One of the Lake District’s most iconic hotels, with breathtaking views of Lake Windermere itself, recently went through a £1.7m refurbishment – so we went to see what the new-look The Ro Hotel is like.
The national park is just a hop, skip and a jump from Manchester, making for a great bank holiday getaway in one of the world’s most outstandingly beautiful destinations.
The Ro Hotel itself sits high on a hill in Bowness-on-Windermere, just a stone’s throw away from the bustling town centre.
Once known as The Hydro, dating back to 1881, this grand Victorian building has been welcoming visitors for 142 years and is one of Windermere’s oldest hotels. It was purchased by Lake Merritt Hospitality in April 2019 and has since undergone a £1.7 million refurbishment.
The welcome is warm and friendly, with the Ro Hotel known for its inclusive hospitality and care. Our room is grand, with high ceilings and an outdoor balcony space overlooking the lake. It’s a gloomy day when we visit, making the view moody and dramatic, the sprawling hills looking like sleeping giants in the clouds.
The refurbished hotel has been decorated with a sophisticated elegance that is both comforting and luxurious. The beds are large and adorned with cloud-like pillows and snuggly duvets.
We had used the opportunity to visit one of Windermere’s local spas, an additional treat for my Mum on her birthday, and one of several fantastic options for things to do in the local town.
After settling into our hotel and a quick change, we headed to the colourful hotel restaurant, The Lacu. A small but grand space, beautifully decorated and home to a cherry blossom tree to dine next to.
The bar at The Ro HotelCauliflower cheese at The Ro HotelInside The Ro Hotel’s restaurant spaceThe Ro Hotel recently underwent a huge refurbishment
The menu is simple and relaxed, with local ingredients being at the heart of each dish. They have a three course set menu for £35 per person in the evening, alongside the a la carte. There’s something for everyone, with Muncaster crab and smoked salmon salad, fluffy and indulgent twice baked cheese souffle and Cumbrian chicken breast with pancetta on a bed of buttery smooth mash. We opted for a bit of everything, including a scrumptious cauli cheese with a stretchy cheese pull to die for.
The Ro Bar has a number of classic cocktails to enjoy, or if you fancy stretching your legs, the town is just a few minutes walk down the hill with a number of great bars and pubs to choose from. We weren’t up for partying, so went back to our room for an early night.
There was a large family group on our floor at the time of visiting, but we wouldn’t have known as our space was so peaceful. We woke to another moody morning outside, but to be able to step out of our room onto our private balcony and look at that view was priceless.
Breakfast is an all you can eat buffet afair, with both hot and cold options to suit every taste. They even provided me with my own veggie sausages, which is always a plus in my books. I recommend getting to breakfast early though – the restaurant isn’t huge and most people’s stays include breakfast, so some found it tricky to find somewhere to sit. If you don’t mind waiting though, then enjoy that lie-in in your big, plush bed that you probably wouldn’t want to leave anyway.
The Ro Hotel really is open to everyone, with families and four legged friends all welcome here. So if you are looking for your next break with your partner, your family, or even just for yourself, make sure you put Ro Hotel on your list.
Featured image: The Manc Group
Travel & Tourism
You can enjoy a glamping experience in a converted shipping container 50 minutes from Manchester
Thomas Melia
There’s a staycation 50 minutes from Manchester where you can enjoy an elevated glamping experience in a converted shipping container.
Here at The Manc, we’re obsessed with unusual and quirky stays.
That being said, instead of tucking you into a lovely motor vehicle, this time we’re letting you nestle down in a converted and cosy shipping container just outside of Greater Manchester.
Titled Hous Viridis, which is simply Latin for ‘green house‘, this unique staycation is covered from floor to ceiling with sage green paint.
The living area and bathroom at ‘Hous Viridis’, where you can stay in a converted shipping container (Credit: Hous Viridis)
The green doesn’t stop there either, as there’s an array of potted plants and shrubbery throughout this 960 square foot property.
There are four distinct sections inside this quirky staycation property, including a kitchen, living and dining area, three bedrooms and a bathroom.
Whether you’re after a romantic getaway, a trip with friends or even a mini family gathering, you can have it all at Hous Viridis as it sleeps up to eight people.
This shipping container turned glamping pod has plenty of amenities to stop you from getting cabin fever, including a 50-inch TV, American-style fridge freezer, Nespresso coffee machine and, of course, the secret to turning almost anyone into a good cook: an air fryer.
The outdoor space at Hous Viridis, which is a converted shipping container less than an hour from Manchester (Credit: Hous Viridis)
It also has its own vintage cocktail cabinet with a selection of glasses and a handful of recipes; the only thing you need to bring is the alcohol.
If inside this shipping container ever gets a little bit too stuffy, there’s an outdoor area which boasts everything from a hot tub to a fire pit and a hot stone pizza oven.
‘The Hous’ even has a herd of adorable pygmy goats which they keep as pets, and if given enough notice, you can get access to the paddock if provided permission from your hosts.
You might also unintentionally bump into an animal or two, as this staycation spot is a wildlife haven home to rabbits, hares, birds of prey and more.
You may be wondering after hearing all this good news if there’s a catch, and the Hous Viridis website gives you one warning: the weather…
“Being in Yorkshire, we can experience all four seasons in one day, so pack for all weather eventualities”. To be honest, since we’re from Greater Manchester, if this is the only downside, you can count us in.
Whether you’re after winding down in the Yorkshire or want to experience sleeping over in a converted shipping container, you’re sure to have a memorable stay.
You can find out more information about Hous Viridis and enquire about bookings right HERE.
18-21 year olds can now travel on Greater Manchester’s buses for half price
Emily Sergeant
18-21 year olds can now apply to travel on Greater Manchester’s bus network for half price, it has been announced.
The Bee Network says it is ‘continuing to lead the way’ when it comes to cutting the cost of public transport, with applications for half price unlimited bus travel for 18-21 year olds now open and around 150,000 young people in Greater Manchester set to benefit.
The new pass will ‘better connect’ young people to work, training, or education opportunities.
With the Greater Manchester economy found to be experiencing faster growth compared to the UK as a whole, and with making travel ‘easier, more affordable, and inclusive’ a critical part of the Bee Network’s success, Mayor Andy Burnham announced the half-price bus travel this week, alongside a raft of other improvements across the region.
Some of the other improvements the Mayor announced include more frequent buses, cheaper travel, and new round-the-clock services.
18-21 year olds can now travel on Greater Manchester’s buses for half price / Credit: TfGM
Young people can now buy a 28-day bus travelcard for just £40, which is half the price of adult fares and the equivalent of just £1.43 per day for unlimited travel on any Bee Network bus in Greater Manchester.
Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) says the new half-price travel is aimed at helping the thousands of young people once their 16-18 ‘Our Pass’ expires, and will support them as they move into further education or the world of work.
“Young people in Greater Manchester have been calling out for an affordable transport option for when their Our Pass expires and this new pass will give them that,” commented Fran Wilkinson, who is the Director for Customer and Growth at TfGM.
The new 18-21 Bee Bus ticket is here! 🙌
Enjoy 28 day’s of unlimited travel on #BeeNetwork buses for just £40. 🚌
Buy yours now on the Bee Network app with an 18-21 Pass ID.
“We know this is such an important time in a young person’s life as they look to go into further education or enter the world of work.
“Now as they explore the many opportunities available to them they will be able to use any Bee Network bus as much as they need to at half the price.”
Fatima Bangoura, who is the Youth Engagement Officer at Youth Leads, added: “The new 18-21 pass opens doors for those who may worry about losing that support once their Our Pass ends, making travel for training, apprenticeships, education and employment far more accessible.”
Kristen MacGregor-Houlston -
26th May 2023 
