The Lodge in the Vale

absolutely disgusting staff very rude. wouldn't even let me use the toilet until I ordered a certain amount then they gave me the code and treated me like sc*m when obtaining the code or inputing it onto the toilet. I have been here before years ago nothing has changed very rude lazy staff.

We had a change of plan due to a local road closure, so parked near to this venue. We saw they had a sign outside advertising a cafe, so we went over to see if we could get a coffee and use the toilet. As I went in we were met with two ladies who became immediately hostile and told us the cafe is not open until 10:30am. Fair enough, I asked if we could quickly use the toilet as we were both desperate. They said the cafe toilet is for customers only so we couldn’t use it. Also, fair enough. So there we are, stood in the cafe looking at the toilet door dying to go and having to turn back to find somewhere else 15 mins away. Had we been greeted with some humanity in this hospitality venue we would have returned the positivity by stopping by again on the way down from the fells to purchase some goods. Instead we spent our money somewhere friendlier.

Another great stay with Floria and the team. Although the hotel was full, you weren’t aware of the other guests and were able to have a peaceful night sleep. The continental breakfast was great with a variety of fruit, cheese, hams and breads/rolls and the coffee shop stepped up a gear from 1030am onwards with a delicious red pepper and tomato soup, as well as a variety of sandwiches and home baking. Nothing is too much for the staff and I look forward to a return visit in the near future.

Lovely little hotel with very friendly staff. I was trying to minimise my costs for a 3-night 'mini break' (hoping to climb Helvellyn - which canbe reached, via Sticks Pass, directly from the hotel's door!) and this ticked all of theboxes for my requirements. As there were hardly any other guests, my 'single room' booking was upgraded to a double - but maybe that was as well, because it was certainly not what I'd call 'spacious'! Very clean, lots of hot water (after initially running for quite a long while!) a heated towel rail (good for wet walking gear!) and a shower. My reason for dropping one star was the bed...... it wasnt really very comfortable..... a very thin mattress on a rather creaky wooden base - with little real 'springiness' to be felt. Pillows, too, were a bit flat and 'hard'..... I always take a pillow from home if I'm staying away - and I really needed it on this occasion. Eat-as-much-as,you-like continental breakfast was brilliant! Served in a lovely little area (which doubles up as a coffee shop during the daytime) there were about 5 cereals, croissants, bread, with make-your-own toast facilities, ham, cheese, jam, (marmite - yayyy!!!!!) yoghurt, fresh fruit - and tea/coffee (including latte, capuccino etc. from a machine.) I was able to over-indulge in breakfast and that pretty much saw me through to the evening without worrying about lunch. The eating area is available to sit in during the evening, until staff all go off duty at 9.30pm when it is locked up; there is (very) minimal space, apart from this, in which to sit (a 2-seater sofa and a couple of chairs) - so in the busy summer months, I'm not sure where guests would spend the evening if they weren't 'out' somewhere - but being solo, I didn't mind retiring to my bed to make plans for the next day. Wifi is free and connection is reliable. There are, as advertised, no facilities on-site for any meals other than breakfast. I ingeniously took a couple of 'Pot Noodle' meals with me - and was able to boil water with v the kettle in my room - so for an odd few days it would be possible to 'survive' however any sensible eating in the evening (or lunchtime) requires a car journey to either the nearby pub (also owned by the same company as the Lodge) or into one of the nearest towns. I ate at the pub (The Kings Head) on one evening and the food wasn't cheap (although probably in-line with anywhere else in the country), but it WAS very good! Overall, I had a brilliant time. I achieved my aim of climbing Helvellyn, with a 'jackpot' day of good weather (I stayed 6/7/8 November - so was REALLY lucky!) and I'd certainly stay there again, but if you are looking for somewhere with a bit of space for 'down time', or need to be able toget lunch/dinner on site, you may like to look at other options first.

If you’re looking for really comfortable accommodation with lovely friendly staff then look no further. We booked to stay at Kings Head Inn (sister pub) but were transferred to The Lodge because we had a dog. Transfer was done easily and we were absolutely not disappointed. We were upgraded to a luxury room which was very quiet with gorgeous view. We had a lovely lunch in the Lodge and superb breakfast and had our evening meal at Kings Head Inn just up the road. We enjoyed a gorgeous walk around Lake Thirlmere but The Lodge is also perfectly placed to visit Lakes in the north as well as south Lakes. The weather was not the best when we stayed but this did not affect our trip. Will definitely return and stay again. Highly recommend!

We pulled in for a coffee mid afternoon. The place was deserted. Eventually someone can to serve us, and very pleasant she was. However I think it was the driest, heaviest piece of chocolate cake I’ve ever tried. Left it. A bit soulless is probably the best description. Very clean and modern but lacks atmosphere.

Stayed a couple nights. There's plenty of parking, it's warm and comfortable, as we as its location is perfect for exploring the Lakes. Didn't speak too much with the staff as we'd checked in after the receptionist had left about 9.30pm, but they'd left our keys in an envelope with all the information I needed... the ones we did talk to seemed nice though. Only complaint was the shower wasn't very powerful in room 04, also a little traffic noise in the morning, but nothing to ruin our sleep. I'd recommend this place to those looking for a cheap room to stay.

A brilliant stay, lovely clean space, excellent, very helpful staff. Rooms and lodge very clean. Quite remote which is perfect if you want to take in the sites and travel by car to attractions. Local sister pub is also great, amazing food, staff and very friendly over all. Would recommend this to any couple/family including those with dogs.

This is my second submission of review: an edit of the first. I rated it one star on Trip Advisor. Terrible. It was not possible to rate it the minus this place works hard to achieve. I submitted it while still there. John Cleese got the idea for Fawlty Towers from observing a hotel owner in Torquay. Highly unsuited to the hospitality industry, the stuffy and snobbish owner treated guests (customers) as though they were a hindrance to his running of the hotel (a waitress who worked for him stated "it was as if he didn't want the guests to be there"). - then he moved to open this place. I stayed for 2 nights. On reflection, do I need to list again all the disappointments brought about through the misleading descriptions for the business? No. So you don't just get it from me, I recommend that before you book, you do what I was driven to by Basil - read all the reviews. I read all 470 on Trip Advisor, perhaps I was being unfair. Ignore my review here. Go straight to the other 12 "Terrible" scores, I discovered. My review is not unique, just a "me too" of what is already there. Leopards, spots and all that. Then read the 2 and 3 star, they are simply forgiving reviews which are actually one star and disguise the true overall low rating. All the terrible things listed in these reviews apply exactly, including those you will find attracting your attention to the foul tempered and personally offensive, jumping to conclusions (quote from a review) performances of Basil, grumpy staff and those reviews which correctly acknowledge the place as, at best, a decently clean backpackers' hostel, not a hotel. Then, if you're looking for a quiet, relaxing hotel, book elsewhere or do you feel lucky? If you're used to hostels, the place is all right. If you're a walking backpacker, you have a walk and back along a busy A- road, to the sister-pub for a cooked breakfast and dinner. Think Lakeland rainy days. By my second night, Basil had read my review and at approx 9pm, (he could have waited untill morning) he got the Receptionist to take up the landline phone to me and put him on to me. If Basil had not taken this offensive aggression, I would have just left the first submission. Now the replacement relates Basil's performance which is far worse than the misleading description. Without any formality of introduction, he launched straight into aggressive abuse and personal insults, claiming that in all the years the hostel had been open, it had never received a bad review. Only mine. If he had attacked a sensitive person like this they would have been thoroughly brow-beaten. He kept this up for many, many minutes, repeat, repeat. I couldn't get him to stop, so I put the phone down and went to brush my teeth. When I got back, he was still at it and not noticed I'd gone. I did finally manage to ask him what he wanted me to do about it? The noisy roads through the night would still be there as would the cupboard space rooms, too small for 2 people, Basil wasn