Harden's survey result
Summary
This luxury hotel restaurant in a semi-ruined medieval castle (complete with portcullis) is part of the Andrew Brownsword group, and certainly makes for a “wonderfully romantic” destination. “The dining room is situated upstairs in the castle” – replete with a rare barrel-vaulted ceiling – so may not be good for the mobility-impaired, “but the staff are obliging” and the food “good” (if not exceptional).
Summary
The “stunning surroundings” of a semi-ruined medieval castle dating from 1103 complete with ramparts and working portcullis make this hotel (part of Andrew Brownsword’s group) a “beautiful venue for a romantic date which you won’t forget”. With a rare and original barrel-vaulted dining room ceiling, the dining room is situated upstairs in the castle: “the food is average but the staff are helpful and obliging”.
Summary
“Set in the beautiful setting of a very romantic castle” – complete with ruined battlements and a working portcullis – this Relais & Chateaux property is nowadays part of Andrew Brownsword Hotels. Perennially, there are thoughts here that “the food and service don’t come up to the surroundings” of its first-floor dining room (complete with 12th-century barrel-vaulted ceiling). Even so it’s decently rated, and afternoon tea here is ‘a banker’.
Summary
“A romantic and beautiful ruined medieval castle” – dating from the era when bishops required a fortified residence – makes a “stunning location” for a Brownsword hotel. The food served in the first-floor dining room, under a 12th-century barrel-vaulted ceiling, is generally felt to be “pretty good”, although it (and the service) is “not quite up to a level that matches the setting”. “Afternoon tea served on tiered cake stands in the gardens (complete with a noisy white peacock named Bob)” is a very safe bet.
For 33 years we've been curating reviews of the UK's most notable restaurant. In a typical year, diners submit over 50,000 reviews to create the most authoritative restaurant guide in the UK. 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).
Have you eaten at Amberley Castle?
Amberley, BN18 9LT
Restaurant details
Prices
| Availability | 2 courses | 3 courses |  |
 |
 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dinner | £98.00 |  |
|
|
| Drinks |
|
|---|---|
| Wine per bottle | £32.00 |
| Filter Coffee | £6.50 |
| Extras |
|
|---|---|
| Service | 10.00% |
Amberley, BN18 9LT
Opening hours
| Monday | 12:30 pm‑4:30 pm, 7 pm‑9 pm |
| Tuesday | 12:30 pm‑4:30 pm, 7 pm‑9 pm |
| Wednesday | 12:30 pm‑4:30 pm, 7 pm‑9 pm |
| Thursday | 12:30 pm‑4:30 pm, 7 pm‑9 pm |
| Friday | 12:30 pm‑4:30 pm, 7 pm‑9 pm |
| Saturday | 12:30 pm‑4:30 pm, 7 pm‑9 pm |
| Sunday | 12:30 pm‑4:30 pm, 7 pm‑9 pm |
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