Castle Combe, a historic village tucked into the Wiltshire countryside, is so impossibly picturesque that the Exclusive Collection hotel group operates not one but two beautiful properties here. Alongside the prestigious Manor House next door, The Castle Inn occupies a 12th-century building complete with 12 cosy ensuite bedrooms and a welcoming pub-restaurant on the ground floor.
The standard of cooking is excellent, but the dining room isn’t trying to be anything other than what it is: a proper village pub. Exposed stone walls, studded leather banquettes and a crackling log fire set the tone, while warm, attentive staff greet day-trippers and overnighters with equal enthusiasm.
Head chef James Boniface brings a philosophy of local, honest and accessible food, and the pub has flourished under his quietly assured leadership. His cooking draws on classic British comfort, with the occasional French flourish or Spanish touch, but ultimately it’s all about flavour. These are familiar dishes, yes, but elevated with a level of care and precision that makes you question why your own versions never quite taste the same.
Our visit falls on a Sunday, so roasts are the stars of the show, flanked by a handful of polished pub classics such as battered fish with beef-dripping chips or The Castle Inn burger topped with a thick slice of smoky cheddar. We choose to keep things traditional, but not before nibbling on spiced olives and a bowl of pork puffs, an elevated take on pork scratchings that more closely resemble the world’s fanciest prawn cracker. Dunked into a beetroot ketchup that’s tangy, rich and miles away from anything bottled, they’re an unexpected highlight.
The roast itself arrives with all the essentials – though Yorkshire puddings must be ordered on the side for some roasts, so don’t miss them! The beef is beautifully charred with a rosy centre, accompanied by roasted local vegetables and possibly the best roast potatoes we’ve eaten in recent memory. Desserts continue the theme of refined pub classics, with the likes of sticky toffee pudding rounding things off in comforting style.
Being the sister site to a Michelin-starred restaurant is no small task, but with head chef James at the helm, The Castle Inn more than holds its own as a standout gastropub – and one well worth the journey.