I've been coming here since the 1990s and this is the best it has ever been. Services of high quality and a willing and friendly staff always there to help, with particular reference to Christina and Pedro" Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors. Thornbury isa pleasant village with its own heritage trail and museum, which unfortunately was closed during my visit. +44 (0) 1454 281 182 Dine in royal surroundings at a Tudor castle and fine dining restaurant in Bristol. Can highly recommend it for anyone celebrating a birthday or for that special treat. A third garden provides herbs, fruit and vegetables for the kitchen. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. Our waiter was very attentive, amusing and made us feel very welcome. Work completed, I still had sufficient time to stroll around the gardens before meeting my cousin. reception@thornburycastle.co.uk. dining room for dinner. That way it might catch our attention. I suspect the main door to the hotel had been left open. Croquet and board games will also be available. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. It was after breakfast that I was given a talk and tour of Thornbury Castle by David Thomas, which provided me with much of the information you have just read. The castle was built between 1510 and 1521 for Edward Stafford, Third Duke of Buckingham, who was the next male in line to the throne during the early reign of Henry VIII. Reluctantly, so, so reluctantly, my tour over I dragged my feet away from Thornbury Castle to head to a Reading wedding another cousin had planned. Supplements apply to larger bedchambers, a 30% non-refundable deposit is required at the time of booking. Sample Page; ; She then spoke to chef who said the sandwiches were ok. The dress code for our Restaurant is smart-casual, i.e. The presentation of the afternoon tea was was nothing out of the ordinary. Thornbury Castle The castle is in the town of Thornbury, 12 miles to the north of Bristol. Very upset that we chose this venue for our treat.More. The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It also turns out to be a very decent hotel. Once you drive through the archway towards the mainentrance to the hotel it looks more coiffured and presents extremely well. Pride of place was the four-poster bed, although the ornate fireplace gave it a good run for its money. I've had several stays at this beautiful hotel, been for afternoon tea multiple times, had many family meals there including my 50 birthday lunch and I've never had reason to complain but I'm afraid someone needs to have a word with Chef as it is NOT ok to serve bread which has started to dry out. Read more You can contact us at [emailprotected]. Thornbury Castle is rated accordingly in the following categories by Tripadvisor travellers: Thornbury Castle Castle Street, Thornbury BS35 1HH England. There was a selection of cakes and pastries, ginger cake, tiny meringues, a rhubarb ball in toasted coconut (which looked like a scotch egg) and tiny meringues and a fruit tartlet. The combination worked a treat. Taking formal afternoon tea has become a hobby of mine. Our package includes: - One or two night's accommodation - Canaps in our lounge "Wow what an incredible place, we stayed here for 3 nights back in December, the room was amazing and the staff super friendly, nothing was too little. more, Vegetarian Friendly, Vegan Options, Gluten Free Options, Before posting, each Tripadvisor review goes through an automated tracking system, which collects information, answering the following questions: how, what, where and when. In 1966 restaurateur Kenneth Bell turned Thornbury Castle into one of the finest restaurants in the country a youthful Nigel Slater cooked here as well as a hotel. A great atmosphere in a building with so much history. Our Superior De Luxe Bedchamber was outstanding. Gloucestershire, BS35 1HH Most of the building was left to fall to ruin, so much so that Thornbury became something of a tourist attraction, as a ruined castle close enough to the spa town of Bath and Bristol to draw visitors. We waited an age for the food. He called it his favorite place we stayed on the entire trip. Each are deluxe rooms and are very expensive, so we could only afford one night. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. This is the best place to see the magnificent oriel windows, that are reckoned to be finest domestic Tudor windows in England. Unique in the world: The food was excellent. Thornbury Castle, Relais & Chteaux Castle Street, Bristol, England BS35 1HH Hotel Amenities Renovations + Closures The property is closed between January 9 and January 19. reception@thornburycastle.co.uk. Only the single tower in which Henry slept was built. Get quick answers from Thornbury Castle staff and past visitors. We were given four finger sandwiches each, Smoked salmon and horseradish, beef and horseradish, roast chicken and tarragon mayonnaise, ham and mustard. Overall not a good experience and I would not recommend.More, Visited Thornbury Castle twice for Afternoon Tea. The only Tudor castle in England currently run as a hotel, this luxurious country retreat crowned with crenellations certainly looks the part - although potential wassailers expecting unruly banqueting will be disappointed. In a place like this I was shocked that the kitchen closes. Thornbury Castle Thornbury Castle is a member of Relais & Chteaux. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. Before we left we took advantage of the Castle History Tour and Jane from the local Museum took us into rooms we hadn't seen and around the gardens explaining the Castle's colourful past- a brilliant add on experience. It's now been bought by an Arab conglomerate as their first 5* hotel in theUK. The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. France +44 (0) 1454 281 182 This is far more than was legally allowed by Henry as retainers. > We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Sample breakfast, lunch, dinner or a Thornbury Castle afternoon tea. entrance to the hotel it looks more coiffured and presents extremely well. There was also a secret door that led to the bathroom, where the most funky window I have ever seen provided light it was burrowed into the old castle walls. Immerse yourself in wonderful British cuisine at this place. I have had better afternoon teas in small local cafes. We booked High Tea for the 31st March to celebrate my wife's Birthday - what a disappointment. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. almost the whole time. We were shown to a small room where we were the only customers apart from one other table that became occupied shortly after our arrival. They were keen for us to leave and took our drinks to a beautiful communal lounge that had considerable luxury and ambiance with an open fire , It was a far cry from the pokey uninviting room we had experienced. So, if you are the type of person that expects to get what you pay for and expects to be treated with courtesy, I would not stay at this place even if the rooms were free. Sign-up to receive the latest updates and events. The reception by the staff was a little under whelming as their initial greeting was do you have a voucher. Most popular facilities Free parking Restaurant Non-smoking rooms Free WiFi Room service Bar Fabulous breakfast Property highlights Top location: Highly rated by recent guests (9.5) Want a great night's sleep? Ask jvb1128 about Thornbury Castle Hotel & Restaurant, Ask ConnieCotswolds about Thornbury Castle Hotel & Restaurant, Ask Katharine Z about Thornbury Castle Hotel & Restaurant, An experience, as well as a place to stay, Ask Slatters about Thornbury Castle Hotel & Restaurant, Ask Brussel about Thornbury Castle Hotel & Restaurant, Ask southerntravelerms about Thornbury Castle Hotel & Restaurant. The food was no different from a 15-20 per head experience. It does not store any personal data. The population has risen to 14,496 in the 2021 census. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". Thornbury Castle. As he had much property in Wales, it made sense for him to build his castle just across the River Severn, and close to Bristol, which was the second most important city at the time. Consequently, much of what you can now see is Victorian in design. We dinned in the restaurant on the first night and opted for the signature tasting menu & what a delight it was every mouth was an explosion of taste from the amuse bouche to the fondant tart every dish was beautifully craft. To see how we use your information, view our privacy policy. When my husband said "No, we're checking in." If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. The room was beautiful with a lovely curved glass window and a stained glass window in the bathroom. What is the pricing and what is included. Thornbury Castle Castle Street , Thornbury , South Gloucestershire , BS35 1HH 01454 281182 Visit Website Send Email Availability Search Arrival Date: Nights: Guests in Room/Unit 1 Add Room Booking Details: Arrival Date: Fri , 3rd Mar 2023 Departure Date: Sat , 4th Mar 2023 No. We are the only Tudor castle which operates as a hotel, with a team that are passionate about creating magical and memorable memories for all our guests.. Thoroughly enjoyed a Special Evening.Food was interesting and delicious together with a Wine flight. Its not that the whole experience was awful but it wasnt what I expected. Henry seized Thornbury Castle for the Crown. The best I can say is it was okay nothing special.More, We went to Thornbury Castel last night for our anniversary. In summary overpriced for the quality on offer and theres a lot better around. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. DMX. It was fun watching overseas tourists being overawed with their surroundings! Lookout for the amazing ceilings! The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. Are you sure you want to delete this answer? According to David Thomas, vanity and a sense of self-importance were rampant in the Tudor court. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. > This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. By clicking Accept All, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". A delicious breakfast will be served in the restaurant between 8 am and 10.30 am, or relax with breakfast served in your bedchamber, whilst you unwrap the goodies in your Christmas hamper! I was completely disgusted. UK. find your country number Our overall feeling was that we were not that welcome. The secret of course is in the training and it was very obvious that these staff were of the highest standard- very polite, smiling, knowledgeable, courteous and clearly loved the Castle and wanted us to as well. Another lovely place you may wish to check out which is not far from there & just off M5 Thornbury junc is Tortworth Court which is also set in stunnin grounds. The dress code for our Restaurant is smart-casual, i.e. There was a 10% gratuity (not discretional and not mentioned in the hotel's advertisements) added to our 65.00p bill. The delicious sweet courses were crowned with a superb chocolate souffle with sour cherry sorbet which in itself was worth a Michelin Star. Another lovely place you may wish to check out which is not far from there & just off M5 Thornbury junc is Tortworth Court which is also set in stunnin Am really not sure tbh..probably best email them to check first. Obviously pre-prepared underwhelming, sandwiches looked & tasted as though theyd been under cling film & in the fridge too long. Perhaps it was that Henry saw Buckingham as a threat after all he was male heir or perhaps due to some slight the Duke committed, or maybe Henry was just after his property, but in 1521 Buckingham was arrested, tried, convicted and executed. I was disappointed by the sparse quantities of sandwiches. Unfortunately the room was cold. When I booked the tea I'd seen it advertised at 32.50p per person so was disappointed again when the bill arrived for 71.50p. Hospitality is in our heritage, meaning yourself and your guests will enjoy an unforgettable experience, both on the palate and in our historic surroundings. After dinner, those guests who wish to attend a Christmas church service may walk next door to St. Marys Church for the Midnight Eucharist; alternatively to the Roman Catholic Church of Christ the King, situated further towards Thornbury town centre. She was quite abrupt and rude with her response too. Thornbury Castle Castle Street, Thornbury BS35 1HH, England +44 1454 281182 Website Improve this listing Ranked #8 of 34 Restaurants in Thornbury 510 Reviews Price range: 96 - 96 Cuisines: Mediterranean, British More restaurant details Richard B Grand Cayman 61 26 Reviewed 5 November 2016 A good dinner but shame about the dress code! What a wonderful place! [1] To sum up- Thank you all for your expertise in ensuring we enjoyed a truly delightful stay !More, 4 finger sandwiches! This impressive hotel and wedding venue has undergone a 10 million refurbishment bringing it straight into the 21st century while remaining true to its Tudor heritage. Add the extremely poor service and I would advise anyone to go elsewhere. I was generally disappointed with the formal afternoon tea on offer. There was a selection of cakes and pastries, ginger cake, tiny meringues, a rhubarb ball in toasted coconut (which looked like a scotch egg) and tiny meringues and a fruit tartlet. How about fishing? Or as the hotel literature continues, built to impress five centuries later, it still does.. Our waitress was very pleasant but must have had too many duties to be attentive, she would also have benefited from a clean uniform. Privacy was not a feature associated with Tudor castles. The food was average. The Outer Court now stands as ruins of what probably never was. We have enjoyed High Tea in many other locations, but this was far from the best. Each year, the guide is re-written from scratch based on this survey (although for the 2021 edition, reviews are little changed from 2020 as no survey could run for that year). If you are lucky enough to be staying in the Catherine of Aragon Tower Suite, you can view across to Wales. Prices for children are available upon request. Afternoon Tea Menu This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. I could have done with three times the amount and additional scones. I chose Darjeeling tea while our dining companions selected English Breakfast. This will be served from 12.30 pm until 2 pm at your pre-reserved times. But this establishment has not yet gathered enough feedback for our editors to write it up. Sign-up to receive the latest updates and events. The secret of course is in the training and it was very obvious that these staff were of the highest standard- very polite, smiling, knowledgeable, courteous and clearly loved the Castle and wanted us to as well. Our reviews are based on an annual survey of ordinary diners which runs in Spring each year. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. Exclusive use of the castle and grounds can also be arranged for extra-special occasions, offering you private use of 27unique bedchambers, and larger private dining for up to 70 people. A true journey to another era. of Nights: 1 Room 1 - for 1 guest (s) Prices from - 213.59 About The full balance of the total cost is required by 1 December 2023. Most have some unique features - in our case a bathroom hidden behind a secret door. This was followed by squid ink ravioli in a shellfish bisque, with Loch Duart salmon, crevette and caviar. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. The presentation of the afternoon tea was was nothing out of the ordinary. Buckingham would access the chapel through a private passage via his terraced garden. Dignitaries from the city would come and visit while Henry wined and dined, and no doubt went hunting in the three nearby deer parks. Gloucestershire, BS35 1HH Buckinghams windows are larger and more ornate than his those of the Duchess below did I mention he was vane? Sadly, there were no kippers, but the poached eggs for the salmon Benedict were cooked to perfection. Prices are the average nightly price provided by our partners and may not include all taxes and fees. Roaring log fireplaces, Tudor dcor and unparalleled service are but a few reasons to make Thornbury Castle your destination of choice this Christmas. Thornbury Castle - A Relais & Chateaux Hotel has been welcoming Booking.com guests since 8 Jun 2009. Thornbury, Gloucestershire 20 languages Thornbury is a market town and civil parish in the South Gloucestershire unitary authority area of England, about 12 mi (19 km) north of Bristol. The food was average. NEWSRiver Caf alumna brings Italian flavours to Battersea, NEWSBirmingham's loss is Liverpool's gain. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". It is an enchanting setting, that can be savoured in the four dining rooms of Thornbury Castles gourmet restaurant, where the focus is on creative cuisine that celebrates the essentials. 01454 281182 thornburycastle.co.uk More hotels in Gloucestershire View all 9 Telegraph expert rating From Thyme Read. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. > The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. Between 8 am and 10.30 am, a hearty breakfast will be served in the dining room, after which you may wish to take part in traditional Tudor activities from 11 am until 3.30 pm, including axe throwing and longbow. hot water to refill out tea we had to wander to other parts to find a waitress. Our booking was only for 2 nights and it soon became clear it wasn't long enough, so we added a third night to fully embrace the standard of the food and the ambience of the Castle. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. Food modern and very, very good. Get quick answers from Thornbury Castle staff and past visitors. Fortunately, the Thornbury Castle dress code is smart casual, something I have always felt to be an oxymoron. The room service option is available for specific time slots which need to be booked in advance. Three Course Dinner for Two at Thornbury Castle Hotel 1073533 5 out of 5 (based on 13 reviews) 156 Best price, guaranteed! It therefore felt like we were the poor relations and didn't deserve the extra heating. Relais & Chteaux Entreprise and the properties where you stay, acting as joint data controllers, use of your personal data to process your membership to the guest . Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. A few cakes size of marshmallows small plain scone and fruit scone and a choice of tea or coffee! I have stayed in some pretty strange and amazing places in my time as a travel writer, including a jail in Laos, but never before have I slept in a bedchamber let alone one in a Tudor Castle. Many people have noticed that you can eat nicely cooked ham sandwiches, steaks and Baked potatoes here. Myself and a friend booked Thornbury Castle afternoon tea @ 35 per head. When the system detects a problem, a review may be automatically rejected, sent to the reviewer for validation, or manually reviewed by our team of content specialists, who work 24/7 to maintain the quality of the reviews on our site. reception@thornburycastle.co.uk. Highly recommeneded. For 32 years we've been curating reviews of the UK's most notable restaurant. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Customer service was fantasticand looked after well by all the staff.More, Had afternoon tea here in the summer just me and a friend and since then we have had other afternoon teas all over somerset. Join us for breakfast, dinner or Sunday lunch in one of our four dining rooms and youll find yourself indulging in a dazzling experience with a heritage befitting of its storied surroundings one that encompasses seventies extravagance courtesy of regular past guests including Sophia Loren and Laurence Olivier. The latest was carried out during Covid by its current owners. Review. A lovely way to round off our bank holiday weekend. Breakfast was served in the dining room and included a pink grapefruit juice always one of my markers for breakfast. During the afternoon, enjoy the castle's carol singer in the Tudor Hall, along with a hot chocolate or mulled wine. Daniel in the lounge made sure our nightly pre meal experience was 100% satisfactory with superb canapes, and his wine recommendations were excellent. We were in the Mary I room--they treated us like royalty. Mosley tribes Lyndel . IMAGINE IF EVERYTHING WAS EXACTLY HOW YOU LIKE IT: ALWAYS BE EXPECTED, Copyright 2000 - 2023 Relais & Chteaux. In fact Henry VIII and Ann Boleyn stayed there when it was just a castle. Thornbury, Gloucestershire, BS35 1HH T: +44 (0) 1454 281 182 W: cick here Related Content: #Culture #Food #Heritage #UK Lifestyle, Opinion / Profiles Staying In Room: How To Entertain Yourself In A Hotel scones were delicious & the tea selection was varied. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. Luxury castle hotel surrounded by manicured lawns & landscaped grounds. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Save. One violet plant proved particularly popular with the bees. Most have four-poster beds and all feature antique furniture. Towards the end of our stay, one of our group asked if they wanted us to leave and they said yes. Ceryainly not beach shorts which we evidenced last evening, When we visited it was a mixed bag, some very smart, others casual. Both my husband and I were casually dressed as we were touring around the countryside. But to enjoy the style you could try an afternoon tea. When this was pointed out, our waitress explained the bread is stored in the fridge. Replete with battlements, secret doors and romantic ruins, Thornbuy is everyone's fantasy of how a castle should look. It therefore felt like we were the poor relations and didn't deserve the extra heating. Respi Mee Sup Sabahiiat. Rates are from 3,100 for a three-night stay for two people in a Deluxe Bedchamber. Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information. Experience Tudor opulence at its most intimate; immerse yourself in the historical fineries and contemporary luxuries that lie behind the heavy wooden doors of each of our uniquely realised rooms. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Taxes and fees are included in the above prices. In Room Dining Night Menu Unclaimed. Resolved: Release in which this issue/RFE has been resolved. Thornbury Castle, Thornbury: See 513 unbiased reviews of Thornbury Castle, rated 4 of 5 on Tripadvisor and ranked #9 of 32 restaurants in Thornbury. We have stayed at Thornbury 3 times now. Very upset that we chose this venue for our treat. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". Yes. Immediately behind the house is a Tudor walled Privy Garden that originally would have been terraced. We decided this was the best afternoon tea we had all year. My son had on jeans/t-shirt when we arrived and he changed into khakis and buttoned shirt. I agree to receive messages from Relais & Chteaux in order to benefit from exclusive offers and invitations from Relais & Chteaux and its few partner brands, as well as personalized contents in view of my next stays. no trainers, t-shirts, shorts etc. or Can a vegan person get a good meal at this restaurant? The castle is breathtaking along with the gardens outside. We asked for additional heating or the heating to be increased and got a "certainly" response.Despite this request nothing changed - and we noticed as we were leaving the room so they could lay up for dinner that extra heaters were being brought into the room. After a polite word with our waitress, they were replaced and we were informed chef had just made them for us. Wine List Castle Hotel in Bristol - Thornbury Castle Play full video Our Castle Pass through the gateway and find, beyond those striking stone walls, a true escape from the everyday; a luxurious Relais & Chteaux retreat that channels 1520s grandeur and 2020s splendour all at once. The second time we stayed we went into thornbury village and went to a lovely restaurant called Ronnies - still a little bit pricey but cheaper than the castle and much more 'everyday' meats and dishes - very friendly and wicked food.Unfortunately Thornbury castle seems to be getting more expensive each year so I doubt if we will go again in the near future unless it is a 'very' special occasion. Highly recommeneded. There were many highlights- the halibut, cod and stone bass were amazingly fresh, and the Loch Duart salmon with lime, mousse, caviar and shellfish bisque was particularly memorable. Add To Basket Location: Thornbury - Bristol For 2 people Valid for 12 months Best Price Guarantee What's included? While maybe not quite fit for Henry, the food and presentation certainly lived up to the reputation initiated by Kenneth Bell. Thornbury Castle, Thornbury: See 507 unbiased reviews of Thornbury Castle, rated 4 of 5 on Tripadvisor and ranked #8 of 34 restaurants in Thornbury. They immediately bought the bill and we paid. Final reservation 8.30pm Afternoon Tea, Monday to Saturday - 12.30pm to 4.30pm Afternoon Tea Sunday - 3pm to 4.30pm Sunday lunch 12.30pm to 2.30pm Cuisines British, Contemporary, Fine Dining Features Check-out time is 11.00 am. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. As my friend pointed out, Chef was not eating the sandwiches, we were & they certainly were not fresh. We were not having a free tea, we were very well dressed and were not rude. The rooms were enchanting, the food was just outstanding, and the staff were first rate. The first included reroofing the North Wing was completed in 1997. I could not recommend it more highly! Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Get the inside track: news, exclusive offers, and competitions. However the price is irrelevent if you are going for a romantic getaway, the staff are very friendly, the gardens are beautiful (depending on time of year and what is in bloom), the rooms apsolutely amazing and the breakfast outstanding.The restaurant food was lovely - but i guess it was a little extravagant for us really. I hope this helps. Kind Regards Jenni over a year ago 292112 Wales, United Kingdom 0 Votes Not for afternoon tea over a year ago Add your answer Posting guidelines More questions about this property I wouldn't have been very happy! But I definalely recommend it, its an amazing and beautiful place to stay. find your country number. The food was excellent. Staying In Room: How To Entertain Yourself In A Hotel. Taxes and fees that are shown are estimates only. Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features. I could have done with three times the amount and additional scones. The waitresses & service was good. Note: your question will be posted publicly on the Questions & Answers page.