The Witchery by the Castle

Magnificent. I felt like royalty. Stayed in the Guardsman Suite which is across from the Witchery Restaurant. Entrance is next to the store through a little gated alley. Everything is beautifully designed and lit. The champagne and chocolate every day was a treat. I swear elves must’ve managed our room because i never saw anyone but whenever we returned to the room, the shades were appropriately up or down, our bed tidied, water replenished… On the last day we had to leave early and they offered to supply a hamper of breakfast delivered to our room at 5:30am-nice. Breakfast a la carte was wonderful. The avocado toast was the best Ive had and breakfast by tall lit tapers was a delight. Service was perfect. The heated tiles and towel warmer in the bathroom were a nice touch. The towels were delicious, as you’d expect. The soaking tub was a delight for me as it was the deepest Ive ever experienced and I love soaking. Water temp was fine. My husband had difficulty with the shower aspect as getting in and out was really tough and there was no place to set your essentials (eg phone, facial wash, etc) so that was tricky. Anyone with mobility issues will find this suite difficult as the tub and walking up the many stories of narrow windy stairs are a challenge. My only suggestion is related to the unpleasant odor. Its noticeable as soon as you arrive, though you adjust. I realize it is an ancient building but this could easily be managed with some lovely scented potpourri. The worst emanated from the toilet which constantly smelled unpleasant. It made it difficult to perfectly enjoy soaking . Otherwise-perfect!

Celebrating a friend’s birthday with champagne afternoon tea. The sandwich selection was a little uninspiring (cheese & pickle, truffle egg mayo, Caesar salad chicken - which just tasted like chicken/lettuce/mayo) But the main issue was that the bread was dried out, almost hard in places on all of the sandwiches. We asked for the champagne to be served with the sandwiches. Sadly it didn’t arrive until long after. The manager apologised about the dried out sandwiches and gave us our glass of champagne on the house. Lovely setting and atmosphere and the scones were delicious. Such a shame to have had a below par experience.

Thank you for a wonderful stay at The Witchery. This was a surprise for daughters 40th birthday. We were both amazed with our suite The Old Rectory. It lived up to all our expectations. Vi

For years I have longed to stay here and finally, we managed it. We had three nights in The Vestry. I am a lover of all things dark and gothic so this was the very place for me. The room is a wonder of gold and dark red decor. Antique fittings and statues. The bathroom is behind a ‘hidden’ door off the bedroom. And what a bathroom. Glorious rich red walls and a deep bath. One thing I would say is a small table to put your champagne on whilst in the bath would be handy the bath is very deep and it’s tricky setting your glass on the floor! The bed is very comfortable with crisp white sheets and you get champagne every day! We went down to breakfast each morning where the original dining room glows in candle light. Huge pastries await you on the table (which are the best I’ve had) before you order your cooked breakfast. The staff, where ever you encounter them, be it on the stairs or in the dining room, are friendly and welcoming. The purpose of our visit was this hotel. We did some sight seeing but at a very relaxed pace. Much time was spent in the room soaking up the atmosphere, taking our time over a cup of tea or glass of wine. We had dinner in the original dining room, which was splendid. I only noted one thing which I thought slightly odd……there are no drawers. Lots of hanging space but everything else has to stay in your case or bag… but this is really quite a minor offence. We will return, the only problem being which of the other suites to pick!

This is by far and away our favourite place to stay! Nothing compares to the Witchery. The romance and atmosphere of the carefully curated and designed gothic suites is just amazing. There aren’t many places that can give you a genuine wow factor. We love it!