Gilpin Spice

"Cumbria was a key player in the spice trade and this slate restaurant in the grounds of Gilpin Hotel is inspired by that history. Enter the colourful rooms via wooden walkways built over stone-filled pools, then follow the Silk Road from Cumbria to Asia on the extensive menu – where many of the vibrant dishes are designed for sharing. A seat on one of the comfortable kitchen counter couches is the best place to feel part of the action." - Michelin Inspector

The Best Restaurants in the Lake District, Cumbria | Eater London

"Who’d have thought there’d be any connection between 18th century Whitehaven — on Cumbria’s west coast — and a luxury Lake District hotel? But thanks to head chef Hrishikesh Desai and the heritage of Whitehaven’s spice trade, Gilpin Hotel has a memorable and exuberantly furnished alternative to its Michelin-starred restaurant, Hrishi. Pan-Asian dishes come in small and big sharing plate size, with snacks like pain puri (puff balls filled with chickpea curry), soups or flatbreads (like Barbary duck) to kick off. Saddleback pork belly and marinated whole fish of the day are the pick of the mains. As with Hrishi, there’s an ‘Inspirations from Kerala’ tasting menu (on until March 2019), this time with the likes of sea bream pollichathu, tharavu mappas (braised duck), and lamb biryani and sambar. No Grasmere gingerbread for dessert, but Grasmere gingerbread is something else to thank the Whitehaven spice trade for." - Christian Dymond