The 14th century castle is steeped in history and is one of the last remaining British castle hotels with its original fortifications. Visitors can expect exposed, thick stone walls, wrought iron candelabras, heraldic wall coverings and hanging tapestries.
The venue possesses character in abundance then and its almost “Game of Thrones feel has made it an increasingly popular choice for romantic breaks, special occasions and fairytale weddings. The hotel is now under the management of Margaret Livingstone-Evans, an astute operator who is busy putting her own inimitable stamp on the place. Transport wise, the hotel is easily reachable via the A69 whilst a scenic, twisty driveway builds a real sense of anticipation on arrival.
Nine of the guest rooms are situated within the castle itself with a further 18 “castle view rooms in an adjacent converted lodge and coach house. Castle rooms are magnificently appointed and play up to the medieval back drop with grand four poster beds, lavish drapes and window seats set into seven foot thick stone walls.
We’d bagged the highly-prized “Radcliffe feature suite which derives its name from local gentry Sir Edward Radcliffe whose connection to Langley Castle stretches back to the 16th century. Bathed in regal gold, this was a real statement room and even featured a sunken bath and its very own sauna.
Other amenities include a power shower, dual-use “his and her sinks and a large LCD TV. Already hugely impressed, we soaked up the atmosphere over a glass of fizz before each drawing a long bath and changing for dinner.
Dining at Langley Castle is taken seriously, whether it be from morning til moon. Prior to our meal, we enjoyed a quick livener in the hotel’s capacious drawing room area which is ideal for afternoon tea in a luxury setting before adjourning to the hotel’s in-house restaurant.
Langley Castle aspires to provide one of the best possible dining experiences in the region. Dishes are cooked to a AA rosette standard with diners given the choice between a table d’hote menu and a more inventive five course tasting menu. We elected for the former and were not disappointed by trademark Northumberland cooking and an emphasis on local ingredients.
Starters consisted of the roast butternut squash soup with goats cheese bon bons and toasted pumpkin seeds and the hand-dived scallops paired with glazed pork belly, pickled white grapes and curried cauliflower. Both dishes were artfully presented, befitting of modern British excellence.
Following on, Lisa opted for the crisp lamb shoulder with basil gnocchi, smoked aubergine puree and roasted fennel. As is my wont, I chose the 8oz fillet steak, a “from the grill special paired with grilled mushrooms and a confit tomato and well deserving of the £12 supplement.
Swerving dessert, we instead elected for a lovely pairing of dessert wines. The muscat grape is one of the most ancient in wine production and seemed a fitting finale for a memorable meal in such historic surroundings. Feeling well rested after a full eight hours sleep, we expunged some of the previous night’s excess in the sauna before polishing off a fresh, cooked-to-order breakfast.
Following breakfast, guided tours of the castle run daily, taking in the battlements and its rooftop chapel. These are conducted by a very knowledgeable member of staff and provide a great opportunity for those looking to really bask in some local history.
All in all, we returned from our visit relaxed, refreshed and even a little more knowledgeable. Langley Castle is a class act.