The Gilpin Hotel Spa and Spice Experience – Review
By Rachel Howard, April 2025
As a reviewer, I have lots of establishments on my bucket list to try. It’s a fairly long list, but one of the top spots has always been occupied by The Gilpin Hotel, situated just outside Windermere in the beautiful Lake District National Park.
I can’t remember how I first came across it – perhaps I drove past during a previous trip, maybe saw it online, or read about it in a magazine. All I know is that from the moment I set eyes on the place, I knew I would love to review it. A few years later, and my wish has been granted, as I am invited to The Gilpin to sample their Spa and Spice Experience. I just hope it lives up to my expectations and the dream isn’t dashed…
It’s a beautiful spring morning as my partner, Jon, and I leave Yorkshire behind and head west to Cumbria. The Gilpin is nestled in the hills just outside Windermere, and as we weave our way through the stunning scenery, I feel myself starting to relax and unwind. The Lake District never fails to have this effect on me – there’s just something about the clean air and the mountains that soothes me; and today’s clear blue skies, warm sunshine and skipping lambs in the fields only make me happier.
The Lake House and, top image, Gilpin Hotel Spa Suite
“Luxuriously appointed”
Speaking of happy, it isn’t long before we are pulling up the driveway to The Gilpin, and wow… the first impressions are breathtaking. Giving lavish country house vibes with a modern twist, the main building is surrounded by 21 acres of lush gardens and beautiful trees, providing a sense of tranquillity and peace. We all know the weather in the Lakes can be hit or miss, but today’s blue skies really elevate the view, and even though we’re only staying a few hours, we immediately get that “holiday” feeling.
The Gilpin is actually based on two sites – the main hotel and spa that we’re visiting, and then The Lake House, which can be found just over a mile away. The Lake House provides a more private, secluded sanctuary with just six bedrooms and 100 acres of private grounds, including a private lake. Featuring luxuriously appointed spa facilities, guests can also take advantage of the amenities at The Gilpin Hotel, including transport between the two sites. Here’s hoping I get the opportunity to try The Lake House soon!
But for now, I’m more than happy to see what the Spa and Spice Experience has to offer. This package is designed to nourish both body and mind by providing a couple’s spa experience – made up of a 50-minute treatment each, followed by exclusive use of the outdoor cedarwood hot tubs, plus lunch in the hotel’s 2 AA Rosette pan-Asian restaurant, Gilpin Spice.
“Too pretty to eat”
Arriving at noon, we opt to have lunch first, and are shown into the colourful and vibrant restaurant, looking out over the fabulous views of the hotel gardens. Providing a casual, warm atmosphere, we immediately feel welcomed and the service provided by both the manager and the waiting staff is second to none. As well as the contemporary design, the restaurant features an open kitchen, allowing guests to watch the talented chefs at work, creating dishes that are almost too pretty to eat! The pan-Asian menu is inspired by the Philippines, the Indian subcontinent, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Japan and China. Using the freshest local ingredients, it blends the very best Cumbrian produce with authentic Eastern flavours – what more could we ask for!
We kick things off with an amuse-bouche of pani puri – delicate shells of chickpea thecha, served with chevda (more commonly known as Bombay Mix) and tamarind water. Designed to be eaten in one mouthful, these are a taste sensation, full of flavour with a beautifully light texture. It sets the bar high, and we are excited to see what’s to come.
The menu includes a mix of small and large plates, providing something for all appetites. After discussing our options with the very knowledgeable staff, we decide to go for the wazwan paneer and salmon roll (fried) for starters, followed by the slow-cooked ox cheek and Herdwick lamb rump boti, served with egg fried rice. The wazwan paneer feels like a nod to a cheese toastie and tomato soup, albeit the fanciest one you’ve ever had! Cubes of soft, delicate paneer are served in a rich tomato gravy, with truffle honey providing sweetness and curry leaf bringing an aromatic element. The salmon roll has to be one of the prettiest plates of food I have ever seen. But I’m pleased to report it isn’t a case of style over substance – the salmon is tasty yet subtle, leaving room for the trimmings, including pickled ginger, Sriracha mayonnaise, teriyaki and wasabi.
“Rich and flavourful”
The main courses are equally impressive, with the slow-cooked ox cheek melting off the bone into the accompanying rendang sauce. Fermented chilli and crispy onions add to the flavour, giving a kick of spice but, crucially, not taking away from the rich flavour of the succulent ox cheek. The Herdwick lamb rump boti is my personal favourite – a plate of tender lamb, served with coriander chutney, yoghurt and cumin granola. The balance of flavours and textures showcases just how skilled these chefs are. Nothing is overpowering; all the flavours complement each other beautifully, culminating in a dish that, in my opinion, is nothing short of perfection. I would make a return trip for that alone! Both main courses are served with a portion of egg fried rice that is nothing like any egg fried rice you’ve had before. A bowl of fluffy rice is flavoured with togarashi (a Japanese spice blend), barrel-aged soy and served with a slow-cooked egg that you are encouraged to stir into the rice. The result is a rich and flavourful side dish that only enhances any dishes it accompanies.
Rounding off the meal, I opt for the spiced Jamaican ginger pudding, served with rum butterscotch, candied hazelnuts and a coconut and lime sorbet. It provides the perfect combination of sticky and sweet ginger cake, a crunchy texture from the hazelnuts, with a refreshing and zingy sorbet. It’s absolutely stunning. Jon goes for the banana kulfi mousse, served with whipped banana cream and banana crisps. The mousse and cream are offset by the texture of the banana crisps, leaving a deliciously light and balanced dessert. A wonderful way to end a very special meal.
“Treatments are wonderful”
After a couple of coffees and a little time for our food to settle, we are shown over to the spa area where we are welcomed by the team of therapists who explain how the next part of the day will work. We soon don our robes and leave our belongings in a cute little wooden hut (complete with personal shower facilities, toilet, wash basin, hairdryer and toiletries). Both of us can choose a 50-minute treatment, which takes place side by side in the couples’ therapy room. I go for a Pure Lakes Aromatherapy Massage, where aromatherapy oils of my choice are used in a light-to-medium pressure full-body massage designed to relax the mind, body and soul. Jon chooses the ESPA Indian Head Massage, which helps to de-stress and relieve tension in the back, neck, shoulders, face and scalp. Both treatments are wonderful, and 50 minutes flies by in what seems like seconds. Before we know it, we are drifting out of the therapy room and into the neighbouring sauna. The Gilpin spa doesn’t feature a pool, but that doesn’t mean they are short of facilities. The sauna is huge, including a shower area, and the relaxation areas are lovely to use post-treatment, where you can enjoy a glass of water, or something a little stronger!
Speaking of which, we are soon provided with the first of many glasses of prosecco, and shown out to the jewel in the crown of the spa – the outdoor rooftop cedarwood hot tubs. There are two tubs, but the beauty of the Spa and Spice Experience is the exclusive use of the spa facilities, meaning you have the rooftop to yourselves. It’s at this point that I realise just how lucky we are with today’s weather. Sitting in the warm, bubbling tub, sipping a glass of prosecco and watching those beautiful blue skies melt into the most perfect pink sunset is an experience that will stay with me forever. It really is the most perfect end to a perfect day.
“Special”
As we sadly bid farewell, I feel so happy that not only have I been lucky enough to sample just some of The Gilpin’s exquisite facilities, but also that my expectations were not only met but completely exceeded. From the moment we arrived, we were made to feel welcomed and special. Every member of staff we came into contact with was friendly, knowledgeable, and nothing was too much trouble. It’s not hard to see why The Gilpin is multi-award-winning, including two Michelin Hotel Keys. Add to this the stunning location, which is just a 10-minute drive from Windermere, and half an hour to the picture-perfect villages of Grasmere and Ambleside.
I hope to return one day to sample Source restaurant, try out the rooms for size and experience the escapism of The Lake House, but for now, my experience of The Gilpin is one that could not be bettered. They really do tick every box and fully deserve their place as one of the Lake District’s finest establishments.
After studying English at university and having a lifelong love of writing, Rachel, a full-time editor, came to On Yorkshire in 2017 where she started off reviewing theatre productions in and around the East Yorkshire area. That love of theatre soon expanded into hotels, restaurants and travel, not to mention becoming one of On Yorkshire’s resident beauty editors, reviewing the latest products, spas and treatments. Rachel loves to sample the very best Yorkshire and the UK have to offer in order to bring you the low down on the high life!
