Trout Hotel

The rooms are modern and excellent but thats where it ends. The breakfast portions were rediculously small and the evening meals were poor bar food standard. Where did all the local cumbrian staff go, replaced by poorly trained staff. We have been visitors for many years enjoying a real cumbrian treat, alas this is no longer the case. I doubt we will return...what a loss!

What a shame!! We used to come here regularly and its went down hill big time. Gone are the fantastic and friendly waiters and bar staff, seemingly replaced by unfriendly, unsmiling, poor service imports. Shocking food, prices sky high...we wont be back!!

Booked a meal at the hotel as it was our wedding anniversay. Having had our wedding reception there a few years agwe were expecting an exceptional dining experience. However, the menu was far from what we were expecting. More akin to a major pub chain. The dishes lacked in both quality and flair and are currently not in keeping with the hotel's former reputation. We are sorry but we will not be returning.

Just had a 3 night stay at the trout hotel..on arrival looked very impressive , receptionist very welcoming, but on checking in asked us if we would mind not having our room serviced the next day due to staff sickness , but we could leave a card outside the door with list of things we would like stocked up teas, coffee etc. We were a little peeved as rooms not cheap. Room was ok very dark and drab colours …room 205 although it was large and we had a nice outside area to use . No bath sheets , tiny towels that didn’t wrap round and I’m not big . Beds were big and comfortable . Breakfast on the 2 nd morning was chaotic , found out you need to be there early as things ran out and not restocked . Coffee was stewed ,and urn empty . No cups had to ask for them , butter not restocked on the tables again had to ask . No brown bread in bread bin had to ask .. fruit juices almost empty . Breakfast finishes at 9.30 and we were there at 9am , so not as if we turned up at the end of service . On the positive it is set on the river and grounds well kept , with plenty of parking .

We live fairly close to the Trout and have eaten their fairly regularly over the last few years but have recently noticed a change, not for the better. On the plus side the lounge area, where most people eat, is quite comfortable with a relaxed atmosphere and you never feel any pressure to eat up and leave which is welcome. The food we had was OK and up to the normal standard but they should be well practiced the menu has not change that we have noticed for the last two years. They used to offer specials to give more choice but these have stopped of late. Staff turnover seems to be quite high and although the staff were friendly enough one seemed inexperienced and they were overstretched. The day we were there there were two who had to cover the bar, the lounge diners and deliver to the outside tables. I don't know what their business model is but the hotel seems to be less busy of late and we haven't noticed any promotions or efforts to promote.

Was just in Cockermouth for the afternoon to do a bit of shopping and a stroll Was a bit hungry so started looking for somewhere to eat and came across the trout Wonderful location by the river, lovely gardens and grounds Decor in the entrance, bar and restaurant really classy and well maintained Staff really friendly and attentive Food was great, curry was smashing, Vince enjoyed his lasagne The expresso martini was a bit decadent but very very nice as was Vince’s brownie and salted caramel vodka shot Look forward to our next visit.

My wife and I stayed at The Trout for three nights. We had only reserved a standard double as the cost of rooms is quite expensive. When we entered our room though we were met with a strong smell from the bathroom and a view of a smoking area which was a bit over powering. We asked whether it would be possible to be moved and the staff kindly upgraded us to a different room which we were really pleased with and more than met our expectations. All of the staff were incredibly friendly, the cleanliness of the room was great. My only ask would be for a refrigerator in the room and a safe maybe. Otherwise we were pleased with our stay. It’s a great location for exploring the countryside!

Wow, this place has really gone downhill. Called for afternoon drinks Saturday June 23rd 2024 and was met at the entrance by an old Dear sat on a chair with the cigarette butt receptacle by her side. She was chain smoking cigarettes basically in the entrance with all of the smoke and smell blowing inside. The lounge, reception, toilet area and even into the bar absolutely stunk of cigarettes - everyone in our party (one of them a smoker commented on how bad it was). Surely an establishment like the Trout can buy and site a smoking shelter away from the the main entrance? If they already have then please don't allow smoking at the main entrance. Secondly, we passed the receptionist several times and we all looked over and smiled and I said hello - no reaction, no smile, no hello, nothing of a welcome whatsoever - she just looked away - done exactly the same when we passed her again for the toilet etc so it wasn't a one off. This would never have been tolerated in the Trout of old. We're local to Cockermouth and have visited the Trout on and off for years - it was always good and a place you would turn to without hesitation - alas, on this occasion we couldn't believe how quiet it was. We initially wanted drinks in the Terrace Bar but it was closed and looked very unused - is this a reflection of the amount (or lack of) customers the place is now getting? It is a shadow of its former self and previous standards which is a shame all round

I am all for new experiences, but our RESTAURANT meal at the Trout, was never to be repeated. As a birthday treat, our table was booked for 6, at 6.10 I went and asked if we could go through to the dining room . Drinks and food orders taken, the starters arrived, lovely description , but very poor effort on the plate, expecting a terraine we received shredded ham in a butter mould, with branston pickle instead of Westmorland sauce. The main course we all 4 had different and my beef was uneatable , tough and grizzly . ( a daube of beef) the sauce and vegetables were very nice , I mentioned the meat problem to the waitress . Dessert we waited 30 for a menu then had to find someone to ask to take our order. Baked Alaska arrived later and the meringue was sickly sweet and the sponge hard. The service was non existent , 3 very pleasant young people trying to do a job they weren’t trained for As bar food and staff it would have possible passed, as a restaurant it failed gloriously. The mirrors in the dining room doors are going rusty, doors which halve the glorious dining room it used to be when it WAS a 4 star hotel and restaurant , food and service . And sadly removing the table cloths has not enhanced the cold dismal dining room at all. The rest of the ground floor is beautifully decorated, it’s like they want to forget about the restaurant . We paid in full, that was a task, reception sent us to the bar and nobody there we had to wait. No mention of unbeatable food , as there was no sign of anyone in charge of anything . Sad to see what it once was as a hotel where it was the place to be .