Killingworth Castle Stays on Top with Three AA Rosettes

Killingworth Castle Stays on Top with Three AA Rosettes

We’re thrilled to share some exciting news – The Killingworth Castle has retained its third AA Rosette for the third year in a row! This recognition celebrates the creativity, skill, and passion our kitchen team puts into every dish.

The AA Rosette Scheme is a big deal in the UK dining scene, and earning three rosettes puts us among the country’s top restaurants. It’s all about using the best local ingredients, creating dishes that excite the senses, and serving them with care and flair.

Our menus change with the seasons, showcasing the finest local produce in dishes that are as beautiful as they are delicious. Whether you’re celebrating a special occasion or just popping in for a great meal, you can expect a dining experience that’s consistently top-notch.

We’d love for you to come and see – and taste – why we’ve kept our place among the UK’s culinary elite.

Book your table today and celebrate with us!

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Daily Mail Recognises The Killingworth Castle as a Celebrity Favourite

Daily Mail Recognises The Killingworth Castle as a Celebrity Favourite

We’re buzzing to share some exciting news - The Killingworth Castle has been named in the Daily Mail’s celebrity hotspot list! It’s a real nod to what makes our pub special: great food, cosy corners, and that welcoming vibe that keeps people coming back - celebrities included!

Being featured in the Daily Mail’s celebrity hotspot list is a thrill, but for us it really just celebrates everything we love about the pub: good food, great company, and a space that feels like home.

So whether you’re after a delicious meal, a cosy night away, or just curious to see why everyone’s talking, come and see for yourself. Who knows- you might even spot a familiar face!

Pop in soon and see why The Killingworth Castle is making headlines.

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The Killy Wows in Latest AA Visit

The Killy Wows in Latest AA Visit

We’re proud to share the highlights from our most recent AA inspection at The Killingworth Castle and thrilled to report that we’ve retained our AA Four Gold Star Inn status and 3 AA Rosettes for culinary excellence.

The visit was a comprehensive look at every aspect of the experience here at the pub, from the gardens and bedrooms to breakfast service and dinner. We were especially delighted to read the inspector’s warm words about our team and the overall feel of the property:

“Great to experience first-hand all that Killingworth Castle has to offer. Set in beautiful surroundings there is something special and welcoming when walking from the car park towards the front of the property.”

The report acknowledged the character and comfort of our rooms, the attention to detail in the bathrooms, and the strength of our food-led ethos - something that runs through everything we do.

“High quality bedrooms offer much character and comfort for guests to enjoy combined with smart bathrooms. The guest experience is underpinned by the naturally friendly and proactive approach of the team, led by Raj and his hosting.”

Our gardens were described as “a tremendous asset and a feature in their own right”, and our focus on sourcing the best ingredients was recognised throughout the inspector’s stay - from dinner in the relaxed upper dining room to breakfast the following morning.

“Dinner was excellent and really enjoyable… Egg, stone bass and baked lemon cream dishes demonstrated strong technique and precise flavours commensurate with the award of 3 AA Rosettes.”
“The passion for quality and provenance was equally seen at breakfast and reflected in its award.”

We’re incredibly proud of this feedback and grateful to the AA for their continued recognition. Most of all, we’re proud of our whole team for the warmth, skill and dedication they bring to every guest experience.

“A super experience and congratulations to all the team for maintaining such high standards. AA Four GOLD Star Inn remains appropriate, all the best for the rest of 2025.”

Here’s to another brilliant year! We look forward to welcoming you soon.

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A Spot in The Guardian's UK's Most Beautiful Foodie Pubs with Rooms List

A Spot in The Guardian's UK's Most Beautiful Foodie Pubs with Rooms List

We're beyond thrilled to share that The Killingworth Castle has secured a well-deserved spot in The Guardian’s prestigious list of the UK's most beautiful foodie pubs with rooms, and we couldn’t be more proud to see our beloved pub recognised for its charm, warm hospitality, and incredible culinary experiences!

King of the Castle in the Cotswolds

King of the Castle in the Cotswolds

Exciting news! We're thrilled to share that The Killingworth Castle has been featured in the September issue of The Scotsman Magazine! This amazing recognition highlights our commitment to great food, warm hospitality, and creating unforgettable experiences for everyone who visits.

A big thank you to all of our loyal customers and our incredible team who make it all happen! 🙌 Check out the article for a closer look at what makes The Killingworth Castle so special, and don't forget to grab your copy of The Scotsman Magazine this month! 🗞️

We made it into 'The Good Food Guide 2024' and retained our third rosette!

We made it into 'The Good Food Guide 2024' and retained our third rosette!

We are thrilled to announce that The Killingworth Castle has been included in The Good Food Guide 2024, confirming us as one of the best pub dining spots in Britain! We have also proudly maintained our third AA Rosette for the second consecutive year.

The AA inspector stated…

“Dinner was a real highlight. Diners had the option of the Tasting Menu and a la Carte menu, both showcasing high quality, seasonal ingredients, and carefully considered combinations. Dishes demonstrated keen skills, technique, with clear, balanced flavours across all courses - the three AA Rosette Award confidently recommended here. Excellent hosting presence in place at dinner and breakfast, which really enhanced the dining experience.”

So why not come find your new favourite dish from our 3-AA Rosette Michelin-recommended pub kitchen…choose A la carte or our tasting menus …. the perfect antidote to lift those summer spirits!

We hope to see you soon!

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Wootton Named One of the Top Villages in the UK

Wootton Named One of the Top Villages in the UK

Great news! Our village of Wootton near Blenheim Palace is among the Top 30 UK villages according to the Telegraph! We’re delighted to be recommended as the place to eat & stay and for our village to be one of the best in the country.

BIG NEWS - TOP 50 IN THE UK

BIG NEWS - TOP 50 IN THE UK

Just found out we’re in the new UK Top 50 Gastropub list. This is huge, these awards are compiled by the best chefs and critics in the industry.

Back in 2012, we won ‘Best Newcomer’ in the same awards so it feels very special to now find ourselves among the best in the country. Thanks to our team and lovely regulars!

With our third AA Rosette awarded in September, now is the perfect time to join us for a romantic foodie getaway.

Dine on delicious menus, enjoy blissfully comfy bedrooms and experience the Cotswolds and Blenheim Palace in all their winter glory.

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The Killingworth Castle awarded three AA Rosettes

The Killingworth Castle awarded three AA Rosettes

We are thrilled to announce that The Killingworth Castle has been awarded with 3 AA Rosettes, a prestigious recognition of culinary excellence!!

Oxford inn and gastropub awarded three AA Rosettes

The AA Rosette Award recognises the crème de la crème of UK culinary establishments

(London) 25 September 2023:

Last night, The Killingworth Castle, the historic pub with rooms in Wootton near Blenheim Palace in Oxfordshire, was awarded three AA Rosettes at the prestigious AA Hospitality Awards.

One of the industry’s most highly anticipated events, the glittering awards ceremony at JW Marriott Grosvenor House London was hosted by much-loved TV presenter Claudia Winkleman, celebrating the UK’s top hotels, restaurants, and pubs and the people behind them.

Nestled within the picturesque village of Wootton, Oxfordshire, The Killingworth Castle has eight luxury en-suite rooms with exquisite food that focuses on seasonal, wild & organic fare from the Cotswolds. Establishments with three AA Rosettes are all outstanding restaurants achieving standards which demand national recognition well beyond their local area and The Killingworth Castle is one of only 7 new inns with rooms in the whole of the UK to be awarded a third rosette in 2023 at the AA’s annual Hospitality Awards last night.

The AA, which has long been a marker of leading restaurant and accommodation venues, celebrates the crème de la crème of UK hospitality. Following a visit from an anonymous inspector, the hotel was reviewed against nine quality assessment areas, ranging from standards of service to cleanliness and quality of food. The inspector described the establishment as ‘well run in a personalised way with very good hospitality from a customer-focused team which made for a welcoming atmosphere throughout the stay’.

The Killingworth Castle’s owner, Jim Alexander, commented:

“We’re extremely proud to have been awarded three Rosettes by the AA. This recognition is a testament to our commitment to producing exceptional food and unparalleled guest experiences each day.

“Our talented team consistently go above and beyond to ensure that hotel residents and local diners alike enjoy a memorable visit.”

Claire Alexander, The Killingworth Castle’s co-owner added; “After a few challenging years, it’s particularly rewarding to get the recognition of being in the top few per cent of food providers in the country. It’s a huge motivator for us as an independent, family run business in an ever-increasing environment of pubcos and chains and we’re over the moon.”

Simon Numphud, Managing Director at AA Media said:

“Every year we present awards to the very best AA-rated hotels, restaurants, spas and their teams across the UK. The AA Rosette award, first awarded in 1956, was the first nationwide scheme for assessing the quality of food served by restaurants and hotels. AA Rosettes recognise culinary excellence and dedication to ensure consistent quality of the highest order. For further information about the AA Hospitality Awards 2023, please visit: https://aahospitalityawards.com

Join us this Thursday for Supper Club!!

Join us every Thursday between 6-7pm for Supper Club! Enjoy 2 ‘chef-selected’ a la carte dishes plus a bottle of house red or white wine for £35 per person.

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Calling all rum lovers!

Calling all rum lovers!

With a history of revelry spawning 386 years at The Killingworth Castle, the pub is dipping its toes into a section of its history that was rife with debauched highwaymen, piracy and….rum!

As one of the fastest growing spirits in the World, rum and some specially created food pairings will be the star of the show at The Killingworth Castle’s special ‘Spirited Tasting’ evening on Friday 26th May.

DATE: Friday 26th May, 2023 (From 7.30pm)

WHERE: The Killingworth Castle, Wootton near Woodstock, OX20 1EJ

TICKETS: £55 per person – 4 specially paired food tastings, 4 rums and two cocktails!

BOOK: 01993 811 401 or email reservations@thekillingworthcastle.com

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7-Course Tasting Menu Reviewed By Ox in a Box

7-Course Tasting Menu Reviewed By Ox in a Box

If you’ve been thinking about trying our hugely popular Tasting Menu, make sure you read the latest review from Ox in a Box.

“What Killy doesn’t do is pub grub. No fish and chips, burgers and ploughman’s here. It’s serious food from a chef whose pedigree includes the Michelin-starred likes of Gordon Ramsey’s, Royal Hospital Road, Mallory Court in Warwick and Le Champignon Sauvage. The attention to detail, the love and dedication attributed to each component, was humbling. ”

Read full review

We have been blown away by the recent feedback for our menus. If you would like to treat your tastebuds this summer to a foodie getaway in the Oxfordshire Cotswolds, book online now.

To sample our tasting menu, click here

The Killingworth Castle featured in the Daily Mail

The Killingworth Castle featured in the Daily Mail

Super happy to be featured as one of the ‘Great British boltholes’ in the Daily Mail this week.

“…more alluring than ever with 8 plush rooms and food that is a big step above pub grub”.

We couldn’t have put it better ourselves! So if you want somewhere to eat, if you're visiting nearby Blenheim Palace, or just fancy a night away in a lovely country pub this summer, then check out our menus and rooms.

Thank you to Tom Chesshyre who came to review. Read the full feature below.


Killy named 'one of the best foodie pubs in the country' by the Telegraph

Killy named 'one of the best foodie pubs in the country' by the Telegraph

We are super chuffed with the latest Telegraph reviewer who said our pub is “the best place for those in the know to base yourself for a perfectly balanced holiday’. And hailed us ‘one of the best foodie pubs in the country’ offering great value!

Read the full Telegraph review below

If you were to bottle the quintessence of Britain and sprinkle it from a helicopter, what would grow in the fertile land below is the Cotswolds. This is a verdant hillscape and sleepy villages and thatched honey-stone cottages, with country houses, Roman ruins, and old coaching inns showcasing the country at its very best. But the secret is very much out, and today the Cotswolds attracts millions of international tourists, particularly (in pre-pandemic times) from China and the Far East.

But if you head to the fringes you can find sleepy splendour, a cobblestone’s throw from the action.

On a recent bank-holiday weekend I landed upon the Goldilocks Zone of Wootton-by-Woodstock, a village on the cusp of the Cotswold Area of National Beauty. The village, which featured in the Domesday Book, has a population of just shy of 600 and local life centres around the community shop full of organic delights, an attractive Gothic parish church and a pub with a potted history. A perfect jumping-off point for visitors in the know.

Built in 1637, Killingworth Castle was once a popular pit-stop for travellers on the old Worcester to London Roman road. Later, it was the haunt of local lad Winston Churchill, who used to test his cars on drives to the pub from Blenheim Palace with his friend (and founder of Morris Motors) William Morris. Today, the coaching inn is one of the most decorated foodie pubs in the country, having accrued two AA Rosettes and a Michelin recommendation in its 10 years under new ownership, and these days the pub owners even brew their own beers under the label Yubberton.

In the stable block next to the pub you will find stylish ensuite accommodation, with handmade wooden beds and roll-top baths.

We've made it into the Top 50 Pubs in the Cotswolds 2022 list

We've made it into the Top 50 Pubs in the Cotswolds 2022 list

We are thrilled to announce that we’ve made it into the top 50 pubs in the Cotswolds for 2022.

The pub is no stranger to top accolades over the past 18 months after receiving 3 OSH stars from The Soil Association, 2-AA Rosettes and a 2021 Travellers Choice Award after consistently receiving positive traveller reviews on Tripadvisor - an amazing accomplishment that puts us in the top 10% of restaurants worldwide.

It’s great to be acknowledged for the hospitality we offer, as well as our food, and for our pub’s lovely B&B rooms.

Best for Sunday Roast

Really rather delighted to be included in 1 newspaper’s TOP 40 UK pubs for Sunday roasts.

Killy named 2nd best gastropub in Oxfordshire!

Killy named 2nd best gastropub in Oxfordshire!

We are thrilled to announce The Killingworth Castle has been named the 2nd best Gastropub in Oxfordshire and 38th in the whole of the UK by Big7Travel.

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We join only a handful of foodie pubs in the country to receive this accolade after such a difficult few years for the industry.

Amongst the many accolades picked up over the last year, The ‘Killy’ has also retained two AA rosettes and is Michelin recommended. The pub has also been awarded 3 OSH stars from The Soil Association, meaning 50-75% of our menus are made with organic produce. A real testament to the consistently high quality of locally sourced food created by Adam and the team.

Hope to see you soon!

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We've won a 2021 Tripadvisor Travellers Choice Award

We've won a 2021 Tripadvisor Travellers Choice Award

News SO hot off the press that we haven't even received the certificate yet but we are extremely happy to share that we have been awarded a 2021 Travellers Choice Award after consistently receiving positive traveller reviews on Tripadvisor - an amazing accomplishment that puts us in the top 10% of restaurants worldwide.

More about the Travellers’ Choice Award from Trip Advisor

“The Travellers’ Choice Award celebrates hotels that consistently deliver fantastic experiences to travellers around the globe. Winners like you earned positive traveller reviews and ratings over the past year.

In this particularly challenging year, you stood out by providing great service and experiences to your guests. Thank you, and congratulations again on your well-deserved win.”

Trip Advisor

It really is lovely to have our hard work appreciated by our fantastic customers for our excellent customer service and delicious food. Thank you!

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