HOTELIERS hope a new BBC series featuring two top comedians eating in some of the Lake District’s finest restaurants will boost tourism in the area.

The Trip, which is set to air next month on BBC2, was filmed in March at Hipping Hall in Kirkby Lonsdale, Holbeck Ghyll Country House Hotel in Windermere and at L’Enclume in Cartmel.

Alan Partridge creator Steve Coogan and Gavin and Stacey star Rob Brydon teamed up to shoot the semi-fictional six-parter, which involves the duo visiting restaurants in Cumbria, Lancashire and Yorkshire.

Holbeck Ghyll’s deputy general manager Thomas Cross said the series should attract more visitors to the Lakes.

“It will have a positive effect for the whole area,” he said.

“The series shows lots of sights in the area and has been filmed at different locations.

“It was great fun having them film here and we all enjoyed it.

“We are all looking forward to seeing how it has all come together as you never quite know what their take will be.

“They were very professional when they came so it will be good to see how it turns out.”

A spokeswoman from L’Enclume said: “Any publicity is good.

"I really don’t know how it will come across though as it will be on after watershed and it’s a strange concept for a show.”

Cumbria Tourism was also confident the show would lure more visitors.

A spokeswoman said: “It is wonderful that Cumbria is to be showcased yet again on national television.

“Cumbria has enjoyed a lot of positive TV exposure over the last year, featuring in ITV’s The Lakes as well as CBBC’s Gimme a Break and a repeat of the ever-popular Wainwright’s Walks series.  “We have been working with a number of TV production companies on further high profile series which will be broadcast in the coming months and are happy to welcome programmes which highlight Cumbria’s spectac-ular scenery and quality businesses, inspiring visitors to come and explore the area.”

Mr Coogan, who has a house in Coniston, said while filming at Hipping Hall: “It’s Rob Brydon and me going around as ourselves reviewing restaurants.

“It’s not about a character assassination of restaurants – they’ve all signed up – it’s about restaurant celebrities and their fashion-grabbing with food.

“I’m playing myself not really knowing what I’m doing, and the fact is that I don’t really know what I’m doing.”

Director Michael Winterbottom styled the show around the American hit Curb Your Enthusiasm.