One of our members who lives locally, reports that the Ruddings is unlikely to reopen this year. This needs to be verified, as at a glance the hotel looks to be shaping up nicely.

Building work as been progressing for ages. The number of bedrooms has been increased and there has been excavation work to the rear of the hotel. No doubt all will be revealed in due course.

There is an acute shortage of hospitality workers and also tradesmen in the Lake District, so not the best of times to expand a hotel, although it was in need of serious upgrading.

Gone are the days when many hotel workers came from EU countries, prior to Brexit.