The Castle at Edgehill, Banbury, Warwickshire

The day we headed for the Castle on Edgehill it was a squally, stormy night that didn’t abate that day or much of the next. Yet when we approached the castle it was a joyous moment. We sat in the car for a long moment to admire the curves of the castle whose stature is small enough to be called a folly.

At night, when the storm subsided, the sky was clear and the castle looked beautiful lit up against an indigo sky. Although there is accommodation, it’s the restaurant that gives it its allure. And the bar too with its cosy ambience and leather sofas. Get there on a clear day and the beer garden will be in bloom and the views over the Warwickshire countryside are rather beautiful.

The building was designed by English pioneer Sanderson Miller (1716-1780). He is most known for a penchant for follies and other pretty garden buildings and indeed the Octoganal tower now known as The Castle at Edgehill. It’s at the spot where the first major battle of the English Civil War took place that became the turning point in English history.

Hook Norton Brewery took it over in 1922 and refurbished it a few years ago offering five en-suite bedrooms. It is a small castle, small enough to be a folly but.. not too small to have a cheeky sense of humour and indeed to be haunted.

We heard some jangling in the night and obscure noises and we did wonder. Turns out that there is indeed a resident ethereal guest. They call her Edith.

Who for:

Anyone who fancies delicious food and a night at the Inn.

Accommodation:

There are just five rooms of various sizes. A couple with four-poster beds. Two of the rooms, ‘Prince Rupert’ and ‘Kings’ are situated in the main tower and have the best views of the Warwickshire countryside.

Ours was the Cromwell suite which takes up the whole first floor and is almost the size of a small flat. It has a large sitting room with a 52 inch Flat Screen TV and spacious bedroom and a spacious bathroom with Gothic style windows. The bathroom comes with a shower as do all the rooms and on the nights we stayed – albeit cold stormy nights – the bathroom was cold. Nevertheless, the bedroom was comfortable.  The hues of the decor were understated save a bright red Coca Cola fridge which seem incongruous, in the bedroom, and a fine wood-panelled ceiling in the lounge.

Food and Drink:

The entrance leads to the bar and the lounge. It’s very cosy. Drink by the bar or on a comfy sofa in the lounge. There are two dining areas. One in a traditional dining room and the other a space with floor to ceiling windows giving way to views over the countryside. We opted for the second area both for dinner and breakfast. The menu both for dinner and breakfast is limited but the food was fantastic – we particularly enjoyed the steak. There is a beer garden too ideal for sunny days.

Facilities

The Castle on Edgehill is primarily a restaurant with rooms and so there are no facilities as such save for free wi-fi. However, there is a fantastic gin school – the Pinnock Distillery. Here I distilled my own gin choosing my botanicals to produce gorgeous nectar which I bottled and took away. See our full review of the Castle Gin School here.

How much:

Doubles start £91 per night. The Cromwell Superior Suite from £136 per night. Tariff includes breakfast.

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What’s nearby?

The castle is located just shy of Cotswold on the border of Oxfordshire and Warwickshire amidst some gorgeous countryside – a location that bodes well for long walks. Warwick Castle is a few minutes’ drive away. The region is also home to manufacturing plants of  Jaguar Land Rover and Aston Martin so it’s apt that around 10 minutes drive will get you to the British Motor Museum.. bringing the history of the British motor industry to life.

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Verdict: This is a delightfully cute castle. If you are passing through the area for a night and want a place to lay your head after a fabulous boozy meal and surroundings to walk it off the next day, The Castle at Edgehill is ideal.