A top Lake District hotel has been crowned as the most romantic in the UK by judges from the Good Hotel Guide.

Forest Side, in Grasmere, received a prestigious César Award for Romantic Hotel of the Year at a glittering ceremony in London. The awards, named after legendary hotelier César Ritz, are known as the Oscars of the hotel industry, with just 10 awarded each year.

Last year the 20-bedroom Forest Side, which is operated by Wildsmith Hotels, reopened after an extensive 18-month refurbishment costing £4m.

Within a month it had has scooped two top awards at the Cumbria Life Food & Drink Awards, winning Hotel Restaurant of the Year and Best Newcomer.

Astella Saw, editor of the Good Hotel Guide Britain and Ireland, said: ‘Elegantly reimagined, Forest Side certainly looks the part of. In acres of landscaped gardens and dappled woodland, every aspect of the Victorian Gothic mansion impresses.

“From the friendly, attentive staff to the beautiful bedrooms and fantastic Michelin-starred meals. It's just the place to ensconce yourself away from the tourist throng of the Lake District.’’

The Forest Side’s kitchen team is led by head chef Kevin Tickle who comes from an extensive cooking background including an eight-year stint at L’Enclume in Cartmel.

Hotel owner Andrew Wildsmith said: ‘To be lauded as the UK’s most romantic hotel is a double honour, especially as we are in the spiritual home of the Romantic Movement, Grasmere.

“Yet again the hard work of every member of the team has paid off. There’s no doubt 2017 has been a bit of a whirlwind year, and now we will take stock and prepare ourselves to push on in 2018.’’