The Killingworth Castle in West Oxfordshire

My wife and I booked a midweek break with our pet dog. Upon arrival we were shown to our room which was spotlessly clean and very well furnished and equipped. The bed was superbly comfortable and a good night's sleep was assured! Dinner was absolutely superb, first class locally sourced ingredients. Cooked to perfection by the top chef - Adam Brown. Breakfast was again top class. Staff were welcomimg friendly and helpful. All in all a superb midweek break. Highly recommended and we will certainly be revisiting again soon. Our dog was very well looked after with a comfy bed and treats.

It all looks very nice from the outside, a well kept historic property and gardens, but inside did not live up to expectations. We went on a Friday lunchtime, and for the 2 hours we were there the place was spectacularly empty, because, I guess, others have discovered that the service is indifferent (our waitress was distinctly grumpy) and the food, though of a good quality and well cooked, is extremely expensive. The main courses, ranging from approximate £25-35 each, don’t include veg. We had a lunch for four with no starters, 4 mains of which 2 were fish and chips, one pudding and coffees, no alcohol but soft drinks - and the bill was £160. This is a pub masquerading as a high quality restaurant, but not quite successful in either guise. I wouldn’t hurry back.

Staying in Woodstock we decided to try the Killingworth Castle on the recommendation of a local friend, and it certainly did not disappoint. From the initial warm welcome, to the comfortable decor, friendly vibe and varied menu we felt we were in for a treat. What a culinary treat it was - generous portions of flavoursome and delicious food - beautifully presented. All the courses were outstanding, catering equally well for both meat eaters and vegetarians. We will definitely be back to try the tasting menu!

This is a very elegant restaurant with excellent service and excellent food. We were here for a long lunch with friends and everything was excellent. The service couldn't have been better, and they were quite relaxed about us spending hours over lunch!

Pleasant experience and ambience, however very pricey.. service was efficient but staff not overly welcoming. Food was really good however £37 for a piece of halibut with a sauce and nothing else was a bit much but it was nice .. the soufflé I can highly recommend

Having read the reviews we decided to give The killingworth Castle a try. The location and building is very pretty however that's about it. We decided to go for the set menu and we chose to share the chateaubriand plus have mac n cheese and teh stuffed yorkshire as sides. Chateaubriand: Very over cooked, we think it was precooked and reheated as its came incredibly quickly to the table following our order. The red wine sauce that comes with it had zero flavour and no depth Mac n cheese: lacked any flavour, not much cheese and certainly needed seasoning Stuffed yorkshire: The beefshin was meant to have been cooked with treacle however the whole thing was just bland and disappointing. The desserts were the saving light we have the chocolate delice and the cheesecake both were very good. Overall the food was very poor quality and lacked flavour. So many better options in the cotswolds. Also nevermind the fact they overcharged me which I only realised once I got to the car so had to turn around and get thay sorted.

Deserves its high rating, this luxurious pub is wonderfully furnished and has ample room to serve. The menu is just right, and the wait for food was minimal. Attentive and professional service enhanced by a beautiful country location. Special.

The food is outstanding- not too many choices which means everything in one point - delicious amuse bouche, refreshing chilled soup, buttery tender duck, excellent vegetables. Raspberry soufflé really hit the final spot. YUM Third visit now and would certainly come again.

Lovely country pub near to Blenhiem Palace. Short and well prepared menu. Very nice touch the warm chouix pastry entre. Can heartily recommend the marinated Salmon, treacle infused sourdough bread and butter (amazing, we didn't manage to finish it and took it away. Had it toasted for breakfast the next day when it was even better.). Duck was great too. Didn't have dessert as to full. Can't wait to try next time we're in the area. Notable plus about the service is that they changed an over seasoned dish without batting an eyelid. Thank you.

any way. That said on paying the bill the supplement for the beef (which was first option on the set menu) was disappointing and a surprise. Whilst is did in fact mention the supplement, the menu was poorly organised which led our table and in fact the table next to ours to be surprised about the added cost of choosing the beef. As a Sunday lunch set menu, one might think beef would be a popular choice, so felt this was a sneaky / crafty way of sorting the menu. It was very expensive overall- £125 for 2 people without any wine (which seemed very over priced). Vegetables were not included with the main meal so added an extra cost. After all it’s a fairly important part of a roast lunch at nearly £50 a head. This issue about the menu / beef supplement was passed on and suggested that the beef option with the supplement needs moving to a different part of the menu to avoid confusion. It has soured our visit sadly and are unlikely to return despite the food itself being excellent. It’s a shame that it just didn’t feel value for money.

Charming inn, excellent dinner, helpful staff, room was a little small but cozy. We enjoyed our stay. Very convenient location for visiting Blenheim Palace.

A wonderful place to stay! The rooms were quiet and beautifully appointed. The bed was extremely comfortable with high quality bed linen. Service was excellent and the breakfasts were the best we’d eaten anywhere. We definitely plan to return!

We booked for the Sunday lunch and lodging. This review is specifically for that. In view of all the awards, I can only think that staying and eating on any other night is a better experience. The food menu is extremely limited and if you expect a Sunday roast you will be disappointed. The closest you can get is chateaubriand which comes with a £20 supplement. Otherwise it is fish, pork chop or vegetarian tart. Also, be prepared to pay extra for side dishes. I ordered plaice and asked if the chef would be able to remove the bone for me. I have a lifeless arm in a sling. The waiter, who appeared to be wishing he was anywhere else, told me they wouldn’t! It made the £30 service charge which was automatically added to the bill a little difficult to take. Having said this, all four of us enjoyed our meals. The wine list is also extremely limited with, what I can only describe as, an odd selection. Afterwards, we were lucky to be able to sit in the lovely garden in glorious sunshine and another member of our party asked for Pimms but they don’t have it. Nor Malibu. She gave up after that. We were starting to think we’d come to Fawlty Towers! Food service is until 4.30 pm on a Sunday so you are unable to get anything after that. If you are hungry later in the evening and, assuming there is still someone available, you can get crisps which is what we saw another guest doing. The rooms were very nice and spotlessly clean. There is a good selection of teas and a complimentary glass of sherry. The bathroom looked new but the shower is over the big bath so awkward to get in and out of if you are short (I am). We had the windows open overnight but the road alongside was very busy from early morning. We were hopeful that breakfast would be amazing and certainly the lady serving us was but, unfortunately, the full English was a little dry. Perhaps Sunday/Monday is the Michelin recommended chef’s night off which is why they can offer it for the bargain price of £213.25.

Our host, Jim was charming and attentive. The restaurant is comfortable and has some interesting art. The accommodation, a chalet room, is modern clean and has pleasant decor. The dinner blew my mind, salt dried ribeye with tomato jam. My wife was equally pleased with her tomato and black garlic tart. Even the breakfasts were special. Ale from the Stroud Brewery, excellent. I would certainly book again.

Stayed here for one night and the room and food were fine albeit a little over priced. My main gripe were the drinks. No sweet rose, two glasses of Prosecco were both flat, no fruit cider and no champagne. So we spent £270 in the dining room which ordinarily wouldn’t be an issue if we didn’t have to compromise on drinks.

With the Killy on our doorstep we had to try the new Sunday lunch menu. It did not disappoint the food was excellent as was the service. The two course menu also included the most delicious Amuse Bouche, a spring pea veloute. I had the pork cutlet and hubby chose the halibut both of which were beautifully cooked and came with a delicious dish of crispy pink fir potatoes, although not really needed we did order a couple of sides the treacle soda bread a firm favourite at the Killy (once tasted never forgotten) and a new addition to the menu, Truffled Mac & Cheese an absolute game changer. The desserts were equally delightful hubby had the treacle tart and I had the refreshing Lemon pine parfait. A real treat on a windy Sunday afternoon we will be back to sample the rest of the menu!

We hadn’t been for some time and were really looking forward to a lovely Sunday lunch. Unfortunately we wouldn’t return. The menu was quite limited, 4 mains …one of which was chateaubriand for two to share. No vegetables included, a selection of sides at £3 & £6 extra. If you did want to share a beef roast for two, the price increased by £20. The pork chop was very fatty… lots of big pieces of inedible fat left on the plate. We all agreed, given the menu price it felt a bit of a rip off paying extra for vegetables which were very small portions. Desert was a choice of two … lemon parfait or treacle tart. The parfait was ok, all the flavour came from the curd. The treacle tart was shocking. Although good the portion was so small it was unbelievable! When the waitress asked how desert was we said the tart portion though good was so meagre. Her response was… yes it’s lovely isn’t it! The bill was £226 for 4. It’s a shame but we’ve had so much better for that kind of money. We came away feeling quite cheated and all 4 agreed we would not return.

A beautiful setting. We enjoyed the tasting menu. Breakfast was delicious on both mornings of our stay: full English breakfast with lovely thick bacon, smoked haddock and poached eggs, smoked salmon and scrambled eggs. Zoe was extremely attentive and welcoming. Thank you to Hannah for helping us purchase tickets for Blenheim Palace.

Very enjoyable Sunday lunch today - good quality food, lovely location and friendly & efficient service - all at a price we considered value for money. Will certainly return and can confidently recommend

Stayed a night at The Killingworth in Feb with my Wife. We really enjoyed our experience here. The pub and location is great (you really feel like you’re getting away from it all for a night). The service from the staff/owners was warm, the room was beautiful. I like a good real ale, had a great pint in the bar before retreating back to the room to get ready for the evening. We had some lovely pre dinner cocktails which were delicious (the house one is great!), and my Wife being pregnant was pleased to see a good selection of mocktails too 😃. The tasting menu (and wine flight for me) was fantastic, one of the best I’ve had for a while, every course just to die for. Flavour, flavour and more flavour, not to mention spot on textures and presentation. Who knew artichoke could be so good - not me! That set the bar high…though the duck and cheesecake were also to die for. Thank you Chef and all the team for making it a memorable one.

We have been here three times now and the first two times were absolutely amazing. Unfortunately the third time, the food wasn't as good as previously. I had the lobster and Morrell Mushroom dish for a starter. I'm all for quantity over quantity but I must say it was all but three mouth fulls. It was good but at £27, I didn't think was worth it. I had a main course of pork and thought was good, but not as great as previously. The bar man is always amazing and although the service was acceptable ot wasn't exceptional as previously. I hope this was just a blip as we make a 80 mile trip to eat and stay here and has been worth every penny previously.

They ( waiting staff) need to realise that sometimes the customers comments and opinions are actually valid - and not contest or reply dismissively ! They think they are a superior in demand exclusive location, alas!...at the end of the day they are only an overpriced gastro pub!

I visited in a family group celebrating a very significant birthday. We were beautifully looked after and had a quiet corner of the restaurant to ourselves. One of the party is coeliac and we were looked after extremely well and I had complete confidence in the team. We had the 6 course tasting menu which they could make gluten free with only minor adjustments to 2 courses. The GF dishes were equally beautiful and delicious and we all felt special. The food is seasonal and local. I would definitely return for a special occasion and recommend to anyone.

Lovely location, and a charming building. We were there for Sunday lunch and had excellent service throughout our time there. We all had the roast beef. Veg was good, roasties we're also good and the Yorkshires were obviously home made. So generally all good. The only let down was the beef. I am more than happy to accept a certain amount of fat within the portion served but two of us had a fair bit of fat and gristle within the meat. My father in laws was faultless. So a mixed bag, and for the price charged I'd expect it to be good to excellent. Hence the average mark. A quick fix to get it to an excellent standard.

Well, we looked at the menu and didn’t like anything on offer. In the end we had starters, beef £55 ( shocking) and Jerusalem artichokes starter. Only one option for kids, which was sausages and mash in our case. The meal came up to more that £200 and we didn’t even have two main courses. The beef was incredible, but it’s not a Michelin star restaurant, but the price tag surely is. Best gastro pubs in London are much cheaper.

Although the food was good the portions were very small. I had the pork that was good but not anything exceptional. My wife had the beef fillet at £55 but again was not anything Out of the norm for a good restaurant in London. As we left and had left cash on the table with tip over and above the service charge, we were told that they didn’t take cash by a very obnoxious waitress. She tried to say because of there insurance they could not take cash. Hello legal tender. Since when did insurance come in to wether you can’t take cash. Sorry but we will not use any restaurant or business that doesn’t take legal tender. We left them with the money and left. Never going back.

We are always looking for new places to fine dine and this being on the Michelin recognised/recommended had to be tried. The welcome and service are nice and the area we Sat was lovely, bright and clean. My chair (facing in towards the bench seat) was like a 1970s cheep dining chair and very uncomfortable. £6 extra for each extra is what we expect in a Michelin restaurant - not here. Now the good stuff... The food. OMG I can't remember what the beef was called on the menu but the whole plate was up there with the best Filet Mignon I've ever eaten anywhere in the world. Steak so tender I only needed a spoon to cut it. I never knew a hash brown could look or taste so good. A mushroom reduction... Yum. And, the red cabbage was amazing. Lynda had the pork and really enjoyed it too. We shared (Lynda stole some!) my cheese cake. It was more like a firm Pana Cotta on a buscuit base but oh my God. It was to die for. I could easily have had a second servicing but know that my body would have told me off later. Absolutely out of this world indulgence. It's been mentioned in other reveiws that the portion sizes are small. This is very easily dealt with by giving a choice of 1-2 sides with the main. There is enough mark up on other areas to work this I'm sure? Would we return? Most definitely. Some of the best food we've had and with some work I'm sure this will gain a Michelin *

We stayed overnight and enjoyed the wonderfully comfortable and well equipped room. The A La Carte evening dinner was exceptional with sensational food, great wines to match the individual course, friendly and knowledgeable service in a calm and relaxing environment. With a log fire to enjoy a nightcap. After a great nights sleep the breakfast was super with local ingredients cooked to perfection which set us up for a great day in the area. We have used Killingworth Castle for many years and each visit seems to be better. The recent awards confirm the ongoing development. Thanks for an enjoyable visit, we will see you soon.

Great food executed well, just a few niggles. Small plates - so don’t go hungry - and expensive but as expected from a restaurant hoping for that Michelin star. Service was perfect and they were quick to remove my meal from the bill as my £26 roast beef wasn’t edible. HOWEVER, I have eaten that meal from there before and it was PERFECT, as it was for the rest of the table who ordered it. Highly recommend the treacle soda bread, the roast potatoes were 5* and the sticky toffee pud was incredible. Wouldn’t recommend the Pork dish (on the Sunday menu) - it wasn’t great, tiny portion at £32 (compared to other meals) and the Madeira sauce was overpowering. Also wouldn’t order the cauliflower cheese again, bit bland and rock hard. Nothing from the above would stop me from returning but others on our table probably wouldn’t.

We wanted a dog friendly pub offering good quality food . It had to be right as we were taking a family member who is vegetarian. Not knowing the area but realising that I needed to be certain of a table we booked in advance. A £25 advanced deposit per person was required to book the table for 3 of us .! We arrived to find a wonderful log burner roaring away .. table reserved and a very warm greeting . The choice was very limited and the mains had little in terms of sides to add.. our food was delicious but would not satisfy a hungry appetite. The service and quality was exceptional.. the cost was prohibitive and high end cuisine . We will be going back but for a very special occasion that will justify the expense. It is a superb high end establishment that most restaurants will not be able to compete with. It’s not pub food but is dog friendly. They have top quality staff and food and is reflected in the price.

Wonderful Sunday lunch in the bar area. Good value menu and lots to choose from… We were impressed with the clear ambition to support organic, local and sustainable produce which was explained by the waiter. Service was slow and disorganised but the food made up for it… I wouldn’t recommend the Bloody Mary as it was awful but everything else was spot on.

I booked the Killingworth Castle on spec as we needed somewhere to have lunch whilst visiting friends in Charlbury. What a lucky find! The Sunday lunch was superb, really excellent quality, and good value. Great roast beef and all the trimmings, and under £30 for two courses which was great when you think that all their food is sustainably sourced and organic. Good, short organic wine list and a decent selection by the glass. Nice coffee. Friendly and attentive service and despite arriving with a baby we were welcomed warmly and looked after really well, not just popped in a side room and left which happens (understandably) quite a lot when you eat out with children. A lovely, friendly, proper pub with a great garden to boot - highly recommend!

From the minute we arrived to the moment we left, the service was the best. Friendly staff, lovely atmosphere and the food just amazing. Just brilliant :-)

Absolutely perfect ! The welcome was friendly and we felt safe with the Covid precautions . The service was excellent . Sylvia the waitress was superb very friendly very efficient . and the food was beautifully presented and an absolute joy and delight . Every mouthful was a dream! The roast sirloin was cooked to perfection accompanied by a beautiful selection of vegetables and scrumptious Yorkshire puddings . Beautiful menu Selection making choice very difficult ! Everything was absolutely perfect thank you so much ! We will definitely be back

Beautiful food,great atmosphere and the service was amazing! The staff were incredibly accommodating and friendly, Would definitely recommend for a special meal!

The food here is outstanding. Everything we ordered was delicious and the portions are spot on. It’s so good we are hoping to return. Service and staff were also great, it was an amazing post-lockdown lunch outside. The chef should be proud.

Met a friend for a belated birthday lunch and we decided to dine from the 3 course menu.Every dish was superbly presented, real thought goes into the way they serve their plates.Lots of other diners were well prepared bringing cosy blankets and thick scarves.The bread from “Marks Cotswold Bakery” was a lovely warming starter, alongside the butter kissed with sea salt. Mmm simple pleasures! The asparagus followed, then the polenta and and stuffed courgette (pictured) it was all truly delightful.Cheese to finish which could have been more plentiful. One slice is not enough.All in all a nice experience but don’t eat there if you don’t like fine dining.

Stayed overnight so ate here in the evening. Excellent quality food. Started with a beetroot carpaccio and pate, mains were turkey roast dinner and a venison. Didn’t have room for desserts. Definately would visit again next time we’re in the area.

This pub has had a makeover and tables are well spaced (COVID friendly). I didn't have a starter but the venison was delicious. The treacle tart was good but I would have preferred it to be served with ice cream.

Staff were attentive and welcoming, and I felt very safe with the protocols in place due to Covid. The food was excellent... so refreshing to go out to eat and really enjoy the chefs cooking it really was fabulous.

Excellent overall experience where customer service is a real focus Checkin is seamless and extremely helpful and friendly. Room was very good. Good selection of beers and wine. Evening meal was the highlight, belly pork was superb. Breakfast was also first class. Highly recommend and thank you to all involved for making it a great experience.

We stayed for one night last week in room 8 which was very nicely appointed and had an excellent shower. It was our first visit and it had been delayed owing to COVID. We intially booked the Blenheim Palace Package which included dinner, room and breakfast. Despite the fact that this package is no longer available, the staff went to a lot of trouble to assist us in booking Blenheim Palace timed tickets at no extra cost.After the visit to Blenheim we received a warm welcome at Killingworth Castle from everyone we met. The precautions against COVID were excellent and made us feel safe. Our dinner was very nice indeed. We sampled the venison and cod which were cooked to perfection. The cheese board and treacle tart were good too.

Stayed at this pub hotel for a long weekend with my partner. We felt completely Covid safe, everything was extremely well organised and staff were very warm and welcoming (particularly the lovely Polish lady). The room we stayed in (Room 6) was charming, with a large comfy bed and a trendy spacious ensuite bathroom. Breakfast was served at nicely spaced out tables, and there was a great selection to choose from. I loved the rich creamy natural yoghurt with fruit compote!We also dined at the pub one evening and the food was exceptional. We shared a chicken & mushroom velouté with white truffle and chicken dumplings which was amazing. My partner loved the venison dish, and my roasted celeriac with split pea dahl, curly kale and pickled apples was out of this world. For desert we shared a poached peach with peach syrup, black currant sorbet and almonds, I swear, I never had a sorbet that tasty. Amazing experience, thanks very much to the whole team!!

Stayed one night in this lovely pub with rooms. The room was very comfortable and well arranged. The real coffee and cafetiere was a great touch. The bathroom was a good size and properly lit (a frequent issue with non chain accomodation). The real highlight however was the food. Evening meal was absolutely delicious and the wild venison a particular success. Breakfast was (nearly) as good with quality ingredients and, as at dinner, efficient and friendly service. The one regret was the ale did not feature their house brand, an understandable casualty in these curious times, but the Stroud OPA was delicious. I would gladly return, and recommend to anyone.

Having not ventured out much since lockdown, plus having had a baby just before lockdown, I was doing a lot of research of somewhere to meet a friend as a halfway point for us both that I would feel comfortable in. I looked at lots of different places online and settled on here as the website looked lovely. I was a little apprehensive from the mixed reviews on Trip Advisor but thought we’d give it a go, and so glad we did. I don’t normally write reviews but we had such a lovely meal out I thought I’d share our experience. 1) COVID measures. I’m sure it’s been hard for all establishments to adapt but I thought they’d done brilliantly here. I felt very safe and I can be a little anxious about it. Hand sanitizer stations, spaced tables, staff masked up etc... we were sat in a little room to the side of the main bar which was great. All very safe. 2) Atmosphere & staff A few reviews said they’d have a frosty welcome etc, ours couldn’t have been better. Very friendly waitress, welcoming with the baby, very accommodating to our requests for baby high chair and baby friendly meal (I had a few questions about salt etc and she was more than happy to pop back to the kitchen a couple of times to make sure we were happy with what we were ordering for our little one). Attentive service but not overbearing - as I say really lovely waitress & very pleased with the service - I was anxious as it was our first meal out with our 7 month old and she made us feel very at ease. 3) The foodOh my gosh... the food was delicious! Amazing portion sizes, it is a little pricey but you know this when booking and I think you get what you pay for. This was ample portion, wonderfully cooked, and totally worth the price tag in our opinion. We will definitely return if in the area again - hopefully when the weather is a little better & we can make the most of the lovely setting/village.

Fabulous! Stayed for a couple of nights! Felt totally COVID safe. The room was cute with a huge comfy bed and we were so glad we booked in for dinner as the chefs are 5star! The chicken and mushroom veloute was absolutely divine. Staff are super friendly and helpful! We will be back!!

Had a delicious meal at the killingworth castle tonight, the mackerel was beautifully presented and the vegetables had such an array of delicate flavours, it was a masterpiece of a dish. My niece had the duck liver pate with duck croutons and she loved it. We went for our pub favourites of fish and chips and burger for the main course and they were both amazing, food coma heaven

bad service not the warm welcoming pub it reports to be . unhelpful staff more intent on chatting amongst themselves than serving customers . we live local & want support local business during this difficult time . But we will not be returning to the killingworth , at least not under the present management

Lovely location, had seen the reviews and thought this would be lovely for me my wife and friends. We arrived and expected covid measurements but did not expect a cold and frosty welcome.Not alot on the menu so as would you expect the menu was limited you would expect the service to be on pont especially due to all restaurants and pubs closing for numerous weeks with no customers. Me my partner and friends had one drink and walked out the door. A real shame as we had not been out in a while due to lock down. Was really looking forward to a cosy warm atmosphere to enjoy gorgeous food and the waitress really did not make us feel welcome.

Visited for dinner with friends. Food top notch and staff very friendly. Would definitely recommend, will be returning when next in Oxfordshire.

We visited Blenheim and were looking for a dog friendly place to stay. This was perfect, we had such a nice evening. The staff were extremely friendly and helpful and the food was excellent, it surpassed what one would expect from a country pub. Our room was really comfortable and there was even a dog bed provided! Breakfast was also much above standard. We were so happy to find this pub and highly recommend it.

I am not one for writing reviews but had my hopes so high for this place. It is a stunning setting and a beautiful looking pub with garden. I searched long and hard for the perfect Sunday roast in the area for a stop off on the way back home down south to end a surprise weekend away for my partner. When asking for a drink of coke, it would have been helpful for staff to explain first that it is not a standard fizzy drink that you would expect, but instead a still flavoured coke like organic drink - as it was actually not very nice. The roast dinners were very tasty but very small portions (shame we didn't leave feeling full) so instantly the value also seemed very expensive! My partner's pork didn't come with crackling so the meal didn't look very impressive on the plate, and as cracking was stated on the menu, we asked for some. We then heard the kitchen rudely say to the waiter 'I put some on their plate' (which they clearly didn't or we wouldn't have asked) to then be brought an offensive minuscule size of one piece of cracking on a plate was just an insult - a clear deliberate way for the chef to express his feelings. That ruined it for us - and I felt sorry for my partner who I wanted to treat to a nice lunch out. The staff were lovely - especially two more experienced members who engaged in conversation. There was a younger waiter who seemed new and nervous - so it didn't feel very relaxing when he was clearing and stacking our plates in-front of us. I really wanted this to be great. We would have loved to come back as it could so easily be much better but we won't be returning.

This Wootton is a few miles north of Woodstock, set in rolling Oxfordshire countryside and a great place for a pre or post-meal walk.The Killingworth Castle has adapted admirably to the post-plague environment offering inside and outside seating and a large car park with a charging point. The staff are relaxed, helpful and enthusiastic.The menu isn't large but the food is fantastic; delicious, generous and attractive. We had the duck and beetroot dishes to start and then both revelled in the rump of lamb. Not enough room for deserts but I bet they were good too. Water, juice and coffee - £50+. Not cheap but the KC (unlike other pub-restaurants we have recently sampled) has returned to its pre-apocalypse standards and is worth every penny. Could anything be better? Yes, the coffee and the weather.Booking essential even at lunch time. Go there.

We went en route back from Chipping Camden looking for a classic Cotswold Pub.By taking a B Road towards to M40, we stumbled upon The Killingworth Castle and glad we did!Car parking is available and for electric car drivers they have a charging point which is forward thinking.It’s at the gateway to the Cotswolds so this pub is the perfect base for visiting Blenheim Palace. It was originally built in 1637 (by Thomas Killingworth) and was badly run down when it was taken over in 2012 and in May 2015, eight luxury en-suite bed and breakfast rooms were added.The Pub was restored in a similar style to it’s original format retaining its rustic feel with its exposed-stone arches, wood floors, open fires and a welcoming bar as is known locally as “The Killy”.There are panelled bench seats with a snug and an additional dining room at the back so there’s plenty of space for a wide range of people/groups.This freehold establishment also has three of its own beers, Yubby, Goldie and Yawnie. Food is seasonal, fresh and inventive but with great standards to suit most tastes.In today’s post Lockdown period it observes all the protocols that now seem standard.The staff were very pleasant and we enjoyed a great meal nicely cooked and elegantly presented.Whilst not “cheap” it was a very enjoyable experience and would highly recommend.

We recently been to this pub, I was quite excited to see it re-open again after the COVID 19, but unfortunately it was not a good experience. I felt the staff was cold and not friendly at all, not sure if it is to do with I was not local or not being English. It was such a shame, the pub is nicely decorated and drinks are good too. I would have go back there if the bar mates were more friendly. They made me felt that I owned them to sever us. maybe a little smile does not cost you anything!

Saved this restaurant until the last night of our staycation as the reviews led us to believe it was something special. How terribly disappointing is the polite phrase. Expensive, small portioned mediocre pub grub dressed up to appear special. We can excuse the wet plaster smells as it appears to be a recent refurbishment or new build but come on guys the food...no excuse. Be aware...mussel chowder on one dish is the same as seafood sauce on another dish and was far too salty to eat.

We went away for a short break after lockdown to Blenheim in our Campervan to get away from home working as a family before our daughter went back to school. Due to the pandemic a short break is all we have managed this summer as we have a baby on the way. On our last day we went to the Killingworth Castle for lunch. The way they have set the pub up is a credit to people who are looking to make the best out of a difficult situation. Greeted at the door in a really friendly way, taken to our table in the bar to accommodate our greyhound, the best food and drink we have had during our break by far! If your out and about near Blenheim why not ring up, book a table, have great food and drink and support a place making a real effort!

We visited today and had an excellent meal with good friendly service. A varied menu. We will return.

A lovely pub for lunch....Well-spaced tables and all the other ‘things’ in place that one would expect. A great menu, professional staff and no pressure to vacate the table. We will certainly be back!

You judge a pub on many criteria; in this post-lockdown (just-about) period, how seriously they take the safety measures is an important one. The answer here is: very seriously. Tables are distanced, all the staff wear face masks, they have hand sanitizer everywhere, and all the rest. Add to that the quality of the food, the kindness and professionalism of the staff, the lovely location, and reasonable prices, and you have a winning formula. Well done!

We got lost and arrived very late for our booking and the kitchen was shut :( Lovely manager sorted us out with some sensational pulled pork sandwiches. Sat in Lovely garden under a parasol.

Just visiting Woodstock, having had 2 mediocre meals during our stay we were hopeful that Killingworth castle wouldn’t let us down.What fabulous food, all four of us were delighted superb vegetarian option, steaks & children’s dishes.. and the sticky toffee pudding.. wow! Thankyou! Excellent service & Covid measures put in place.

We had the Killy fish and chips takeaway every week during lockdown which were really fantastic quality so we were really looking forward to being able to dine in once it reopened. We were not disappointed, the chicken parfait, pear and stilton salad, belly pork and the Sunday roasts have all been wonderful, the chocolate cheesecake is sublime!! Despite the 'social distancing' the restaurant continues to be warm and welcoming due to the attentive and friendly staff, tastefully decorated interior and beautifully maintained outdoor space. I can't wait to go again

Really enjoyed our stay at Killingworth last Sunday. Lovely atmosphere, the staff were very welcoming and friendly and the roast was delicious. We were originally going to stay back in March but due to the current situation we had to rebook to a later date. We were given the same offer of the room and a roast with breakfast the next morning which was given to us in our room due to the restaurant being closed that day.

My partner and I were staying in Woodstock over Christmas and went here for Sunday Dinner. The food well exceeded our expectations and was spectacular. We both had pigeon breast with crisps and pickles for starters, which was delicious. My partner had the beef roast dinner which he spoke highly of and I had the lamb which was so succulent and tasty - cooked to perfection with a fantastic gravy. We would return to the area just to revisit this pub!

Good quality provincial gastropub. This establishment is about five minutes drive from the historic town of Woodstock and its associations with Churchill and Blenheim Palace. The food and wine list is good quality. It’s London prices - including £8 a pop for a desert, though the set menu for lunch was quite good value at £20 per head and wine by the glass was good value. At least they have a real chef and they take their food seriously and it’s largely fresh and organic. Rather too many sauces and garnishes for my liking, that makes the food presentation a little bit old-fashioned though in fact the salad as a main course could actually have done with more dressing. The espresso coffee was awful but many establishments in the UK struggle to make good coffee anyway. Lunch for two adults and a child with a beer and two glasses of wine and a fruit juice came to £70. I wasn’t as impressed with the place as some reviewers were but it generally can be recommended as a notch higher than the average pub food.

I’ve been here a number of times for lunch, it is fab. The menu is always different and the set 2 or 3 course menu is great value.Presentation of the food is very good. Staff are lovely and very helpful. Civilised dogs are allowed.

Amazing place, food is top notch with great service, my girlfriend and I visited with our son, I’m a chef, rob runs a restaurant, always been in the trade, this place was fantastic, the pigeon and parfait starter was amazing, the pork, venison and tart were all to die for and desserts lip smacking, it was our first visit and we willMost definitely be back

After a disaster on a previous trip to the Cotswolds (a different hotel/village) this place has restored by faith! Lived every aspect - from the personal touches in the rooms to the friendly staff and stunning food. We will be back for sure!!A must stay for a visit to the Cotswolds or Blenheim palace!

The accommodation is slightly separate from the main building. The en-suite was tiny, but there was a shelf for washbags, a bath, shower and fluffy towels, and it was sparkling clean. Our bed was particularly comfortable, and there was seating as well, and a civilised caraffe of sherry to greet us. The pub itself was very warm and welcoming, and the food is excellent. I imagine that this quintissential Cotswold country pub would be a wonderful place to visit/stay at any time of the year, with plenty of places to visit nearby.

Had an excellent Sunday roast here. Great food, good beer and welcoming staff. Although it was very busy service was good. We had two dogs with us and they were made welcome too. For warmer weather there is plenty of seating outside. A pleasure to find staff sincere in offering a good service.

Excellent location on the Cotswolds but needs a car. Modernised village pub with attaching accommodation. Very well kept, clean and cosy with a ,log fire.Meals from a two star AA Rosette awarded menu. However we though that £18 for roast beef etc (one choice on the menu) was a bit pricey but starters and desserts were good value. In fact this was a Telegraph offer so we could not be more pleased for value. Staff really helpful and warm.

First class Sunday lunch, food served on "hot" plates, what a rarity! Welcoming, friendly staff, lovely atmosphere. An excellent start before we went on to Blenheim and the Alice in Wonderland and Lit Gardens displays.

Note to self. If choosing a roast, stick to lunchtime. My roast potatoes seemed reheated and were dry and tasteless. The lamb was tough and inedible and, despite complaining, no reduction offered. Very disappointed.

Lovely and warm service. Great food with fantastic atmosphere. Definitely recommend and will be going back! Made our Christmas.

What a wonderful atmosphere, food and drink to die for, staff are highly attentive. Highly recommend. Five stars!

I made a booking for Sunday lunch but when we arrived they had made a mistake and booked us in for the wrong Sunday. No apologies, just said we could have table for an hour until party of 14 arrived. Won’t be going here again that’s for sure.

4 of us came here for lunch. Started with pigeon main of hake and dessert of chocolate fondant. All superb. Others had fish and chips, pork, cheesecake. All superb. The food here is of a high quality.

We really enjoyed our stay at this pub inn. We had a warm and welcoming arrival by Sylvia. All staff here were so helpful. Room clean and very comfortable. Breakfast very good and dinner excellent. Will definitely stay again!

Halfway meeting point for my daughter and I. Warm welcome, room lovely, finished to a high spec. Enjoyed a fabulous Roast Beef dinner and then a lovely breakfast on following morning. A short drive to Woodstock and a very pleasant walk in Blenheim Palace park. We'll be repeating this break again soon

Stayed for 2 nights recently. Booked late so unfortunately had a rather small room but bed was comfortable and the room had everything we needed. Loved having an ensuite bath as so many places just have a shower. We had dinner and breakfast twice and the food was absolutely delicious each time. Great atmosphere with the locals, made to feel very welcome. Would definitely recommend. Great location for exploring the Cotswolds.

We enjoyed a fabulous short break staying at Killingworth Castle, lovely warm welcome from exceptionally friendly staff, room was perfect, food quality and presentation was outstanding enjoyed every bite. Breakfast was a great way to start the day. Would highly recommend this fantastic little gem

A delightfull place to eat/stay. A lovely atmosphere, pleasent/friendly staff. Great food to suit all tastes. Situated in a pleasent village in the heart of Oxfordshire. A great place to hold a wedding reception.

We enjoyed our stay at Killingworth, the staff were very friendly and our dinner was good.

Food is beautifully prepared and presented. Pub is warm and inviting. The bartenders were very friendly and helpful in finding things to explore in the Cotswolds.

Was lucky enough to find this by chance on our way to Blenheim palace for Tears for Fears concert. Lovely old inn having some improvements done when we visited. Very friendly staff greeted us at the bar & took our orders for a light lunch. Nice selection of local beets & ciders which we had in the garden. Very happy with what we had & will have to find an excuse to visit again soon . Very happy to recommend.

Called in last weekend for a Sunday Roast. Lovely atmosphere, very friendly staff, with excellent service and good food. It was obviously a popular place to eat. We will definitely go back and will probably look to stay there on a future visit to the area.

Ate dinner here whilst staying in the hotel. Staff were incredibly friendly and the service was impeccable. Lovely touches - like the fact they brew their own beer, and a lot of the food is organic. Partner is veggie and loved her tart. I had venison with plums which was stunning. As was the cheese board, which was so good I had it on both nights. Will definitely be returning.

We came here as returning customers, having had an excellent experience previously with the food, service, and prices.

Superb service and great atmosphere. Had the Sunday roasts which were delicious and the best fish and chips and sticky toffee pudding I've ever had. Would definitely recommend to friends and family.

The pub is lovely building surrounded by a stunning countryside. The food is tasty and good quality. I have tried the burger and the meat was tender and well cooked. As a dessert I had the panna cotta which was delicious. The staff is really welcoming and smiling. The Swedish draft was a pleasant surprise. Try it! Definitely recommended.

Stayed 3 nights in room 8 posh room roll top bath very nice,great location,food was very nice great service two poeple in particular,Jamie and the young lady who

Been here many times but will probably not return. Went in a small group of friends for lunch. The pub is being extended with some refurbishment but this should not affect the standard of food. Must say that the service was very good.

Thanks to you all for a wonderful stay.

Came back for a second visit (from a considerable distance) on the off chance we could be squeezed in for Sunday lunch, without a reservation. Excellent, friendly staff accommodated.

We had a lovely stay for a night whilst visiting Blenheim Palace. The included breakfast was delicious and the 3 course meal we had was fantastic - we chose the hotel partly due to the highly rated food and weren’t disappointed.

For our Wedding Anniversary we wanted really nice food, great atmosphere and nice accommodation; a GastroPub. We booked based on online reviews. We were not disappointed. The team really make an effort to offer great service, and the food is top restaurant quality with fantastic flavors, and we really enjoyed the unique and varied wine list. The rooms are great with good character. We had a fabulous fresh breakfast each day. A small point to note is although its located on a 'B' Road outside the village, traffic does start to 'rush' by from before 6, and just at at moment there is building works going on next door, so its not a 100% quiet location. But overall we loved our stay and meal experiences; really helped by the great people there and would highly recommend a visit.

I turned up at this pub in the beautiful Oxfordshire countryside for special birthday meal and I was so disappointed..I didn't know it was physically possible to burn chips and serve them, they tasted like they had been cooked over and over again..The fish was okay but nothing special..My partners meal was very average but overpriced for the size of the portion..Reading the other reviews it seems like the meals here are hit or miss and I would not recommend travelling to this venue if you want to go somewhere for that special meal

Not what you expect, and certainly not worth the long drive. I would not describe this venue as a restaurant, its a pub that sells food. Average quality good, fish and chips was very poor quality, pork belly was tasty, but only suitable as a child's portion and very poor value for money.

Great hotel, staff and food. We went for the Room and Roast option with an overnight stay. We both had a wonderful time and will return