Rothay Manor

Built in 1823 for a Liverpool merchant and known originally as Rothay Bank, the Grade II listed house on the edge of Ambleside became a hotel under its present name in 1936. Jamie and Jenna Shail bought the business in 2016, having previously run ski chalets in France, and now operate it as an independent hotel with 23 individually decorated bedrooms and a restaurant open to non-residents. The cast-iron veranda and balcony were added at the request of the original owner's French wife and remain a feature of the building's exterior. The hotel belongs to Small Luxury Hotels of the World, a marketing group for independently owned properties rather than a hotel chain in its own right. Jamie Shail cooks alongside the kitchen team, drawing on produce from the surrounding area for the dinner menu. The hotel sits a short walk from the centre of Ambleside on the road toward Rydal, with gardens running down to the River Rothay.