Castle Hotel

The staff were friendly and helpful. My steak pie and mash was really enjoyable, though the service was a bit slow, possibly because it was Valentine's day. I'd recommend it for a meal after a walk.

Our table wasn't ready, and we had to wait. The place was packed, with our large group sharing a room with two other large groups, so it was terribly noisy and we could only hear whoever was next to us. The large mixed roast looked impressive, but didn't live up to that appearance. Parking was a hassle too. The car park was full, and after 10 minutes driving around, we ended up half on the pavement about 100 yards away. We couldn't even get to the bar to order a drink. The young woman serving us was nice, but we won't be back.

The car park was a plus, but I left disappointed after looking forward to eating and drinking here. The bar was cramped and busy, and the young barman who served me seemed to have an attitude, as if serving people was a bother. We ate in another room, where a fairly large cobweb hung from the ceiling above our table. I had the chicken roast. The portion was decent, though the chicken was a bit tough. We'd ordered ahead, but they still got some of the food wrong, and serving was chaotic, with staff carrying plates in and calling out things like roast chicken. I skipped dessert because the menu didn't offer much unless you like ice cream. My wife ordered apple & berry crumble, but it was rock hard and burnt in places, so inedible. They didn't have orange or black current squash at the bar, and despite the website saying they serve draught Guinness, there was none when we visited. I had a pint of cider, though I can't remember the brand, and it wasn't the best in my opinion. Maybe we caught them on an off day, who knows. You'd have to visit the Castle Hotel to find out.

Lunch at the restaurant was perfect, with lovely staff and excellent food in a beautiful setting. The location is good, though getting down the narrow alley to the parking lot felt a little unnerving.