A Michelin starred restaurant with rooms near Keswick is up for sale for £1.1 million.
The Cottage in the Wood, in Whinlatter Forest and with panoramic views over the northern fells, is on the market as a going concern including outbuildings, staff accommodation and the owner’s house.
The 17th century coaching inn was bought by former teachers Kath and Liam Berney in 2002, and has since been transformed into one of Cumbria’s leading restaurants with rooms.
The couple are understood to be retiring, and are keen to pass the business to new owners who will continue to build its reputation as one of the UK’s most up-and-coming bijou dining destinations, on a par with Simon Rogan’s L’Enclume in Cartmel.
The Cottage has a 40-seat restaurant and nine rooms for residents and last year was voted one of the UK’s Top 50 Boutique Hotels and 24th best restaurant in the National Restaurant Awards.
Since 2018 the restaurant has been run by head chef Ben Wilkinson, who previously worked at the Hilton Park Lane in London and the Holbeck Ghyll in Windermere.
Within a year Ben’s high-end cooking, which includes such Cumbrian-themed dishes as Herdwick hogget, had earned him the prestigious Michelin star.
Three AA Rosettes followed, and earlier this year it was voted Restaurant of the Year at the Cumbria Food Awards.
However it is also understood that a new head chef is being lined up to take over in the kitchen. Sam Miller is a former Young Chef of the Year finalist whose international culinary experience includes senior positions at the two-Michelin-starred restaurants Faviken in Sweden, Mugaritz in Spain, and at Noma in Copenhagen, which has previously been ranked first among the World’s 50 Best Restaurants.
The Cottage is being advertised as “ready to trade in existing format or for phased development and significant profit growth”, with inquiries being handled by estate agents Edwin Thompson.
