Report Abuse

“Four day self-drive”

written by on 20/06/2014

Have holidayed with Shearings for many years (mostly self-drive) and have usually been very happy. Recently returned from one of our favourite hotels, The Derwentwater at Portinscale, having been a little dissappointed this time. Hotel is in an idyllic location with lovely scenery and wildlife. They seem to have tried to make their image a bit more "mod"and "up-market" which has led to bland and uncomfortable furniture, plastic materials. eating off slates and odd colour schemes. The food in the restaurant didn't match up to it's flowery menu description (has the Chef been watching too many TV cookery programmes?) and the female waiting staff floated about as if time was no object(with the exception of the youngest who tried her hardest to get things moving).
Dinner took at least half an hour longer than the previous year when a young male team of Eastern Europeans were very much slicker. The bar remained unmanned for a lot of the time although the young Hungarian man who was there for some of the time was exceptionally good. At breakfast there was no fruit available despite it being on the menu, no sugar for the cereals and butter portions were miniscule. Whilst not being unique to this hotel but rather a group theme, I can't understand why they push
their four-poster beds as being the greatest of anyone's desire. They are simply ugly wooden frames with not much room so that you continually
knock your knees - we certainly won't be asking for any more of those.
Apart from these criticisms the Hotel is in a wonderful location with immense potential.