We arrived on a wild and somewhat stormy evening when the snug nature of the Castle became immediately apparent. The building itself is unexpected in many ways, with two tower rooms (accessed by a separate gated staircase) channeling inner Rapunzel vibes. In total there are five individual and well-appointed guest rooms, one of which is accessible.

We were staying in the Cromwell Suite, which has a large sitting room (able to accommodate additional guests) alongside the large comfortable bedroom. With comfort in mind, the enormous sofa with its array of cushions made settling down in the room very appealing, but we were soon captivated by the aroma of dinner wafting from the kitchens below.

The restaurant itself is divided into small rooms, meaning that you have the benefit of the buzz from the crowd while retaining privacy and the ability to have a conversation over dinner without feeling you need to compete with background noise.

We had already perused the sample menu upstairs and were pleased to see that there was a good overlap with the menu available on the day. I started with a celeriac and apple soup, soft, velvety and delicately flavoured and designed to chase the rainy day away. My dining companion opted for the mushroom and truffle risotto, also full of comfort on a chilly evening. Crispy green vegetables on top provided a great contrast in textures and flavours.

For mains, I opted for the sirloin steak, accompanied by fat chips, mushroom and rocket salad. This was a very generous portion, perfectly cooked, and a great example of good ingredients treated exceptionally well. I gradually noticed that my dining companion was unexpectedly quiet.

He was giving due reverence to the blade of beef, accompanied by beef croquettes and fondant potatoes. I could hear the occasional quiet murmur of pleasure across the table, and when the plate was cleared he informed me that this was one of the best meals he had ever eaten. This would seem to be a shared opinion, as the blade of beef was ordered at many of the nearby tables. For pudding (and this was definitely a pudding), the hot apple & berry pie, was described as warming and a fine accompaniment to a surprisingly different apple ice cream.

The Castle is licenced for weddings, and you can well imagine trusting your future memories to the skill of the kitchen and the ambiance of the venue. We understand that the venue can accommodate from five to around fifty people, so bear this in mind if you are looking for a venue with a difference.

We spent a little time in the friendly bar after dinner, chatting to the team and enjoying our exploration of the quirky and charming building. Sleep came easily in the soft enveloping bed, and we woke ready to accommodate more offerings from the Castle’s capable kitchen, after a luxurious shower and plenty of tea from the wide variety provided in the room. We sat at the same table for breakfast, and were able to enjoy the morning sunshine with the perfect views over Edgehill we had been promised the evening before.

For breakfast, I chose the full English, which again highlighted the quality of the ingredients. There was great attention to detail; my mushrooms were a medley of many varieties, and the tomatoes were rich and full of flavour. My partner opted for the smoked salmon and scrambled eggs, both of which were nicely textured and well presented. A nice touch was the offer of more toast, with crunchy crusty bread and creamy butter.

If you have allergies and intolerances, you can eat well and safely here. This coeliac with a milk allergy was offered adaptations of pretty much every menu item (a rare and extensive choice) and care was taken with every item. A generous and appreciated touch was the addition of gluten free oat milk in the room fridge for teas and coffees.

There are plenty of reasons to enjoy a stay at The Castle at Edgehill. The building itself is quirky and fascinating, the views are incredible and the kitchen offers thoughtful choices made with care and skill. It is also a place to feel comfortable, whether chatting to the team, relaxing in your room or simply enjoying the beauty of the countryside. It felt as though we had been on holiday, rather than just away for a night.