The Best of Brunch in the Lakes
Breakfast and brunch is booming. If the old proverb is correct stating we should be eating breakfast like Kings, then here in the UK, we are doing well. According to a survey that was carried out in 2015, Britons now spend an average of £76m a day on going out for breakfast or brunch. That’s a lot of eggs. From ‘bottomless brunches’ to ‘all-day breakfasts’, it is clear that the nation’s restaurants and coffee shops have begun to prioritise this once-forgotten meal.
But where should you have your most important meal of the day?
We’ll start with Brunch in the Lakes…
Best Brunch in the Lakes – Local Hot Spots:
The Fizzy Tarté – 18 Ash Street, Bowness on Windermere, Cumbria
The Fizzy Tarte is an absolute gem of a place. It’s located right in the heart of Bowness on Windermere, so you can enjoy your breakfast while soaking up hustle and bustle of the area. The food here is absolutely amazing—we recommend trying their “Fizzy Full English.” It’s packed with all kinds of tasty treats, including Smoked back bacon, Cumberland sausage, hash browns, smoky baked beans, grilled tomato, fried bread and scrambled eggs folded with double cream.
There are also endless hot drinks available here—coffee or tea will complement your breakfast perfectly.
If you want to upgrade your breakfast experience with some fizzy style, then this is the place for you! They offer two classic cocktails each or a bottle of bubbles to share with friends and family, and guests of the Cranleigh enjoy a complimentary 10% discount on food & drinks so what’s not to love?
Available Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 10am-1pm.
Lake View Garden Bar – St Andrews, Lake Road, Bowness on Windermere, Cumbria
We all know the Lake District is one of the most beautiful places in the world, and sometimes it’s nice to just sit back and take it all in while you eat your breakfast.
If you’re looking for a place to eat breakfast with a view, look no further! This scenic bar on Bowness bay is an ideal location for those craving hearty and fulfilling breakfast dishes!
Located on Lake Windermere, you can enjoy the delight of eating breakfast as cruise ships sail the Lake and people go by, or head inside to their cosy indoor seating area for breakfast by the fire.
Their breakfast menu consists of all your favourite breakfast classics, from The Full Cumbrian and breakfast baps, to pancakes, waffles and breakfast sharers – If you’re guest of the Cranleigh Boutique, you’ll also receive a complimentary discount on food & drink!
Available til 12pm daily.
Homeground Coffee + Kitchen, Main Road, Windermere, The Lake District.
A brunching delight in the heart of the Lake District. Rustic and inviting, Homeground Coffee + Kitchen offers a vast range of coffees and teas to accompany your tasty breakfast, brunch or lunch dish. Only open from 9 -5 (and closed on Wednesdays), Homeground is always bustling full of happy customers.
Favourites: Eggs Benny (sourdough ciabatta, smoked ham hock, spinach, two poached eggs, hollandaise) – Brunch Platter (chilli fried eggs, honey-glazed chorizo, sweet potato crisps, HG hash browns, smashed avocado, romesco, sun-blushed tomatoes, sweetened moonscape, lemon thyme & honey baked peaches, house baked crumpets, sourdough toast)
Brew Brothers, 69 Highgate, Kendal.
This independent and licensed “shabby chic coffee house” has quickly become a favourite for locals and visitors alike. Boasting a well-priced menu consisting of fresh and innovative food, alongside a number of delicious daily specials, Brew Brothers attracts a number of hungry customers throughout the day.
Favourites: Egg and Veggie Stack (poached egg, spinach, artichoke, melted Roquefort, toasted artisan bread) – Large Crumpet (fried chorizo, poached egg, sweetcorn relish).
Chesters By The River, Skelwith Bridge, Cumbria
A gem in the country. As the name suggests, Chesters is located overlooking the River Brathay, giving this charming cafe & shop a rural, countryside feel. Serving mainly vegetarian, fresh dishes which are packed with flavour , it’s no surprise that Chesters By The River is incredibly popular with all, from walkers fresh off the fells to couples wanting a healthy meal with a view. Their cafe is open from 9am to 5pm, but dishes are served until there is no more, complementing their ‘fresh and seasonal food made daily’ concept. Although their menu regularly changes, recent brunch (10.30am -3.30pm) delights have included the Sweet potato & Carrot fritter (peas, feta, poached egg) and the Avocado on Sourdough Toast (seeds, dukkha, rocket, grilled lemon).
For those further afield:
Duck & Waffle – 40th Floor, 110 Bishopsgate, Heron Tower, London.
The highest 24/7 restaurant in London. Duck & Waffle boasts breathtaking views of the city and a critically-acclaimed dining experience, serving a variety of traditional British cuisine with a playful twist and European influences. Although one of this restaurant’s unique selling points is that it provides gourmet dining from “sunrise to sunset and every hour in between”, brunch is specifically served from 9am till 4pm on Saturdays & Sundays.
Favourites: Ox Cheek Benedict (hen’s eggs, waffle, hollandaise, Siriacha) – House Breakfast (Lincolnshire sausage, two eggs – any style, dry cured bacon, grilled tomato, mushroom, hash brown, Scottish black pudding, cheddar & buttermilk scone) – Duck & Waffle (crispy leg confit, fried duck egg, mustard maple syrup)
The Breakfast Club – London
Vibrant, fun, with a ‘homely’ atmosphere (expect a bright ‘mug’ of tea), this British/American restaurant/diner offers hearty breakfast and brunch dishes served by friendly staff.
If you enjoy a casual but lively ambience, this is the brunch spot for you (just don’t be shocked if you have to queue!)
Favourites: The All-American (pancakes, eggs, sausage, home-style potatoes, streaky bacon &maple syrup) – Artichoke & Sun Blush Tomato (parmesan spinach, caramelised crushed potatoes, poached egg, hot pepper sauce) – Salt Beef Reuben (salt beef on sauerkraut, Swiss cheese, mustard, pickle, sourdough bread)
Beany Green – London (Broadgate Circle, Euston, Sheldon Square, Seymour Street, Belvedere Road)
For those who like to embrace a healthier breakfast/brunch, then Beany Green is ideal (think quinoa porridge and a a lot of greek yogurt). With a range of colourful venues across London, their brunch menu consists of a delightful variety of hot and cold breakfast staples, with a modern twist. However, a few of their venues offer a ‘Bottomless Aussie Brunch’, which sounds nothing short of INCREDIBLE. For £35 per person, every customer can have one hot item, one cold item, THEN, bottomless Prosecco, bottomless Mimosas and bottomless Bloody Marys. That’s what I call a Sunday funday.