The Castle Hotel Restaurant
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The Castle Hotel Restaurant
Review
About
If you want to eat out in Bishops Castle look no further - Shropshire has a long history of culinary excellence. Shrewsbury has a plethora of good restaurants, and Ludlow is just down the road, which for a time boasted more Michelin starred restaurants than London itself! We don‘t do Michelin at The Castle, but we certainly use many of the same local suppliers. We’re spoilt for them actually. What we aim to produce is modern, good pub food that is healthy, hearty, flavoursome & fresh at great value of course. And you’ve a wide choice of places to eat at The Castle. Each of the three bars has its own individual character, some with open fires, some with terraces out into the garden. Or try our oak panelled restaurant, believed to feature in the Mary Webb novel “The House in Dormer Forest”. And when the weather is warm, & remember it’s always sunny in Shropshire, our south facing gardens with terrace & raised fish ponds provide the perfect spot for a light repast and a cooling beverage.
Features
CUISINES
Bar, British, Pub
Meal types
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Brunch
Special Diets
Vegetarian friendly, Vegan options, Gluten free options
FEATURES
Free Wifi
Full Bar
Highchairs Available
Outdoor Seating
Parking Available
Private Dining
Reservations
Seating
Serves Alcohol
Table Service
Wheelchair Accessible
Location
Parking Available
Is this restaurant romantic?
Save this restaurant
Hours
Closed now
• Opens at 8:00 AM
Sunday
9:00 am - 10:30 am
Monday
8:00 am - 11:00 pm
Tuesday
8:00 am - 11:00 pm
Wednesday
8:00 am - 11:00 pm
Thursday
8:00 am - 11:00 pm
Friday
9:00 am - 11:00 pm
Saturday
8:30 am - 11:00 pm
Contribute
4.3
375 reviews
Excellent
209
Very good
97
Average
46
Poor
15
Terrible
8
BBrown51
Coventry49 contributions
Apr 2024 • couples
In our fifty years of marriage we have had many afternoon teas in some special places but the afternoon tea at the Castle Hotel was one of the best we have had and also good value for what we had. We loved the starter of a small glass of hot soup and a piece of sausage roll which was delicious as was the rest of the meal.
The staff were friendly and efficient. It was a really lovely experience and we will definitely be back when we are next in the area.
Written 20 April 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Spinks
Cambridge115 contributions
Sept 2023 • couples
Nice place, good clean tables etc.
The food was nice but there were things which could have been nicer / better. The humus came with focaccia, this was hard and there wasn't much of it, it would have been better with flatbreads or pitta, it was also a little too smooth really.
The bouillabaisse was really tasty with a nice roll etc but I'd asked for no mussels if possible. The waitress came back and said the chef could pick them out but they / the taste was in the sauce. I said the sauce was fine, I wasn't allergic to them just didn't like the texture etc. I assumed the the whole ones would be picked out. Nope, the majority of what I got was mussels with probably 4 mouthfuls of fish, which was nice but that was all. Disappointing as they could easily have been removed.
The rest of the meal was nice and the ladies all serving were polite and professional. It was also dog friendly with biscuits being given.
It would have been nice to enjoy it more but our three courses were rushed through and we were done within 45 mins of arriving.
Written 4 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Peter B
1 contribution
Sept 2023 • friends
We were staying in Bishop's Castle for our Golden Wedding celebration and had booked lunch at the Castle for a multi generational group of family and old friends. I had booked lunch outside in their stunning garden overlooking the Shropshire Hills but literally half an hour before lunch the heavens opened. The hotel staff were superb, bringing decorations inside and creating a wonderfully arranged table for us in their wood panelled restaurant. The food, which we pre ordered was excellent, beautifully presented and everyone got what they expected. We even had champagne from the local Kerry Vale vineyard. After lunch, the sun came out and we had our coffee and tea out in the garden - a perfect end to an excellent lunch. I can't thank the staff too much for making our day.
Written 3 September 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Graham P
Sherborne47 contributions
Aug 2023 • couples
We ate dinner two nights and breakfast two mornings as we were staying at the hotel.
The food has gone down market and down hill significantly since we visited a few years ago. No more fillet stakes.
Most of the food appears to be out of the freezer and probably microwaved, not a lot of real cooking going on apart from heating up meat and frying fish.
Our first night starters were a prawn cocktail which was frozen prawns and insipid sauce with a limp lettuce. Probably the worst version of this cliché I've ever eaten. The tempura king prawns were small frozen prawns with an insipid batter that has nothing to do with tempura. Pate was OK but bought in.
Beef stroganoff was microwaved and bizarrely served with pappardelle, pie probably bought in and microwaved. Burgers too dense to be hand made and cooked OK but no real taste. Frozen chips. Strangely the onion rings were home made and very good and the buns were brioche.
Puddings were OK but bought in.
At breakfast toast was hardly darkened, porridge microwaved and not at all creamy. The full English was OK. The omelet was good.
Wines were well priced and pretty good.
There are lots of friendly waiting staff but service is a bit hap hazard and it can be hard to get staff's attention. Staff seem to have multiple jobs so nobody appears to be in control. Small bottles of prosecco were handed out unopened.
Dog friendly probably to a fault. Dogs were allowed to sit at the table and be fed by their owners from their plates.
Written 9 August 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Georginaeve
Shropshire7 contributions
Jun 2023 • family
The Castle is our usual go to for a special summer meal on a hot summer evening. So we looked at the forecast for last Saturday which was glorious and booked a table for 3 on the deck, to celebrate my retirement. We took drinks up to our table and ordered. Whilst my daughter and husband were impressed with their starters, I ordered the Caprese salad. which consisted of probably one medium sized tomato and half a ball of Mozzarella with a dressing, for £8.25! Our main courses arrived Lamb rump for my husband and 2 Bouillabaisse for myself and my daughter, all were beautiful although we did find it funny when ordering it that the waitress had no idea what we wanted and said ‘oooh you mean the fish stew’. We had visited the castle at the end of May on a similar balmy evening and had raved about the desserts, after waiting for over 40 minutes for a waitress to come to clear our plates, we were ignored by two different girls clearing glasses then when another came to clear our plates she picked them up and started to walk off, I stopped her and asked for the dessert menu, she grunted under her breath and then went away to whisper to a colleague. 5 minutes later she returned to inform us the kitchen had closed, I explained they had kept us waiting for over 40 minutes so this was not our problem. She did not apologise. We left immediately, my husband expressed our disappointment and was told our comments would be passed on. Why oh why did the numerous waitresses/glass collectors not just mention when clearing our table that the kitchen closed and we would need to order then. The problem appeared to be caused by uninformed staff who lack communication skills.
We were planning to visit again in July with friends for a birthday celebration but this is now not happening, we have also stayed at Pen y Dyffrn to celebrate a 90th birthday and 30th wedding anniversary but would think twice now.
With so many hotels, restaurants and pubs struggling or clising down I would expect excellent customer service to be priority at the current time.
Written 28 June 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Maria C
2 contributions
Jul 2022 • family
Very disappointing, there were 14 in our group , so we all had to pay £10 deposit and we had to order our meals a week in advance, so therefore I was very annoyed that we still had to wait 1hr for our food , and when the food came, they forgot three peoples meals, and some of the food was cold, when it arrived. Mediocre food and very overpriced £17.50 for fish and chips and £18 for a burger. And no aircon either😓
Written 16 July 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Rachel
Chippenham11 contributions
Jul 2023 • couples
Absolutely lovely meal which we were so lucky to be able to eat as we hadn’t booked but thankfully they had room for us!
We had the bread and olives to start which was a perfect size for us to share. My partner had the Steak and Kidney pie which he said the beef was cooked to perfection and he was delighted it came with chips and gravy. I had the bouillabaisse which was amazing and cooked to perfection. The service was perfect and we thoroughly enjoyed our meal. We sat in the bar dining room which was lovely and we were amazed how many areas you could eat in - the restaurant looked lovely!
We would thoroughly recommend the hotel to anybody who is in Bishops Castle or surrounding area. You will get a warm welcome and lovely food.
Written 6 July 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
E1881RClaurenc
162 contributions
Aug 2023 • friends
We ate dinner here the two nights that we stayed in the area. Loved the starters. I didn’t like the burger and felt the quality of the meat could have been better for the price. It’s not cheap but would go again. Gluten free options available
Written 15 September 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ChocolateMonster101
Wigton168 contributions
Jul 2022 • friends
Absolutely superb!!
16 of us dined here last Sunday for lunch, aged 1+. We had a private dining room set out across two tables, and had prior ordered our food.
We arrived early and sat outside with some beverages, and went inside for our predefined time. Food was swiftly served. Everything was perfect, beef and pork lunches were a huge hit, kids roasts were devoured in no time. Deserts also fabulous!
We then went back outside to the vast garden for drinks and chitchat before heading our separate ways.
I must add the staff were fantastic, patient and organised. Paying the bill can be a bit of a pain when splitting, but the chap who was on the tills allowed us to pick what we ate and he deducted it, and everything was paid correctly.
A big thumbs up from all of us!
Written 9 July 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Tippy
London27 contributions
Apr 2022 • family
We ate dinner at the Castle Hotel restaurant. Despite the restaurant being full, (pleased we had booked), staff were friendly, professional and really helpful with food allergies. Good size portions, delicious food, all nicely presented and very reasonably priced. Would happily return when next in the area.
Written 12 April 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
barley2
Exeter327 contributions
Jun 2024 • couples
I was disappointed following the good reviews for this restaurant. It was busy & welcoming, but for me, the roast was not very good. My husband’s beef was quite tasty, but my pork tasteless & the potatoes awful. The veg was OK, but some of it not warm enough. Nothing was crispy or hot or tasty. The cauliflower cheese was not browned either. We were asked if the food was OK & said yes (I can’t be doing with the fuss over saying otherwise). But we won’t return.
Written 1 July 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Richard L
2 contributions
Jul 2023 • couples
Bishop's Castle Hotel and restaurant are a wonderful combination. It's a 1719 building in a beautiful community with a Woodstock vibe.
The restaurant menu offers a delectable variety of selections of traditional English meals in a comfortable setting. We thoroughly enjoyed our meals, and the staff was attentive and thoughtful.
The breakfasts and dinners were excellent.
We'd be happy to return.
Written 31 July 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
pauldazemorr
Ludlow70 contributions
Jan 2022 • none
We eat today for Sunday Lunch
Very impressed, nice friendly and professional welcome, shown straight to table in small side bar with a lovely real coal fire.
The waitress ( University studing Goegraphy) so fast and so professional thought we were in a top notch restaurant.
Starters were very good, hot and served fast.
The mains 1 pork roast and 2 veggie wellingtons were all very good
Desserts were amazing had the Black forest roulade.
Nice draft cider, it was like we had own private dining room
Well done to the chef and waiting staff
Written 16 January 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Tyke
Hereford17 contributions
Aug 2021 • none
Went for a drive today, visited Clun where we intended to have coffee, totally impossible to park so carried onto Bishops Castle, good move, found The Castle Hotel quite easily, places to park in the car park.
We were met by a very attentive waitress who asked if we had a reservation, we said no, that was no problem, we were shown to a table and given menus. Quite a good choice on the menu for lunchtime, we decided on the smoked salmon, cream cheese and cucumber sandwich, very good choice, well filled sandwich with a nice side salad, we also had a bowl of chips as well, the chips were hot, crispy and not greasy, excellent.
We were well filled but as the choice of ice creams were calling we also had a scoop of ice cream each.
Nice lunchtime meal, attentive and pleasant service, we will return.
Written 19 August 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Steve Q
United Kingdom9 contributions
Aug 2022 • couples
We booked a short break in Bishop's Castle staying at the Castle Hotel. After just a few hours in the village we realised one night wasn't enough.
The hotel is just fab, the team are so warm and friendly, Hanah pandered to our every need, what an asset. Bex the owner is the driving force, clearly committed to high standards and great service
The food is exceptional, we can recommend the lamb and the pork dishes. Only order a starter if you're really hungry 😋
The village is delightful with lots of points of interest and lots of walks and definitely pet friendly
Please see pics, the location is just amazing
The village is idyllic
We will definitely return
Written 25 August 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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