The Yan

‘The entire dining experience captures everything we love about the Lakes,’ commented one reporter; ‘from the rustic aesthetics, the friendly, knowledgeable staff, locally sourced produce, and – of course – the incredible food, every detail feels thoughtfully done.’ There’s a sense of true dedication about this family-run ‘bistro with beds’ found up an easy-to-miss track off the Grasmere to Keswick road. Here, an industrious kitchen produces daily menus specialising in fiercely local produce, including a mighty ‘brekkie’ offered to all-comers, as well as stupendous Sunday roasts (including ‘the best mash ever’). At dinner, local beef can appear in several guises and Grasmere Herdwick lamb stars in the signature shepherd’s pie, but the kitchen isn’t averse to going walkabout for the likes of Basque mussel stew or crispy sushi rice with wild mushrooms. Portions are hefty, so you might want to skip a starter (say, crab and sweetcorn fritters) or dessert (egg custard tart with gooseberry and elderflower compôte). As for drinks, there are non-alcoholic spritzes, homemade fruit cordials and on-trend cocktails, plus a short list of global wines.