Harden's survey result
Summary
“Capitalising on the stunning views down from Whinlatter Pass”, this converted coaching inn above Keswick (in the Whinlatter Forest) is the epitome of a beautifully located Lakeland property; and fans say it’s “a great place to stay and go walking, then come back for amazing meals”. Chef Sam Miller has lots of top Scandi names on his CV (including Noma and Faviken) and his eight-course tasting menu for £110 per person achieves some high ratings in our annual diners’ poll. Not everyone is wowed – a couple of reporters found it “disappointing given its reputation”, or with dishes that had “too much pickling and cooking techniques that were not to my taste”. But for the majority, it’s ‘mission accomplished’ – “we had high expectations and the food was excellent and service efficient and friendly”.
Summary
A “gem in the Lakes” with “superb views” from its dramatic location – this seventeenth-century former coaching inn above Keswick in the Whinlatter Forest earned a stellar dining reputation in recent years under chef Ben Wilkinson, who left last summer. His successor, Yorkshire-born Sam Miller, has worked in senior roles at Noma in Copenhagen and Faviken in Sweden, and has done a good job of maintaining a high rating this year. (Owners Kath and Liam Berney have said they would like to sell up and retire if they can find a buyer to take the Cottage forward).
Summary
Dramatically set 1,000ft up in the Whinlatter Forest above Keswick, chef Ben Wilkinson's “very good value and immensely welcoming” restaurant-with-rooms is “as good as ever” (and much accoladed). Its “lovely, varied tasting menu” (starting from £50 for lunch) showcases the rich local larder, and the wine pairings are “inspired and brilliant” too.
For 33 years we've been curating reviews of the UK's most notable restaurant. In a typical year, diners submit over 50,000 reviews to create the most authoritative restaurant guide in the UK. Each year, the guide is re-written from scratch based on this survey (although for the 2021 edition, reviews are little changed from 2020 as no survey could run for that year).
Have you eaten at The Cottage In The Wood?
Magic Hill, Whinlatter Forest, Braithwaite, CA12 5TW
Restaurant details
The Cottage In The Wood Restaurant Diner Reviews
"back to its best.. the 'Everything Bagel' was worth a second serving. All round good meal in a lovely setting."
"Very nice lunch but it didn't really "wow". Some small things like tomatoes not skinned, fregola a bit hard in places. Flavours and textures generally good. Beef good but could have had a bit more char on the outside for flavour. desserts nicely done."
"New chef Jack Bond has really hit the ground running. The 7 course Tasting Menu is a treat with particular highlights being the Duck Leg raviolo with the lightest fluffiest Everything Bagel Shokupan, the Gin-cured Trout with Horseradish and the Pumpkin Agnolotti. A real surprise for me personally was the Creedy Carver Duck with Kalettes and Rhubarb which was served with a “citrine” (which has cured my 50 year trauma caused by an unfortunate early duck a l’orange incident) Wine list is concise but cocktails are sensational ( I particularly recommend the Winter Old Fashioned) Ambience is welcoming and cosy"
Prices
 Drinks |
|
|---|---|
| Wine per bottle | £30.00 |
| Filter Coffee | £3.00 |
 Extras |
|
|---|---|
| Bread | £0.00 |
| Service | 10.00% |
Magic Hill, Whinlatter Forest, Braithwaite, CA12 5TW
Opening hours
| Monday | CLOSED |
| Tuesday | 11 am‑4 pm |
| Wednesday | 11 am‑4 pm |
| Thursday | 11 am‑4 pm |
| Friday | 11 am‑4 pm |
| Saturday | CLOSED |
| Sunday | CLOSED |
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