As part of our +1 culture at English Lakes, it is always our aim to make raving fans! John Morley, a self confessed raving fan of Lancaster House (Read his TripAdvisor Review) tells us about his New Year Break with us…
Lancaster House has changed my perception of New Year from one of dread – the strain of hosting our own house party or an evening with hundreds of strangers who, at midnight smother you with unwelcomed affection! – To one of genuine excitement and enjoyment. From the moment we arrive it is like old friends gathering to spend special time together.
A Warm Welcome
Our arrival is just what you expect, smiling faces on reception and plenty of offers to help with our luggage greets us on arrival. The reception area is toasty and warm from the roaring log fire and once unpacked we enjoy a sumptuous afternoon tea. Knowing it will be huge we indulge in the knowledge that as genuine gym fanatics, we always make full use of The Sandpiper Club leisure facilities here.
Dinner at Lancaster House is special. Often at home dinner is rushed and here it is great to be waited on, served amazing food and allowed to enjoy it in your own time. After dinner there is always something fun arranged by Tim and the team to allow for us to get to know our fellow guests, and this time it was a ‘Night at the Races’.
New Years Eve
The next morning knowing that tonight is New Year’s Eve and it will be a night of fun, frolicking and very little sleep, we take advantage of waking refreshed and spend an hour exercising – tomorrow morning will be wholly different!
My wife loves her breakfast; it is, for her, a deciding factor of whether we return or not to a particular hotel. We adore the choice here – traditional continental fare, full English buffet, pastries, juices and the option of specialties that can be ordered from the kitchen.
We have been visiting Lancaster House for over 7 years now and there is always something or somewhere in the local area that we want to visit. This year we chose to visit the Ingleton Waterfalls.
Later in the early evening we arrive in the main hall for a canapé and Champagne reception, a piper pipes from the stairwell before we are led into dinner in the beautifully prepared and decorated Bowland suite.
This evening we enjoy a five-course gala dinner and entertainment from Freddy Mercury and Blues Brothers. The chimes of Big Ben at midnight allow a moment to reflect on 2013. We continue to enjoy the treats from the bar, the sumptuous supper and high tempo entertainment looking forward to 2014.
New Years Day
After the luxury of a small lie-in, we wake refreshed. At breakfast the chef even has prepared a special dish to celebrate the New Year.
We have family in the area and visit them for a couple of hours at a lovely little craft shop called ‘The Barn’ in nearby Scorton before returning to the hotel for more friendly rivalry with fellow guests. In ‘The Generation Game’ our skills in Pottery, laying a banquet table, funky dancing, and cake decorating are tested! All in a quest to have a go at the hallowed conveyor belt memory game. This time, success! But winning was a mere bonus!
Our last fun-filled day at Lancaster House is finished off with a nice meal, a lovely glass of wine and Tim’s Pub Quiz.
This evening we discuss with friends new and old, our highlights of the break before a fond farewell.
We look forward to the next time we can spend our down-time in our most favourite place, Lancaster House!