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.

THORNBURY CASTLE PREPARES TO CELEBRATE HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN’S PLATINUM JUBILEE IN REGAL STYLE

Thornbury Castle is preparing to mark HM The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee with a summer of celebrations starting this month (May 2022).

The Castle, located near Bristol and adjacent to the Gloucestershire countryside, provides an unforgettable setting and the ideal place to celebrate this remarkable milestone given its own royal history.

Built in 1511 during the reign of Henry VIII, it has been the home of kings, queens and dukes over the centuries before becoming a luxury hotel and reopening its doors last year following a multi-million pound refurbishment.

Taking place in the most regal of settings, the Platinum Jubilee celebrations will include:

A Royal Afternoon Tea, Wednesday 11 May and Thursday 26 May, 2pm to 4pm.

Enjoy a very special Afternoon Tea at Thornbury Castle in its magnificent Tudor Hall. Guests will be served by Grant Harrold, British etiquette expert and former Royal butler to HM The Queen, The Prince of Wales and Prince William, Duke of Cambridge. Grant will give guests a fascinating insight and glimpse into life in the Royal household and also provide a one-hour etiquette lesson given his wealth of experience.

Afternoon Tea will feature a choice of handpicked loose teas, delicate finger sandwiches and homemade sweets including a fabulous tart, macaroon, and scones, served with the option of a glass of English Sparkling wine, or one of Thornbury Castle’s signature Afternoon Tea cocktails.

Afternoon tea with the Royal Butler £75.00 per person.

Queen’s Jubilee Sunday Lunch, Sunday 5 June

Executive Chef Carl Cleghorn brings to the Castle a wealth of culinary experience, having worked in a number of the UK’s top hotels and manor houses and with some of the UK’s top Michelin star chefs. He prides himself on using the best seasonal and local ingredients from the Castle’s kitchen and herb garden and showcasing the best of British to create a memorable dining experience for guests.

Available to both guests and non-residents, celebrate the Queen’s Jubilee in style during the June Bank Holiday weekend courtesy of Executive Chef Carl Cleghorn who has created a special Queen’s Jubilee lunch which will see guests enjoying English sparkling wine on arrival, a three-course lunch consisting of dishes including a rich chicken liver parfait served with red onion marmalade and home-made brioche. A beautiful main of Cornish Cod with Wye Valley asparagus, mussels and parsley will be served and the lunch will finish with mouth-watering classics such as The Queen of Puddings, served with rhubarb, vanilla and meringue. A harpist will entertain guests and play during this special lunch.

Price: £57.00 per person. Booking in advance is essential.

Henry VIII’s England with Professor Jeremy Black, Wednesday 6 July and Wednesday 27 July

As the Platinum Jubilee offers the nation a chance to look back in history when Her Majesty The Queen first ascended to the throne 70 years ago this year, there will also be a chance to go back to the early 1500s and learn more about one of its most famous owners, Henry VIII.

Two talks will place at the Castle led by Jeremy Black MBE. Jeremy is a highly respected British historian, writer, former professor of history at the University of Exeter and author of more than 180 historical books. Described as “the most prolific historical scholar of our age”, Jeremy will provide a fascinating insight into Henry VIII’s England at the time of when Thornbury Castle was being built and when Henry VIII visited with Anne Boleyn in 1535. Jeremy has recently written Getting to Thornbury in the age of Henry VIII which can be read here

The price per person for the Afternoon Tea and History Talk event which will take place in the Castle’s Tudor Hall is £75.00 per person.

Afternoon Tea fit for a King and Queen, available daily from 12.30pm to 4.30pm, served in the Castle’s stunning gardens, weather permitting

Guests and visitors also have the chance to enjoy Thornbury Castle’s signature Afternoon Tea which can be taken in its beautiful grounds or inside the Castle.

Consisting of a tasty selection of delicate finger sandwiches including cream cheese and cucumber, roast chicken and coronation mayonnaise to name just a few, the Tea also includes choux, macaroon, mousse and carrot cake with the choice of hand-picked teas, champagne or even a Gin & Tea cocktail to finish off.  

A vegetarian version of the Afternoon Tea is also available.  

Thornbury Castle Afternoon Tea £35.00 per person; Champagne Afternoon Tea £47.00 per person.  

For the full list of activities, please click here.

Perfect time to enjoy Thornbury Castle’s ground

Set within 15 acres of grounds, Thornbury Castle retains many original features, including arrow slit windows and original planting from the Tudor period which can be admired in full bloom as gests spend time exploring the grounds of the Castle.
Thornbury Castle became a member of the Relais & Châteaux collection in November 2021 and was recognised as a ‘Best Place to Stay’ in The Sunday Times prestigious annual guide. The Castle has also been named the best romantic hotel in the UK.

Deluxe bedchamber rooms including B&B from £249.00.

For all reservations and bookings please call / email details below:

• Website: https://www.thornburycastle.co.uk
• Email: events@thornburycastle.co.uk
• Bookings: +44 (0)1454 281182
• Instagram: @thornburycastle

Travel the world in the best culinary style with A Cook’s Tour 2022.
Perfect for couples, dining with friends and gifting for
Valentine’s Day and Mother’s Day.

Five expert chefs reveal the culinary destination in the world they most cherish and share their favourite menus

Each chef takes guests on a virtual cook-along, taking in a range of culinary styles, flavours and dishes 

Speciality ingredients sourced and prepared by London’s leading luxury catering company Rocket Food

UK nationwide delivery of ingredients in eco-friendly boxes.

Live stream cook-along ‘premiers’ at 7.30pm on Thursdays (and available after) 

Restaurant quality dining experience enjoyed in comfort of own home

A Cook’s Tour: Explore the Island of Mustique with Tristan Welch

January 2022: A Cook’s Tour is back with a new winter season featuring five winter destinations hosted by trailblazing, expert chefs. 

Created by luxury London caterer Rocket Food during lockdown to satisfy the appetites for food lovers and adventure seekers who wanted to open up their culinary repertoire, the new season of A Cook’s Tour 2022 offers a chance for people to cook with renowned chefs and go on a number of exciting food adventures, all from the comfort of their own home.

New destinations include:

• Discover Northern Thailand with John Chantarasak, 27 & 28 January 2022
• A Food Lover’s Night in Paris with Anna Haugh, 10 & 11 February 2022
• Explore the Island of Mustique with Tristan Welch, 24 & 25 February 2022
• “Sicilia” with Ben Tish, 10 & 11 March 2022
• Flavours of the Middle East with Sabrina Ghayour, 24 & 25 March 2022

A Cook’s Tour: Discover Northern Thailand with John Chantarasak

Charlie Grant Peterkin, Director, Rocket Food, explains: “We had such amazing feedback from the first A Cook’s Tour and multiple requests to do it again this winter so we’ve evolved the concept to tantalise the taste buds and ensure people have a fabulous and unique restaurant quality dining experience.

“This season for example, each cook-along will focus on a particular foodie hot spot with the five different menus designed by chefs including Sabrina Ghayour and Anna Haugh who will share their first hand experience on their chosen destination, fascinating stories and expert tips.  

“With Christmas just around the corner followed by Valentine’s Day and Mother’s Day, A Cook’s Tour makes a really thoughtful and unique present for family and friends.   It’s also the perfect self-gift for those who want a fun way to cure the mid-winter blues, try out some new flavours, ingredients and dishes, while staying home.”

A Cook’s Tour shakes things up in the kitchen given most of us have the culinary equivalent of Groundhog Day, cooking the same nine dishes on rotation and rarely introducing new concoctions.  

Previous destinations have included Beirut with Ottolenghi, Oaxaca with Thomasina Miers, and Italy with Angela Hartnett.  

A Cook’s Tour: from £75.00 for two plus delivery for the first destination, subsequent ones cost £85.00 for two plus delivery.  To book please go to: https://acookstour.co.uk 

Click on the link to find out more on how A Cook’s Tour makes a wonderful gift for foodie friends and family.

A Cook’s Tour: Flavours of the Middle East with Sabrina Ghayour

How it works

• Choose an upcoming destination from A Cook’s Tour https://acookstour.co.uk (there are five new ones for 2022)
• Rocket Food handles the sourcing and preparation of ingredients, packing and delivery in eco-friendly boxes
• A Cook’s Tour is delivered direct to your door (UK wide) with a choice of delivery day – Thursday or Friday
• As well as printed recipes, a link will be sent to enable people to tune in to A Cook’s Tour cook along.  This shows the chef in action making the menu and can be watched as a live stream directly into your kitchens or, if you don’t want to do it on the day, you can watch at your leisure the next day 
• Add-ons will be available in the Rocket Food shop which is launching soon.  These will include wine and cocktail pairing masterclasses, signed cookery books from guest chefs including Sicila by Ben Tish and Simply and Feasts by Sabrina Ghayour
• Gifting service is able to send physical gift cards for family and friends to redeem
• Corporate and private events can also be arranged for a bespoke A Cook’s Tour.

To book please go to: https://acookstour.co.uk

Photo Credit: A Cook’s Tour.

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

Fancy celebrating the holiday season in style and feasting like a King or Queen while staying in the most unforgettable of settings?  Then look no further than the newly refurbished Thornbury Castle Hotel where guests are able to enjoy a majestic break this Christmas. 

Steeped in history and set in 15 acres, the Tudor castle was built in 1511 during the reign of Henry VIII and was regarded as 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. 

This December sees Thornbury Castle celebrate its first festive season following a multi-million pound refurbishment which has included the beautiful restoration of its dining rooms, lounges, library, as well as its luxurious 27 bed chambers and suites.

Simone Arcucci, General Manager, Thornbury Castle, comments: “Located near Bristol and adjacent to the Gloucestershire countryside, Thornbury Castle is the only Tudor castle in the UK which operates as a luxury hotel and restaurant and we are really looking forward to providing a truly unique experience this festive season.”

Executive Chef Carl Cleghorn is looking forward to his first culinary Christmas at the Castle and has created a series of mouth-watering menus using the best seasonal and local ingredients from the Castle’s kitchen and herb garden and local suppliers. 

Frederic Bellard, the Castle’s Sommelier, has used his unparalleled knowledge of fine wines and spirits to create a wine list featuring more than 200 new wines and spirits along with an innovative menu of bespoke and handcrafted cocktails and mocktails to suit all palettes.

Guests can take advantage of a number of different festive packages including:

2. Festive Recharger

Fancy a bit of me time with your loved ones between Christmas and New Year?  After Boxing Day, the Christmas adrenaline stops and most of us crave some time to recharge our batteries.  Thornbury Castle’s two-night Recharger package does just that, allowing guests to sit back and relax and enjoy being served breakfast and dinner throughout their stay. 

• Rates from £814for a two-night break in a Deluxe 

3. New Year Celebration

Seeing in the New Year in Thornbury Castle has to be done in style of course and family and friends are able to enjoy a truly memorable two or three-night New Year’s stay. 

Highlights include a New Year’s Eve black-tie drinks reception with champagne and canapés, followed by dinner and a selection of wines served in the restaurant. After dinner, guests head to the Tudor Hall to be entertained and dance the night away, enjoying the evening with a spot of gambling Tudor aristocratic style.  A traditional piper will welcome in the New Year, followed by fireworks at midnight to celebrate the arrival of 2022.

• Rates from £1,965for a three-night stay, based on two adults sharing a room.
• Rates from £1,525for a two-night stay, based on two adults sharing a room.

Please note that New Year celebrations are for adults only.

Unique stays guaranteed

This Christmas will see guests being able to experience a luxury stay given all of the Castle’s 27 bedchambers and suites have been fully refurbished to the highest standard along with the Howard Family Gatehouse. 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. 

As well as a range of planned activities available, guests will also have a chance to explore the Castle’s Tudor gardens at leisure, enjoy a delicious cream tea served with all the trimmings, and relax in the historic lounges and historic library throughout their stay. 

To book:  https://www.thornburycastle.co.uk or call +44 (0)1454 281182.   

THORNBURY CASTLE REOPENS ITS DOORS AFTER MULTI-MILLION POUND REFURBISHMENT

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 it is about to re-open its doors once again to guests following its multi-million pound refurbishment.

Located near Bristol and adjacent to the Gloucestershire countryside, Thornbury Castle is the only Tudor castle in the UK which operates as a hotel and restaurant.

Spring 2021 sees a new chapter in the Castle’s rich history with its grand re-opening as a result of a multi-million pound investment by its new owners.

There is no better place to spend a traditional Christmas than at medieval Thornbury Castle – the only Tudor castle open as a hotel in England – complete with steep spiral stone staircases, beautiful oriel windows and welcoming roaring fires.

It has an extraordinary sense of history, with former visitors including King Henry VIII, Anne Boleyn and Mary I; and guests will feel like royalty from the minute they arrive on Christmas Eve to a welcome drink waiting in their bedchambers.  

The festivities will commence with a drinks reception to the background of a talented group of local carol singers in The Tudor Hall followed by a fabulous Black-tie dinner in the award-winning restaurant. St Mary’s Church, located in the hotel’s grounds is a short stroll away for those wanting to attend Midnight Mass.

After a hearty breakfast on Boxing Day, guests will be free to explore the local area on foot. Afternoon tea will be served with a glass of wine and the hotel’s own falconer Michael Davie (one of the country’s leading falconers) will entertain with a spectacular falconry display on the castle’s lawn. Wine tasting sessions with the hotel’s sommelier will also be on offer ahead of the delicious Farewell Dinner where entertainment will be provided by Ben, the resident acoustic guitarist.