The Cranleigh Boutique

It’s safe to say The Cranleigh Boutique is not what you’d expect from a Lake District hotel. Far from the traditional cosy cottage feel you’d find in most of the places to stay in the Lakes, The Cranleigh Boutique plays host to a bunch of vibrant, almost out-there rooms with an entirely unique character.

It’s a two-minute walk from Bowness, which, by all accounts, is gathering a reputation as the party district of the Lakes, packed with pubs, bars and restaurants, full of youthful fun-loving visitors and locals. Apparently it’s a hot spot for people coming in from Manchester and Liverpool, and it’s not hard to see why. The area is beautiful and the atmosphere is relaxed and friendly, like a prettier version of those neighbouring big cities, with the edges shaved off.

The staff at Cranleigh Boutique are, to put it bluntly, lovely. Chatty and friendly, it feels more like friends you’re visiting than the stuffy greeting you get from staff at more formal establishments. Attentive and charming, they’re a true delight. As are the rooms.

Mine for the night is decked out with chandeliers and plush sheets, and lit by deep rich purple lighting, which you can change to different settings such as ‘relax’ and ‘fun’. I waste a good hour playing with this. The bathroom is spa-like, with a bath featuring powerful air jets for a luxurious soak, alongside a rubber duck and even a TV. The room also comes with a cuddly toy dog, which you can ‘adopt’ for a donation.

As for the vibe, it’s romantic but not in the well-worn, old fashioned sense. This is a hotel for the twenty-twenties: exciting, colourful and with a hint of wildness. It’s no surprise that it’s won countless awards, including Most Romantic Venue in the UK by those masters of romance, Mills and Boon.

Best of all, it’s linked with (and a short stroll to) Baha, a superb restaurant serving up exceptional food in the heart of Bowness. If you’re looking to impress a date, or try something different, look no further.