21 The Lakes Boutique Hotel

, Windermere, United Kingdom
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21 The Lakes Boutique Hotel

, Windermere
4 star

Rooms: 3

Lake Road - Windermere - England - LA23 2EQ - United Kingdom Hotel Website | | 44 01539445052
360 Traveller

Reviews - 21 The Lakes Boutique Hotel

4/10
Not worth the price!
Submitted by: Liz in 24/06/08
  • Age Group: 31 - 40
  • From: United Kingdom
  • Traveller type: Weekend Breaker
At £150 per night B&B for me and my husband, I expected good accommodation with a decent breakfast. Accommodation was luxury that had faded with time, wear and tear. Molton Brown toiletries hailed by the hotel consisted of handwash and wash&go. Breakfast was poor quality and very limited - the breakfast at the Premier Inn chain is far superior and much cheaper. Unless you are getting a great discount at 21thelakes, my adice would be you can get better for the same or less price elsewhere. Hot tub was nice though.
6/10
Nice and clean but overpriced
Submitted by: Helen in 20/02/06
  • Age Group: 31 - 40
  • From: United Kingdom
  • Traveller type: Young Couple
Room was nice and clean and enjoyed the spa bath. However hotel is on a main road and was noisy. I would also say it is overpriced.

Historical Traveller Reviews of 21 The Lakes Boutique Hotel

An enjoyable stay

from Coolwaters
I booked to stay at 21 The Lakes the night before my arrival and was given a cheaper rate than usual. On arrival we were shown to our room on the first floor of a cottage across from the main hotel - the room was clean, tidy and the bed was so comfortable that we did not want to get up in the morning. Breakfast could be delivered to the room at an additional charge so if the weather hadn't have been so glorious I would have taken advantage of this service. The staff at the hotel were both friendly and welcoming and, in particular, the lady on reception was a great help to us in assisting with planned activities.

In response to other comments, I would best describe 21 The Lakes as a luxury guest house. I found the website to be informative and gave a good description of the property and each of the room types on offer.

I would like to stay again although next time I would like to take advantage of one of the rooms with outdoor hot tubs, ideal for a dip in the summer weather after a long lazy day by the lake.

I found the location of the property to be ideal - a short stroll into Bowness and Windermere villages. Just across the road from the hotel is a lovely romantic walk through the woods and down to the lake.

Lovely Birthday surprise!!!!! In the penthouse suite!!!

from A TripAdvisor Member
The break away at this hotel was a surprise from my boyfriend for my birthday. When we arrived we were greeted into what was a very friendly atmosphere, contrary to what some reviews may state. We were shown to our room, which was the penthouse suite, and were told all we would need to know during our stay.
The room itself was beautiful with private sauna, jacuzzi bath for two and seperate lounge area which was very comfortable.
The hotel is in a fantastic position providing easy walking distance to both windermere and bowness town centres.
The first night around 9pm we opted to dine out in windermere town centre,there was very little choice as every where stopped serving at 9 so keep this in mind. We were only left with one option of a chinese restaurant, which luckily turned out to be great!
On the second night we chose to dine in the hotel restaurant but unfortunately the food was not to the same standard as our room, which is the only reason we did not rate the hotel overall, excellent.
On the final day of our stay we walked down into bowness, which was alot busier. There were plenty of restaurants to choose from so if you are going out in the evening for a meal bowness would be a more promising option.
Overall the stay was fantastic, the staff were more than helpful and i would definately recommend this hotel for a relaxing, luxurious break in the lakes.

not what expected

from diva022
Stayed here for birthday, booked as a treat. Was not as advertised therfore we were very disappointed. Stayed in mini regal room. As other reviews have stated, poor decor and seemed to have been done 'on the cheap'. Worn and tatty best description.Bathroom was small and again not as expected. Next to busy road so lots of noise throughout day and night. The saving grace was, the bed was comfortable!
Reception tiny and every conversation could be heard by other guests, I was very concerned that when sitting in the small conservatory, just off the reception, a member of staff was taking a phone booking and took a card payment, and we could hear as she repeated all card details number, expiry name and security number very poor practice.
Car parking here is also a task if you have a car bigger than a mini, car park is small and awkward.
Also the dvd in room would not work, asked member of staff for help she brought another one which my husband had to set up, and this didnt work either.
In summary dont rely on the website descriptions, the rooms have the novelty factor, but it is not worth the money, you would be better to stay in one of the superior hotels in area for similar price.

Waste of money

from EddieOxford
We arrived at the hotel having paid fully in advance, with no option to cancel with refund unless they resold the room. I can see why they insist on upfront payment - because there is nothing boutique about this hotel. The room was cheap and worn, the restaurant amateur.

Don't stay there.

bad customer service - great marketing

from sowterjm
This hotel is just not what it is marketed as - the marketing manager deserves a pay rise. It wasn't really terrible but it certainly wasn't luxurious. We ended up using it just as a bed for the night which wasn't the idea. We had numerous problems with the customer service. We cancelled our booking subject to it being let out. Since we didn't hear anything we just went and surprise, it had already been relet for the one night but noone had called or re-imbursed us. We found a room for that night but had to go and stay the second night because they wouldn't refund. This is stressful but especially at 5 months pregnant! We also over-heard some very disrespectful conversations to other customers on the phone while we were stood right there. Fine for being close to town but that's all

Very Misleading Website

from lovenest
We have just returned from a 3 night stay at 21 The Lakes. We found the reception area to be very small,unlike the pictures on the website. On entering our room (THE PREMIER REGAL SUITE) ROOM 7,we found that despite the website hype and clever use of lighting to make the room appear cosy and inviting, it definitely lacked the 'WOW' factor. Having looked at surrounding hotels and what facilities were included for a lot less money we feel we have been misled. It appears that they ask for money upfront before you arrive to stop guests from cancelling after one night and booking in a much more welcoming and luxurious hotel for the same money. On our second morning we walked down the stairs which takes you into the small reception area,the manager was stood in the doorway of the kitchen. I tried to make eye contact with him to bid him good morning as you do when you are supposed to be having a nice restful stay at a hotel, he gave me a sideways glance then looked away. I didn't give up though...and when I bid him a cheery "GOOD MORNING" he reluctantly turned his gaze from the kitchen area and grunted "MORNING". This man needs a course in customer care, but why should he bother? He's already got our hard earned cash in his bank account so has no incentive to make pleasantries with his guests. Perhaps he should acquaint himself with the concept of HOSPITALITY!
The rest of the staff were generally friendly. However, at 10:35am on our last morning (check-out time being 10:30am) a very stroppy young lady arrived at our room and curtly announced that check-out was
10:30am, that put us firmly put in our place!!!! We scurried out at 10:45am feeling well and truly berated
In all we feel that this 'hotel' is way overpriced having seen what else is on offer. Suffice it to say we won't be staying here again!!!

Even Dick Turpin wore a mask !

from A TripAdvisor Member
We were really looking forward to our first stay in a Boutique Hotel; expectations were high, due to the advertising and expensive cost ie £486 for 2 nights. We stayed over the New Year period and paid an additional £100 for our New Years Eve meal.

To sum up the worst experience we've had in a "Hotel" (if that's what you call it) please note the following:-

1. Overpriced, over rated - not value for money, is definately NOT a hotel.
2. Food very poor. New Years Eve meal (4 courses) could have been served by Paul Radcliffe, we were in and out in 1 hour.
Definately not cooked by a chef,(lumps of ice in the desert)not what you would expect for £50 a head.
3. Lots of rules and regulations the sort you'd find in a holiday camp eg if not out of room by 10.30 it would not be serviced.
4. Guests seem to be an inconvenience (except when paying out).
5. Rooms heated like a sauna, couldn't lower temperature.
6. Kitchen area is next to reception and therefore food smells linger across the hotel.
7. Champagne ordered at New Year was not served in an ice bucket.
8. Shabby finishings in the bedroom.
9. Abscence of management, and refusal to discuss our concerns.

If you dont want much for lots of money you wont be disappointed!

Our recommendation if you want a superior hotel is to stay in the 4 star Lakeside Hotel in Newby Bride on Windermere.

Overall a nice hotel, but website is a bit misleading

from Joodle
We stayed in the new contemporary suite for our 1st anniversary. We had a lovely stay there but feel that the hotel is positioning itself way out of its depth. To call it a hotel is stretching the imagination. on our last night, we ate at the Old England hotel in Bowness, and had a fabulous meal - now THAT is a hotel! This is a B&B, a very nice one, but a B&B nonetheless.

GOOD: Very clean room, friendly helpful staff, good location, trendy boutique style decor, individually themed rooms. Massive hot tub in each room.

BAD: You have to pay the full hotel bill upfront when you book! No phones in rooms and no mini-bar. More of a B&B than a hotel. Sky tv channels don't work, bathroom looked v dated compared to the room. Breakfast is a buffet so you only get fresh bacon/egg etc if you're there at 8.30am. TV in room was in a hole that had been cut in the wall, but it had been cut really badly so the gaps weren't straight. Made it look really amateurish. You'd think they're put some architraving round the edge to neaten it up! The grouting on the tiles around the hot tub could do with a scrub with some bleach!! There's no hotel bar as such - just a cupboard with a few bottles in it and you then have your drink in the smallest 'conservatory' ever, which has too much furniture in it!

SUGGESTED IMPROVEMENTS: It's meant to be a romantic hotel so thick white bathrobes and matching towels in the rooms would be nice. Fresh flowers in the rooms or a single flower or heart shaped chocolate on your pillow each day would be nice, and wouldn't cost much. Adding phones and a mini bar would make it feel more like a hotel than a B&B.

I would recommend this hotel to people wanting a romantic weekend, BUT be careful which room you choose. The ones that have a patio at the back of the hotel overlook things like the kitchen and laundry rooms, so don't think you're getting a good view, and I imagine they could be a bit noisy as well. We were in room 4 at the front which was probably one of the best rooms.
Management Response from WilHow
The web site we feel gives a very accurate picture and details of the hotel. We are a small hotel and do not state that there are telephones or mini bars in any of the rooms. We state also that we are on the main road and as such do not advertise views, for any one booking a room that is outside they are advised of the position of the room. If there had been a problem with receiving any of the sky channels then this could be mentioned to a member of staff who could then rectify the situation. At breakfast the cooked food is constanly replaced with fresh.

Great hotel with a difference

from A TripAdvisor Member
Booked into 21 the Lakes for our first wedding Anniversary, stayed in Premier Suite 8 which was perfect. I read the reviews after I had booked the hotel and was a little sceptical at what would happen when we got there! All I can think of is that people with a bad experience are quicker to write a review than those who had a great stay. Our room was perfect, the four poster was extremely comfortable, large TV & DVD perfect for lazy mornings. The spa bath is perfect size for two and allows you to relax whilst watching TV if you so wish! The best bit of the room is the secluded outdoor Jacuzzi, its covered so even if its raining (it was when we were in it!) you don't feel the rain, perfect for relaxing at night with a nice bottle of Champagne.... Didn't eat in the hotel other than breakfasts, which were more than adequate. I agree the price is a tad expensive, but then I think most hotels / guest houses in the lakes are these days! If you want to go somewhere thats a little different, want to spoil someone or be spoiled, is within walking distance of some great restaurants (I can recommend the Thai in Bowness) then try and stay at least once at this lovely hotel. I will be going back at some point in the future.

t be put off by bad reviews, Go and enjoy it for yourself

from TravellingTink
I stayed in the Penthouse Suite for my 21st birthday this April. I am from Windermere and have stayed in various hotels around the world and yet I still chose to stay at 21 with my boyfriend for a very special birthday.

I have seen the growth of this hotel over the past six years and it has gone from being a mediocre out of date hotel to a stylish and vibrant hotel, something which is much needed in traditional lake district ares.

The room itself was impeccably clean and decorated to a high standard. I do not feel that the furnishings used were tacky or goudy, but well placed and well thought through. I was a real treat to stay in the penthouse with a private sauna and a MASSIVE spa jacuzzi bath not to mention the use of two DVD/CD TV's which had satelite functions (one in our bedroom and one in the longe/sauna area).

We did not eat at the hotel on our stay as we had to attend a family dinner at a local restaurant but breakfast was excellent. People who stay at 21 should remind themselves that included in the price of their bedroom is a pass to the local lesuire facility. Those which chose not to use this are fools. A brief trip to Parklands Country Club is well worth your while to relax and unwind.

For all of those reviewers that complain of the location of the hotel, may I ask you is the road on the side of the hotel really that noisy or are you being pedantic. I know what traffic in Windermere is like and even in Summer months it is never bustling and noisy just steady and slow flowing. I sat in the conservotary and didn't even notice!!

The staff have been downtrodden in reviews on this site, with comments about them being a waitress/receptionist/chef, however I feel I need to let tourists into a little secret.... This is comman practice in the Lake District Hotel and Catering industry.

I found the staff extreamley helpful. Whether it be renting us a DVD or bringing up a champagne gift to our Attic room, they were helpful and pleasent. Even the Manager Will Howarth (who is getting a very bad reputation on this site) was charming and considerate.

I did not pay for the stay as it was a present for my birthday but I am aware of the price and I think it is more than reasonable, especially if you take a look at prices in the area for old fashioned stuffy hotels.

I originally wanted to stay in the sister hotel Aprodites as I think that it is innotive and fresh but they were fully booked on the weekend needed. However now I am glad we stayed in the Penthouse. I can't think of a better way to have spent my 21st than at 21 (even the name suggests so!!) My only problem now is waiting for my next birthday and choosing a diiferent room... I'm stuck betwwen the Grasmere at 21 or the Austine Powers or the log cabin at Aphrodites!!!

Overall I think that this hotel is striving to be a youthful and vibrant place to stay. It is able to cater for all ages by bringing life to a sometimes dull area. It is suitable for romance and relax or just a change of scene.

Not only will I be back but so will my friends form home and abroard!!!!

Top Local Tips for Windermere

from Ambleside back to Bowness/Windermere We went on the boat trip stopping off at Ambleside we decided that the bus would be better to travel back on to save time... however we didn't account for the school run picking up about 20 rowdy kids at the Lakes school in hindsight we should've stuck with the boat journey back

great place to eat Eat at Jacksons bistro in the town near the lake. Nice surruondings. Realy good food with a great value for money inclusive menu!

Special Offers Look out for the Inclusive menus usually displayed in the windows of some restaurants in Bowness on Windemere. Postillion Restaurant and very reasonable for a delicious three course meal. Service was excellent.

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Other names for 21 The Lakes Boutique Hotel

  • 21 the lakes windermere
  • 21 the lakes hotel windermere
  • 21 the lakes
  • 21 lakes
  • Address: Lake Road - Windermere - England - LA23 2EQ - United Kingdom
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