This Fairytale Gothic Mansion Is Officially The UK's Most Romantic Hotel

An idyllic Victorian mansion in the Lake District has been awarded the title of UK’s most romantic hotel.

The Forest Side is a 20-room boutique hotel, taking its name from a line in William Wordsworth’s famous pastoral poem ‘Michael’.

Built in the late 19th century the historic home recently underwent a major renovation keeping many of the original gothic features and adding the mod cons you’d expect from a five-star luxury getaway.

One of the luxurious bedrooms with en suite bathroom

There are three types of room to choose from: cosy, superb and master, each more luxurious than the last. The hotel is also dog-friendly so guests can bring their furry friends along too!

The Forest Side also has a Michelin-starred restaurant, where head chef Kevin Tickle uses locally sourced seasonal ingredients in his tasting menus. Dishes include cod and langoustines, caught on the west coast, locally farmed beef and, for dessert, wild berries foraged from the surrounding countryside.

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Michelin starred cuisine at The Forest Side restaurant

The Forest Side was awarded the UK’s most romantic hotel in The Good Hotel Guide 2018: Great Britain and Ireland which was released earlier this week.

According to the guide: ‘In the Lake District, [hotelier] Andrew Wildsmith has created a modern rustic setting at this elegantly understated Victorian Gothic mansion standing in acres of landscaped gardens and dappled woodland.’

Other winners of this year’s César awards (named in honour of Swiss hotelier César Ritz) are:

Newcomer of the year
The Mash Inn, Radnage, Buckinghamshire

Seaside hotel of the year
Soar Mill Cove Hotel, Soar Mill Cove, Devon

Luxury hotel of the year
Hambleton Hall, Hambleton, Rutland

B&B of the year
St Cuthbert’s House, Seahouses, Northumberland

Country house hotel of the year
Judges, Yarm, North Yorkshire

Inn of the year
Red Lion Freehouse, East Chisenbury, Wiltshire

Scottish hotel of the year
Burrastow House, Walls, Shetland

Welsh restaurant-with-rooms of the year
Llys Meddyg, Newport, Pembrokeshire

Irish hotel of the year
Viewmount House, Longford, Co. Longford

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