Food, beer and blooms at Best Western in Kendal

Staff at the Best Western Castle Green Hotel in Kendal are celebrating a hat trick after the hotel received three separate accolades this September - Restaurant of the Year in the Westmorland Gazette 2008 Food and Drink Awards, ‘Best Commercial Property with Grounds’ in the Kendal in Bloom Awards and the Hotel’s own on-site pub was highly commended by CAMRA (The Campaign for Real Ale) for the quality of its ales - all in the same month as the hotel announced plans to invest a further £1.5 million in its on-going refurbishment programme.

There are now plans for the Hotel to enter the National Gardens Scheme in 2009, with the public being invited to tour the grounds on selected days throughout the year in return for donations to charity. The CAMRA acolade allows the Hotel's pub, Alexanders, to enter further CAMRA awards such as Pub of the Year and also gain a possible prized mention in the Good Beer Guide. It received its commendation from Chris Holland, Chairman of the Westmorland Branch of CAMRA.

“September has been an amazing month,” says the Hotel’s Managing Director Tim Rumney. “To win one award is great but to pick up three is just fantastic and all credit to our committed team here at The Castle Green Hotel. Special mention must go to Executive Chef, Justin Woods, and his brigade who continue to create fabulous food at the hotel, but also to Les Brown, Manager of Alexanders and our team of gardeners who keep the Hotel’s grounds looking so wonderful all year round.”

The Hotel has just announced plans to invest a further £1.5 million in its refurbishment programme next year, with upgrades to the entrance, reception, guest toilets, bar and to complete the final phase of the bathroom refurbishment. Work will take place in January/February 2009.

The Best Western Castle Green Hotel has already invested £1 million in upgrading its facilities in 2008. It is bidding for AA four star rating having been praised by inspectors earlier this year. The Hotel received special praise from the AA for its levels of guest care and friendliness with the AA assessor commenting: “Guest care was found to be in top form during this stay and the Hotel boasts a genuine culture of friendliness and customer care.”

He continued: “In terms of four star aspirations it is difficult to see what else the management can do to raise standards further, other than the planned investment in the bedrooms and bathrooms, leisure club and public areas”.

For more information and bookings, log on to Castlegreen.co.uk.