Guests visiting the historic Thornbury Castle this autumn are being invited to enjoy a series of indulgent seasonal events including wine dinners, cookery lessons and Christmas wreath making in the most opulent of settings.

Salute Tasca D’Almerita

The events start on Thursday 3rd November with an evening of food and wine hosted by wine producer Tasca D’Almerita whose estate is run by Alberto Tasca, the eighth generation member of the prestigious Tasca family, and is located in the mountainous centre of Sicily. The vineyards cover more than 500 hectares and are popular with wine lovers across the globe.  Thornbury Castle’s Executive Head Chef Carl Cleghorn together with brand ambassador Benedetta Gatti will take guests on a journey around Sicily while indulging in a beautifully five-course bespoke menu which will include Orkney Scallop, Pumpkin, Maple, Alsace bacon followed by Stoke Marsh Beef Fillet, short rib, roscoff. 
Price £145.00 per person.

Mastering the perfect festive Beef Wellington

As we head in to mid November, guests will have a chance to take part in a cooking masterclass with Executive Head Chef Carl Cleghorn where he will share insider tips and demonstrate how to prepare and create a show stopping Beef Wellington, fit to impress the whole family. The one-hour master class will be followed by a two-course lunch in the Castle’s private dining room.
Price £105.00 per person.

An English Affair with Gusbourne

Award-winning boutique English winery Gusbourne is one of England’s most renowned and innovative winemakers, using grapes exclusively from their own vineyards. The winery will be hosting a dinner at Thornbury Castle on Thursday 24th November, inviting guests to enjoy a selection of still and sparkling wines over a five-course dinner created by the Castle’s Executive Head Chef. Each dish will use local, seasonal ingredients, designed to complement the wines.
Price: 145.00 per person.

Festive wreath making and mulled wine

Thornbury Castle’s festive season will start on Friday 25th November with an afternoon of wreath making followed by mulled wine and festive afternoon tea. Guests will be able to enjoy open fires, relax in cosy sofas and get in to the Christmas spirit and take home their finished wreath ready for hanging on the door. Price: £85.00.

The Castle will also be creating a selection of festive menus for lunch and dinner throughout December and early booking is advised. Its popular Festive Sunday lunch (£42.50 per person) will also start on Sunday 4th December and run until the 18th December and its Festive Afternoon Tea is available to residents and non-residents from the 6th December, price £35.00 per person.

Thornbury Castle is also releasing two new packages this autumn.  These are: 

Mid week gourmet break: Stay one or two nights, includes champagne and three-course dinner staying in a Deluxe Bedchamber, Sunday to Thursday,  £389.00 per room.

New Year’s Eve package: Three-night stay, including dinners, afternoon tea, activities and fireworks. Package starts from  £2,230.00 for a three-night stay per room.

Website: www.thornburycastle.co.uk

Bookings: +44 (0)1454 281182

Instagram: @thornburycastle

Accessible rooms: The Castle has one accessible room, fully equipped for a visitor in a wheelchair. This is located on the ground floor.

Children: The Castle welcomes children from eight-years-old.

Dogs: Well-behaved dogs are welcome at the Castle (apart from in the dining areas) and it is requested that dogs be kept on leads at all times.

Thornbury Castle, built in 1511 during the reign of Henry VIII, was one of the grandest buildings of its time in England. It has been the home of kings, queens and dukes over the centuries before becoming a luxury hotel in 1966 and recently re-opened its doors once again to guests following its multi-million pound refurbishment.

July 2022: Located near Bristol and overlooking the Gloucestershire countryside, Thornbury Castle is the only Tudor castle in the UK which operates as a hotel and restaurant. Channeling 1530s grandeur with 2020s splendour, guests can experience Tudor opulence in total luxury during a stay at Thornbury Castle.

To celebrate the completion of its two-year, multi-million pound refurbishment, the Castle is offering a chance for guests to enjoy a variety of activities to conjure up the atmosphere of Tudor England. These include:

Become a Tudor Queen for the day

Step back in time and enjoy a fun and exciting day to dress like, look like, to dine like and be entertained as an English Tudor Lady for a day at Thornbury Castle.  The day begins at 10am and finishes at approximately 4pm and includes lunch, afternoon tea, lady-in-waiting service for the day, a spot of falconry, complimentary mead, chocolates and truffles and refreshments.  Once costumed, your Tudor Queen look will be captured by a professional photographer, with digital pictures for you to take home.  

Price varies by the number of people participating and, for groups of a minimum of four people, the Castle can offer a bespoke and private experience (subject to availability).

Longbow Archery 

Archery was Tudor England’s national sport as well as an important piece of its national defence. In 1515, Henry VIII commanded that every householder keep bows, and that every adult and adolescent male learn to use them (a subsequent decree promised a pardon to any man who accidentally shot a passer-by while fulfilling his obligations under the first decree!).

During a stay at Thornbury Castle, guests have a chance to try it for themselves.  After mastering the fundamentals of becoming an archer, with instruction on shooting a longbow, guests will be given the chance to participate in Tudor pastimes to see if they are able to match up to the archers of the period, while absorbing the history of Thornbury Castle and Tudor England’s famous longbows. 

The experiences are subject to availability and additional costs will apply based on party size and activity desired.

Each experience must be booked at least 48-hours in advance. Should guests cancel their reservation less than 24-hours prior to their experience, the full amount will still be payable.

Clay Pigeon Shooting

Set in 55 acres of natural woodland, Lady’s Wood Shooting School offers comprehensive clay pigeon shooting facilities. Shooting tuition is provided for those who have never tried it before right through to those who are more experienced.  Located just 30 minutes from the Castle, the Shooting School offers a variety of targets, with over 30 stands, six onsite towers (including the 120ft high tower), a wide variety of sporting stands, grouse butt and the infamous Lady’s Wood Extreme Tower.   

Bookings must be made in advance.  Price for a one-hour lesson from £90 per person, plus cartridges.  For two people, cost is £65.00 per person plus cartridges.

Thornbury Castle History Tours 

Built in the 1500s, Thornbury Castle has housed kings, queens and dukes over the centuries, and we are so pleased to offer the opportunity of a guided historical tour with a local historian of both the inside and outside of the Castle.

The tour starts with our local historian weaving a detailed history of the castle and the people who have owned or lived here. Guests will then be accompanied around the Castle interior where the historian will highlight different features which can be seen, but not necessarily noticed. The tour then concludes outside in the grounds and gardens, where the fascinating architecture is discussed.

Price: £15.00 per person.  Pre-booking is essential. Tours are offered by the team at Thornbury & District Museum and available for hotel guests, subject to availability of the historians.

Website: www.thornburycastle.co.uk

Bookings: +44 (0)1454 281182

Instagram: @thornburycastle

Accessible rooms: The Castle has one accessible room, fully equipped for a visitor in a wheelchair. This is located on the ground floor.

Children: The Castle welcomes children from eight-years-old.

Dogs: Well-behaved dogs are welcome at the Castle (apart from in the dining areas) and it is requested that dogs be kept on leads at all times.

With more of us than ever taking breaks in Britain, where we stay has become increasingly important..

This week, The Sunday Times reveals its definitive list of the 100 best places to stay spread throughout the country. The guide will be available on Thursday via the online interactive guide and as supplement with the newspaper this Sunday (17 October 2021).

Thornbury Castle, Bristol wins Best Romantic Hotel in the national awards.

The guide says;

“Curtain walls, crenellations, Tudor chimneys — this historic pile is full of atmosphere and the restaurant is great. A heady rush of history awaits at Thornbury Castle…Apparently Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn were overnight guests. By the time you check out, you’ll be feeling pretty regal too.”

The guide focuses on the things that really matter; hotels with the essentials of comfort, great service and value, as well as personality and warmth.

Thornbury Castle’s General Manager Simone Arcucci comments:

“Thornbury Castle really is a truly unique place to stay and is the only Royal Tudor castle in the UK which has been transformed in to a luxury hotel following our recent multi-million pound refurbishment.”

“We are truly delighted to be named ‘Best Romantic Hotel’ in the UK by The Sunday Times. It’s wonderful to be recognised as a ‘Best Place to Stay’ in this prestigious annual guide that is based on comfort, great service and value, personality and warmth.”

“We look forward to welcoming more guests as they experience Tudor opulence like Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn did in 1535 when they visited the Castle as part of their Royal Progress Tour.”

Channeling 1530s grandeur with 2020s splendour, the Castle’s 27 bedchambers have been carefully restored and interiors are sensitively reimagined with historical fineries and contemporary luxuries. Fifteen of the bedchambers and suites feature sumptuous four-poster beds, rich period detailing, with décor throughout the rooms and suites artfully recreating the Tudor style in which royalty and aristocracy would have languished, feasted and relaxed in.

Unique stays guaranteed

Each one of Thornbury Castle’s six deluxe suites has been refurbished and offer their own unique style and design with no two the same. For example, the Jane Seymour Suite, accessible via a spiral stone staircase, oozes castle luxury, complete with a four-posted bed, located in the oldest tower of the building, offering stunning views that stretch all the way to Wales.

Website: www.thornburycastle.co.uk

Bookings: +44 (0)1454 281182

Instagram: @thornburycastle

Accessible rooms: The Castle has one accessible room, fully equipped for a visitor in a wheelchair. This is located on the ground floor.

Children: The Castle welcomes children from eight-years-old.

Dogs: Well-behaved dogs are welcome at the Castle (apart from in the dining areas) and it is requested that dogs be kept on leads at all times.

View the original article:

The Sunday Times, Best Places to Stay