For the first time ever, the Lodore Falls Hotel in the Borrowdale Valley will have a very unique theme for Christmas.

The Lodore Falls Hotel on the edge of Derwentwater will be filled with decorations depicting the Nutcracker Ballet -– complete with tutu’s and pink ballet shoes hanging from the ceiling. What’s more the Lodore will also be creating Russian inspired dishes for the menu and a gala afternoon tea with a performance of the Nutcracker Ballet.

The idea to create a real first in Cumbria came from Kit Graves, Director of the Lake District Hotels Ltd group, who saw a stunning Nutcracker display in one of Denmark’s most famous stores last Christmas. Work started on the 2010 Christmas Nutcracker story very early in January and hotel florist Tricia Irving has been sourcing inspirational ways to decorate the hotel ever since.

Decorating the hotel will start in early November and will be completed by 14th November, ready for launch of the Lodore Falls Christmas menu on the 15th November and the afternoon tea with an edited performance of the Nutcracker Ballet on Sunday 21st November.

The hotel contacted Karen Starkey who runs the Karen Starkey Dance School in Whitehaven early this spring. Karen enthusiastically agreed to some of her pupils performing a short version of the Nutcracker during the festive period and was especially thrilled because one of her pupils – Lewis Charlton, is performing in the Nutcracker at the Royal Ballet School.

Earlier this week Tricia and Karen got together to look at costumes and consider how to blend floral and ballet accessories with Christmas décor. The ballet pupils have now been selected and the 20 + team of performers are now rehearsing for the event. The performers range from age 9 to 24 with several of the ballerinas performing point work.

Tickets for the Nutcracker Ballet and afternoon tea cost £15 adult, £7.50 child (family ticket 2 adult 2 children £40). Other Nutcracker themes include Russian inspired dishes on the bar menu, a special Cumbria Life luncheon on 2nd December and music on selected Sundays during lunch.

To find out more about Christmas events at the Lodore Falls Hotel, part of the Lake District Hotels Ltd group, visit http://www.lakedistricthotels.net/lodorefalls/index.php