Forest Side Hotel

The Forest Side Hotel

Overview

Forest Side sits just outside Grasmere village, in the heart of Cumbria’s Lake District, and promises a refined but unstuffy base for a gourmet weekend break. Set among verdant gardens and woodlands, the former Victorian mansion is now a renowned restaurant with rooms: Forest Side, whose blend of inventive Michelin dining and calming rural hospitality draws food lovers and walkers alike. It’s ideal for couples or small groups seeking tranquil scenery, walking trails and an immersive tasting-menu experience across one or two days.

Eat

The Forest Side restaurant is led by chef Paul Leonard and has retained its Michelin star for 2024, also boasting four AA Rosettes. The kitchen’s ethos is deeply rooted in the Northern landscape, with over 90% of ingredients sourced from Cumbria and the Lake District—including vegetables grown in the hotel’s own gardens. Dishes are built on seasonal British produce and an informed approach to foraging, preserving and slow, flavourful cooking. Plates are artfully considered: menus shift regularly but you might find Herdwick lamb paired with wild herbs, or local Dexter beef delivered with just-picked greens. Both lunch and dinner are tasting menu-focused, and a vegetarian option is always available. Service strikes that hallmark balance of warm friendliness and quiet precision, creating a space where relaxed celebration feels effortless. The wine list is carefully curated, offering classical pairings and thoughtful alternatives.

Sleep

The hotel’s rooms vary in size and outlook, but all exude a gentle contemporary luxury: floral wallpapers, soft pastel shades and antique touches meet large beds, woodland or garden views, and elegant bathrooms—many with freestanding tubs. Suites add extra space and deep comfort, but even entry-level rooms retain a sense of country house calm with modern crafting. Tranquility is tangible, whether you’re soaking in mountain scenery from your window or winding down in a plush lounge chair. Forest Side will appeal to anyone seeking restorative sleep after a gastronomic adventure—especially couples after comfort and rural quietude.

Retreat

There’s little need to rush at Forest Side: afternoons are best spent exploring the gardens, sampling a cocktail in the relaxed lounges, or wandering the woodland trails straight from the grounds. The village of Grasmere—with its literary history and scenic Lakeland fells—is a ten-minute walk away. Guests can easily reach iconic beauty spots like Grasmere Lake (three-quarters of a mile) and Rydal Water, or set out for invigorating hikes towards Helm Crag and Easedale Tarn. By car, the hotel lies around 40 minutes from the M6, or 25 minutes from Windermere station. After a day outdoors, the allure of Forest Side’s dining and deeply comfortable bedrooms makes for a satisfying close to any short stay in the Lakes.