Our friendship with Manchester Art Fair began with a lunch in 2025. We enjoyed it so much that we’re back for a residency in 2026, bringing a little more of The Forest Side to the city.
What brought us together was a shared outlook. Manchester Art Fair opens the door to art, giving people the confidence to explore, discover what they love and trust their own taste. That approach resonates with us.
At The Forest Side, we believe exceptional food should come with a warm welcome. Come curious, make yourself comfortable and let us look after you. What you enjoy matters more than what you know.
There’s a connection in the making, too: the care, skill and individual expression found throughout the fair are qualities we recognise in our own kitchen. Paul Leonard and his team create dishes shaped by our gardens, Cumbrian producers and the seasons, with flavour always coming first.
Our residency brings that cooking to Manchester. But to get to know The Forest Side properly, you’ll have to come to Grasmere.
Here, beneath the fells, you’ll find our Victorian house, twenty individual bedrooms, gardens and woodland, and a team who take pleasure in making you feel at home. Walk straight from the door, spend an afternoon with a book, then settle in for dinner. There’s time to enjoy it all when your bedroom is just upstairs.
We’d love to welcome you. Explore our Stay & Dine and Stay & Savour offers for 2027 below. Choose a night away or give yourself a little longer.
