Christmas Eve at Waterhead Hotel, Ambleside, Lake District

24 December 2012

We have booked a special package to stay for a few days over the Christmas period at the Waterhead Hotel located in Ambleside, Lake District. The program starts on Christmas Eve where we were to arrive and settled into the hotel in the early afternoon.

The drive from Liverpool was quite fast and uneventful. This was my second visit to the Lake District, being here before in Spring 2010. I was hoping to see some snow but we were too early in the season for snow. All we got was the wet winter weather.

Upon arrival, we were showed our rooms and then a traditional Lakeland afternoon tea was served in the Bar and Lounge area.

 Afternoon tea at the Waterhead Hotel just after arrival.

Our room at Waterhead Hotel in Ambleside.

Sam the dog welcomed us into our room. We are to placed it on the door as a “do not disturb” sign.

Great view of Lake Windermere and Ambleside pier from our rooms.

The evening program was a four-course Christmas Eve dinner, complete with wine and Christmas crackers at the table.

Pre-dinner drinks at the bar.

Christmas Eve dinner about to be served.

Our main course.

After dinner, the hotel organised a Casino Royale event where we had a chance to mingle with the other guests while trying our luck at various casino games like roulette, blackjack and bingo. We were each given some “money” to play and exchange for chips. There were prizes for the top 3 persons who won the most “money”.

We got to know some other guests and had a fun time. Our black-jack dealer was actually a pro who have worked in many casinos round the world. Nice to hear some insights of what he does for a living.

My luck (or skill) at Blackjack was not bad. Won a pile of chips but not enough to win a prize.