Breaking news
Harden's says
In the main hotel, Source, serving a 10-course tasting menu from former Fat Duck chef Ollie Bridgwater, has replaced Hrishi. Meanwhile, Gilpin Lake House, overlooking Knipe Tarn a mile away, serves a lavish afternoon tea (plus breakfast for overnight guests).
Harden's survey result
Summary
“A smart but ultra-comfortable Lakeland hotel with a stunning restaurant from ex-Fat Duck chef Ollie Bridgewater, who has really put his stamp on the menu over the last year, with cooking that is original, refined and absolutely delicious”. The venue itself is “spread over a couple of dining rooms, with well-set tables complete with white tablecloths”. This is “clever cooking” such as “gnocchi with identically shaped mousses of the local St James cheese – a remarkable dish with an intense truffled jus gras”; or “Lobster pappardelle – thin pasta with some herbs rolled in, excellent sauce and Oscietra caviar”. The menu is based around three courses with an ‘Origin’ menu for £90 per person; or a ‘Source Culinary Journey’ for £120 per person. As well as its evident gastronomic attributes, it’s also often recommended as a “romantic” destination too.
Summary
“Never failing with the quality of food and service” – ex-Fat Duck chef Ollie Bridgwater did well to hang onto the Michelin star at the Cunliffe family’s Lakeland hotel, where he succeeded Hrishikesh Desai (who previously ran the dining room as Hrishi) just a matter of weeks before it was due to be re-rated. Despite the constant updating of the property, it is a relatively traditional space. There’s a three-course à la carte for £90, or a six-course tasting option for £120 (£200 if you go for the accompanying wine-tasting accompaniment). There is also a less informal option of the Knipe Grill at Gilpin Lake House, which is a waterside building elsewhere on the estate. And see also Gilpin Spice.
Summary
“A total wow all round” – “every time we visit, chef Hrishikesh Desai delights with classic cooking, delicately and cleverly spiced”. The more refined of his two restaurants at the Cunliffe family’s luxury hotel, “Hrishi is simply perfection in every way”, with its “innovative” Asian-inflected modern British cuisine adding spice to the “unimprovable” Lakeland surroundings.
Summary
Hrishikesh Desai’s hotel outfit – the more upscale of his two dining options here – is simply “stunning” and perfect for “treat time away”, given its picture-perfect Lake District location, cosseting service and modern British menus with an Asian twist (sufficient to woo the tyre men).
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 Source (fka Hrishi), Gilpin Hotel?
Crook Rd, Windermere, LA23 3NE
Restaurant details
Prices
| Availability | 2 courses | 3 courses |  |
 |
 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pretheatre | £75.00 |  |
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| Drinks |
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|---|---|
| Wine per bottle | £32.00 |
| Filter Coffee | £2.00 |
| Extras |
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|---|---|
| Bread | £0.00 |
| Service | 10.00% |
Crook Rd, Windermere, LA23 3NE
| Number of Diners: | |
| Required Time: | |
Opening hours
| Monday | 6 pm‑9 pm |
| Tuesday | 6 pm‑9 pm |
| Wednesday | 6 pm‑9 pm |
| Thursday | 6 pm‑9 pm |
| Friday | 6 pm‑9 pm |
| Saturday | 6 pm‑9 pm |
| Sunday | 6 pm‑9 pm |
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