Langley Castle Hotel

The thing that really stands out from this place is the very strong sense that the staff feel you should feel honoured to stay here and be grateful that they allow you to eat in their restaurant. We have done our fair share of pretentious dining over the years and know the inherent ‘snobbery’ of these places and the staff. ‘Hey guys you are just servers…get over yourselves.’ But this place was the worst in our 40 years of travel. They leverage the renovated English castle ruins thing. Bought and funded by a rich American academic (go figure) the hotel is grand from outside and nice from the inside. Our room was dark and dingy. But the window nook was cool. The ‘drawing room’ was pretty but is just a large room filled with some old furniture bought online I guess. Now to the really bad stuff. They have this ridiculously rigid dinner routine. Guests must congregate in the drawing room at 5.45 pm. Pre-dinner drinks must be ordered, drunk and paid for. Then menus brought out, once food is chosen, you still don’t go down to the dining room. You must sit around like a shag on a rock until told that your food is cooked and ready to be served. Thus we had booked for 6.00 but were seated at 6.45pm. When we walked into the dining room we were taken to a table around the corner from the restaurant door. Squashed up against the rear wall. We sat and I went to take a photo of my partner. But I didn’t take the shot when I saw what was behind her. I saw a view of the restaurant door and the sign ‘Exit’ in big bold letters. I looked around the restaurant and there was only 1 other couple in the while restaurant. I called our waiter to get us the Manager. He arrived after 5 minutes. This young man was totally unsuitable for this role or any role in hospitality. I explained that I wasn’t happy with the table and asked why we were placed here. He said ‘the restaurant is fully booked tonite’. I looked around and said there is no one here. Why did you put us here? He said with a dismissive shrug of the shoulders ‘someone has to sit there.’ I repeated why us and why now? We had booked the hotel and the restaurant 5 months earlier. There was certainly space to put us at a better table. Why not put the people who booked later or arrived later in this bad table at the rear with the view of the exit door. His condescending and arrogant response made us feel 10 cm tall. I stood up and we moved to another table. Furious. We gobbled down the food in 15 minutes and asked for the bill. To add salt to the wound the ‘Manager’ continued to harass us through our 15 minute dinner and in giving us the excessive and completely waste of money bill. A terrible night only made worse by the horrible attitude of this entitled young man who delighted in our misery. We hated this hotel and would never return.

Very comfortable stay in a period castle. Great food for vegetarians too. Service is great. Staff is cordial and cooperative. Beautiful ambience. Great view from top of the castle. Very near to a part of hadrian wall Vindolando.

Absolutely superb in every aspect from fantastic service, food, location and atmosphere. Langley Castle is one of my top three of stays in the UK, we had an amazing experience and would not hesitate to return nor recommend to all. The room was comfortable, tastefully decorated, spacious with good facilities, the evening meal and breakfast were cooked to perfection and the staff were constantly on the ball. There is a service charge but the staff truly deserved it, nothing is too much trouble, you can even have a tour of the castle which includes the battlements, highly recommend and is a do not miss