Perfect for a relaxing winter break, 18th century The Castle at Edgehill in West Oxfordshire, is a gem of a foodie pub with rooms steeped in history and surrounded by stunning countryside.
Famous as the site where Charles 1 once stood and watched the first major battle of the English Civil War in 1642, The Castle lies right on the crest of Edge Hill at the most northerly point of the Cotswolds on the Oxfordshire Warwickshire border. From here, take in the most exceptional, far-reaching, views at this thriving community hub, destination pub, restaurant and wedding venue with five bedrooms and a gin school and distillery.
Housed within an extravagant folly designed and built in the 1740s by landscape designer, Sanderson Miller, to commemorate the centenary of the Battle, this miniature castle was converted into an Inn in 1822, with additions built during the 19th century. Rooms are located within its two castellated towers with a suspended wooden bridge to access the larger ‘Radway’ tower.
Behind The Castle’s spacious bar with flagstone floors and crackling fires in winter, an extensive and well-curated wine list, with regularly changing local and guest ales and ciders all served with a friendly welcome by well-trained and knowledgeable staff.Â
Head chef, Pawel Neuman, offers top notch seasonal, modern British dishes with imaginative touches alongside pub classics, all beautifully presented at lunch and dinner daily. An exceptional, traditional Afternoon Tea and hearty Sunday roasts are another huge draw, as is the chance to sample some of the very best fresh, local produce available. Pawel continuedly aims to source the Castle’s produce from within a 30-mile radius of the kitchen. Additional herbs are grown in the Castle’s own gardens, with the best picked daily. A children’s menu is also available alongside a lunchtime sandwich menu from Monday – Saturday. *Vegetarian and vegan options are always available.Â
Three light-filled dining spaces (70 covers), includes a new addition with full-height windows to make the most of the panoramic views. The other two dining spaces feature oak panelled, exposed stone or whitewashed
walls, original timber floors, gothic-style mullioned windows, high ceilings with exposed joists and cast-iron chandeliers to highlight the quaint castle vibe, while leather chesterfields, scrubbed oak tables and comfy vintage chairs ensure relaxed, convivial spaces to drink and dine.
Outside, an exceptional, tree-lined pub garden with breath-taking views over the Warwickshire countryside (more specifically, the field below where the battle of Edge Hill took place) is the perfect spot for summer drinking and dining or a warm, mulled wine or hot apple toddy on a frosty evening.
Rooms
The Castle’s five, individually decorated, en-suite bedrooms, named after protagonists from the Battle of Edge Hill, offer incredible views from their turreted locations. The larger ‘Radway’ tower houses the Kings room and the Prince Rupert, both overlooking the battlefield and feature cosy, comfortable four-poster beds. The smaller tower houses two further double bedrooms, the Astley, with a double bed and a separate space with twin beds, while the largest room, the Cromwell Suite, covers the entire first floor and features a double bedroom with adjoining sitting room with sofa bed and room for two camp beds. The Verney is the cosiest room located on the ground floor with a wet room, disabled access and welcomes dogs for overnight stays for an additional £20 a night per dog.
During the week, a continental breakfast basket is delivered to each room, with a cooked breakfast menu available on Saturdays and Sundays. Doubles from around £125 a night on a B&B basis.
The Gin School
In 2022, The Castle teamed up with award-winning local distiller, Daniel Beckett, who runs Pinnock Distillery, to create the Castle Gin School. Situated at the top of the Radway Tower, the octagonal tower (said to have been inspired by a tower at Warwick Castle), the Gin School hosts Saturday classes where you will take charge of a mini copper pot still to develop your very own gin recipe by choosing from their extensive range of citrus, herbal, floral and spice botanicals, or alternatively you can bring your own along.Â
At the very end of the session, you will then be able to bottle and label your own unique creation in a 70cl bottle. You can also join them for one of the shorter, informative taster sessions, where you can try the full range of spirits produced by Pinnock Distillery. Prices start from £18pp.
Wedding and party venue
The Castle at Edgehill is a beautiful 17th century venue, with all three internal spaces holding a wedding licence. Monday – Friday only.
It offers civil ceremonies for up to 48 people and wedding breakfast and receptions for up to 80 within the Castle, and 150 in the gardens partnering with their recommended marquee companies.
They offer exclusive hire complete with a wedding planner to guide you with decision making. They also offer exclusive hire of The Castle and grounds from 10am on the day of the wedding until 10am the morning after and includes their five bedrooms with breakfast.
To do locally
Surrounded by beautiful countryside, walks from the front door include a ramble around the honey-coloured stone village of Edgehill. There is also the Battlefields Trail and a good five mile walk (Walk 2125 on the Walking Britain website) taking in Radway, Ratley and Edgehill.
Nearby – Upton House, Banbury, Broughton Castle, Warwick Castle, the British Motor Museum, Stratford-upon-Avon and Leamington Spa.
Local annual events include; Feastival, Cornbury, Wychwood and Wilderness Festivals, Giffords Circus and Blenheim Horse Trials.
The Castle at Edgehill, Edgehill , Banbury Oxfordshire OX15 6DJ.
To book, call 01295 670255 or visit www.castleatedgehill.co.uk
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How to get to Edgehill
By Car. Edgehill is less than 6 miles from Banbury with access off J12 of the M40. Off-road car parking available.
By Train. The nearest train station is Banbury, 9 miles from The Castle. with regular trains departing from London Marylebone. Journey time 1hr.
