Skelwith Bridge, Afternoon Tea Restaurant Guide

Built in 1891, this turreted Victorian landmark has a dramatic waterside position and recently emerged from a major upgrade, complete with glass-fronted dining room. The cuisine wins a good all-round rep in feedback: in particular the “amazing afternoon tea, with some lovely interesting touches in dish choices (I didn’t know where to start!), all wrapped up with the most amazing view over Lake Windermere”.

This “beautiful boutique hotel in Ambleside” (with 23 rooms) has been one of the better-known Lakeland hotels for decades and all reports acclaim its “lovely” style, “warm and friendly” service and “really very well-executed and skillful food”. In July 2025, it underwent a major change of gear with the appointment of Cameron Smith as head chef and the launch of a new dining room – Rowan – which aims to fill a perceived gap in the Lakes between cosy gastropub fare and ‘high falutin’ fine dining. The new menu is notably approachably priced and more bistro/brasserie in its level of aspiration. It looks promising, but as the change was well after our annual diners’ poll, no rating seems appropriate till next year.