Harden's survey result
Summary
“The castle is situated in a picture postcard setting” – down a long drive through gardens with the portcullis still working – and “in the upstairs dining room of this luxury establishment you could imagine a long dining table and the nobles sitting round and having a feast”. No surprise that it always induces feedback, particularly as a “romantic choice”. But there’s general agreement that the “traditional British cuisine” is somewhere between OK and “nothing too special” (“The food doesn’t live up to the stunning setting and the predictability of the menu means we visit much less often these days”).
Summary
“When you walk through the portcullis into the castle it’s like entering another world” at this luxury hotel, which sits in “well-manicured grounds” and looks straight out of a Disney movie. The dining room itself is “situated upstairs” in a modestly sized barrel-vaulted space. Not everyone is wowed by the straightforward modern British cuisine but even doubters say the surroundings “make up for it”.
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”.
For 34 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 | £39.00 |
| Filter Coffee | £5.00 |
| Extras |
|
|---|---|
| Bread | £4.00 |
| Service | 13.00% |
Amberley, BN18 9LT
Opening hours
| Monday | 12:30 pm‑4 pm, 6:30 pm‑9 pm |
| Tuesday | 12:30 pm‑4 pm, 6:30 pm‑9 pm |
| Wednesday | 12:30 pm‑4 pm, 6:30 pm‑9 pm |
| Thursday | 12:30 pm‑4 pm, 6:30 pm‑9 pm |
| Friday | 12:30 pm‑4 pm, 6:30 pm‑9 pm |
| Saturday | 12:30 pm‑4 pm, 6:30 pm‑9 pm |
| Sunday | 12:30 pm‑4 pm, 6:30 pm‑9 pm |
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