The Daffodil Hotel, Ambleside

A large modern hotel adapted from existing buildings on the outskirts of the village and almost opposite the major tourist attraction, Wordsworth's Dove Cottage. The main hotel faces a large car park, but the Walkers Bar is at the side and is more convenient for the bus stops on the A591. Naming it the Walkers Bar is the only concession that the proprietors made towards making this a welcoming watering hole for walkers. In reality it's just a smart modern hotel bar, and anyone with rucksack, waterproofs and muddy boots will immediately feel out of place. There are a few high chairs at the bar, with nearby a small curtained area with two booths and a handful of low chairs set around a couple of tables and a TV screen. Further on there's a large dining room with views toward the lake. On the bar are the usual fonts, with just one hand pump and an advert for "boutique beers", which were bottles kept on a cool shelf, including the local Brodies Prime and Red from Hawkshead, and Bluebird and Thorsten from Coniston, as well as Wychwood Hobgoblin. The hand pulled beer was Hawkshead's Windermere Pale (£3.80 a pint) and their Lakeland Lager was also available on a keg font. The service, from a polite and friendly Rumanian with excellent English, was welcoming and efficient, but there's no disguising that this is just a hotel bar and not really a pub at all. It may be ok for a swift one if waiting for the hourly bus to Ambleside or beyond, but I can't think of any reason for making a longer stop.

Official site of The Daffodil Hotel & Spa - www.daffodilhotel.co.uk

Official site of The Daffodil Hotel & Spa - www.daffodilhotel.co.uk