No information pack or fridge in room. Some rooms at same price had a better view

Great food, great atmosphere, custom cocktails

What an amazing hotel. We had the perfect stay celebrating our 40th wedding anniversary. From the minute we arrived all the staff were exceptionally welcoming. Patrick guided us through what the hotel had to offer. A complementary bottle was brought to our room. Thank you. An evening meal with great service from Konrad and Luke. We also had the most relaxing and professional treatments from the Jolene and Tasha. A perfect end to a wonderful weekend.