Windermere in august, do we need to book restaurants ahead?

[silentlight]

Off for a long weekend in Windermere in a couple of weeks, has anyone been recently and is it worth us booking all our evening restaurants ahead of our visit?

Thanks!

Yes, definitely

Agree with Any. Get them booked now.

Just come back from Keswick, which isn’t normally as busy as Windermere. We didn’t book for one evening, and so tried to get a Chinese takeaway but it was 1.5 hour wait.

We were there in April/May & needed to book. We had to book in June for a midweek lunch at the end of August as there were no evening tables available where we wanted to go, but a few lunchtime ones. Couldn't get into any pubs for food unless we went early

Thanks everyone! We are going to get booking evening meals today. I’m guessing lunch is ok and we can be a bit more flexible

Book lunch too. It’s bonkers here at the moment.

(Oh, but if you book and then can’t make it, phone to cancel. Lots of places upset by missed bookings on local FB pages)

We were there a week ago and Windemere was very, very busy. We had lunch at the cafe at The Windermere Jetty Museum which was like an oasis of calm. The food was delicious and there is lovely outdoor seating overlooking the lake, (as well as indoor seating). There's a carpark which is free to cafe users and museum visitors as they give you a code at the till. They also do "heritage" trips on the lake in small, restored, wooden motor boats. We had no trouble booking one for after our lunch. It's a real hidden gem.

My parents live in Windermere and tried to book a restaurant for us to go to when I came to stay. This was in May and one of the restaurants they tried said they are full every night until the end of August. So yes, I'd advise booking - if you still can!

This is insane and would totally ruin a holiday for me. I don't want to have to decide where and when I want to eat in a fortnight's time and then plan the day around getting there on time.

I'd rather just get takeaways, take something like Cook or M&S or buy a pizza from the Co-op when I'm there.

So glad I don't take part in this madness.

@BarbaraofSeville

This is insane and would totally ruin a holiday for me. I don't want to have to decide where and when I want to eat in a fortnight's time and then plan the day around getting there on time.

I'd rather just get takeaways, take something like Cook or M&S or buy a pizza from the Co-op when I'm there.

So glad I don't take part in this madness.

Try living here.

This summer has been insane.

I can imagine @TheCumbrian. I've just seen the Bedruthan Steps thread as well where the hotel can't provide food, there's no food in supermarkets and you had to book months ago to go to a restaurant.

And people are paying thousands for this? I'd rather just stay at home, do day trips and save the money until it can be spent on a nice experience.

I'm in the Southern Lakes now not too far from Windermere and pubs where I am don't need booking for dinner. There aren't many restaurants as such. I brought a cool bag with baps and salami and tuna lunch pot things plus some fruit and snacks for lunches, our own water bottles (water sells out in shops quickly) and our own stash of booze (pub prices rival London although we always have a few pints of what's on tap). Just plan ahead a bit, it'll be fine. If you're in a hotel make sure you get a big breakfast in!

I’m not long back from there and the restaurants I tried weren’t taking bookings, so just had to turn up and wait. We were actually really lucky, and also ate in the hotel a few nights.
A few places were also low on staff due to them being pinged.

Totally not the point of the thread (although I agree book as much as you can in advance) but just wanted to say if you have time to visit Blackwell House near lake Windermere it is really stunning and interesting. And has a lovely cafe!

It's an arts and crafts stately house built for a Manchester industrialist and then became a boarding school. So beautiful and full of interesting history.

Well we have booked dinners but will wing it for lunches, quite a few places are not taking bookings and are walk ins only so will use those for lunch or go back so self catering cottage and make a sandwich. Booked some activities too!

Thanks for all the recommendations

Sounds like you're all sorted.

I think I would take a cool box from home with stuff like cheese, milk, fruit, snacks and loads of crisps and bread for back up in case the supermarkets a bit sparse.

Have a great time!