We have just returned home from a two night stay at the Forest SIde Hotel. When you get to the top of the winding diveway it simply takes your breath away the house is beautiful and the grounds seem to go on for ever, having said that when we asked about exploring the grounds we were told only the garden around the house, it would have been nice to go looking for the deer, squirrels and rabbits as promised on the web site, none of which we saw during our stay by the way. We did see the badgers on our second night which were a delight.
Our room was small but comfortable and clean (two chairs would have been nice for a double room) but there wouldnt have been room for another.You got a feeling of neglect walking around the house it felt 'sad' and in need of lots of loving care and attention (I wish I had the money to sort it it is a beautiful building and deserves love and attention)
We loved the winding corridors to get to our room. Breakfast was OK but at 52 pounds a night for a tiny room and breakfast even in Grasmere (we have stayed at a few good ones) was a little high, just the basic breakfast no choice of eggs just scrambled, but never the less cooked nice.
Glad we went just to see the badgers but dont think it would be my first choice in Grasmere next time.

A year on from our wedding day in the Forest Side Hotel my wife and I returned for a short visit to celebrate our first anniversary.
Even tho it was a year since we were last there, the managers, Shelley and Dave were there to greet us with the warmest of welcomes. In our room there was a complimentary bottle of champagne and a card to celebrate our anniversarry...a lovely surprise, It really is the small personal touches that make this hotel so special.
Big, bright lounges (along with a bar) with tremendous views of glorious landscaped gardens are informal and unstuffy and create a truly relaxing atmosphere both indoors and out.
Breakfast is a fantastic all you can eat affair cooked by Daves own fair hand and it really does set you up for a day out on the fells.
If you are looking for 5 star rooms with all mod cons in a formal ' nose in the air couldnt care less' environment then dont bother to come here, however, if you want warm friendly service in the most relexing of country lodges then you couldnt pick a better place than forest side.

My first impresssion was of a really beautiful place -the setting is superb and the entrance and lounges are elegantly furnished with lovely views, but the bedrooms are difficult to find - the corridors are like a maze, and I needed to negotiate at least five fire doors to get to my room. This was spotlessly clean, big bath towels, huge shower cubicle - but the shower was unpredictably and dangerously hot - and no shower cap provided!!( surely a basic freebie, along with soap, shampoo &c?) Also no clock radio. Odd, these days.
Breakfast was OK, but certainly not the amazing spread others have enthused about - everything that could be was prepacked. (And dont even THINK about eating in the so-called Bistro at night --the food is, to be polite, mediocre)
On the other hand, the hotel reasonably priced and the staff are pleasant and helpful - it just needs a bit of tweaking with details

I decided to book my 50th Birthday weekend at the Forest Side Hotel after a number of fantastic weekend breaks and holidays there.
The staff are amongst the friendliest I have ever met and they work very hard at ensuring all their guests are comfortable and well looked after.
I invited 32 guests to my birthday weekend, having live entertainment and a sit down four course meal on the Saturday evening.
The organisation of the evening went brilliantly and everything just fit into place.
The tables had been laid out beautifully and the food was fit for a King. Everyone commented about how good it was and that the service had been great.
Shelly and Dave, the managers at the Hotel, have always made us very welcome. So much so that we never want to leave when we are there.
Apart from making my 50th the best ever birthday yet, they have to now look forward to the majority of my family revisiting them for holidays and weekend breaks.
What more can I say?