The Bybrook at Manor House Hotel | A Celebratory Treat in Castle Combe

As it approaches my birthday (in a few weeks’ time), I realise I never shared our lovely one-night stay at The Manor House in Wiltshire for my birthday last year. Taking advantage of a late-booked midweek offer for dinner, bed and breakfast in one of the hotel’s Plush rooms, we spent our visit relaxing in our lovely room, taking a pleasant walk around the pretty village of Castle Combe, and having an elegant and delicious dinner in the hotel’s Bybrook restaurant.

Manor House Hotel in Castle Combe, Wiltshire Manor House Hotel in Castle Combe, Wiltshire

The Manor House Hotel is located within a grand stately home and several adjacent cottages, whih have been converted into a luxury hotel and restaurant. Located a few miles North West of Chippenham, the village of Castle Combe sits within the Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

As well as the Bybrook restaurant, the hotel has an onsite spa (please check whether this is open before booking), and its own golf course.

Manor House Hotel in Castle Combe, Wiltshire Manor House Hotel in Castle Combe, Wiltshire

Our room was located in a picturesque lane of Cotswold-stone cottages adjacent to the manor house itself. Walk along the short lane to reach the rest of the village, where you will find a couple of pubs and churches, an impressive 14th century Market cross, and the old water pump beside it. With many listed buildings, Castle Combe is a charming village to explore, and has often been used as a backdrop for film and TV dramas including the 1966 film, Dr Doolittle.

Manor House Hotel in Castle Combe, Wiltshire
Manor House Hotel in Castle Combe, Wiltshire Manor House Hotel in Castle Combe, Wiltshire

Our room, on the first floor of one of the cottages, featured a grand four poster bed, and a spacious bathroom with a huge overflow-tub and a walk-in shower. It was quiet and comfortable, and a lovely space to relax.

Our dinner was taken in Bybrook Restaurant, located in the main hotel. The six course tasting menu is £95 per person. There is also a Sunday lunch menu, and a four-course tasting menu. (The a la carte menu is not currently available, so do check before booking).

If you want something less formal, you can order from an informal menu, to eat outside or in one of the lounge areas around the hotel. You can also choose to dine at Castle Inn, one of the pubs a couple of minutes walk into the village.

Bybrook Restaurant in Manor House Hotel in Castle Combe, Wiltshire Bybrook Restaurant in Manor House Hotel in Castle Combe, Wiltshire
Bybrook Restaurant in Manor House Hotel in Castle Combe, Wiltshire Bybrook Restaurant in Manor House Hotel in Castle Combe, Wiltshire
Bybrook Restaurant in Manor House Hotel in Castle Combe, Wiltshire Bybrook Restaurant in Manor House Hotel in Castle Combe, Wiltshire
Bybrook Restaurant in Manor House Hotel in Castle Combe, Wiltshire Bybrook Restaurant in Manor House Hotel in Castle Combe, Wiltshire
Bybrook Restaurant in Manor House Hotel in Castle Combe, Wiltshire Bybrook Restaurant in Manor House Hotel in Castle Combe, Wiltshire
Bybrook Restaurant in Manor House Hotel in Castle Combe, Wiltshire Bybrook Restaurant in Manor House Hotel in Castle Combe, Wiltshire
Bybrook Restaurant in Manor House Hotel in Castle Combe, Wiltshire Bybrook Restaurant in Manor House Hotel in Castle Combe, Wiltshire
Bybrook Restaurant in Manor House Hotel in Castle Combe, Wiltshire

As well as the courses listed in the menu, we were also served three amuse bouches, and tea or coffee with petits fours, which we enjoyed in one of the lounge areas.

During our midweek visit (in September 2019), the Bybrook restaurant was incredibly quiet, and therefore lacking a little in atmosphere. However the food and service were excellent, and the entire meal very enjoyable. Best of all is the lovely feeling of being able to stroll easily back to your room afterwards, rather than a drive or tube journey home!

Bybrook Restaurant in Manor House Hotel in Castle Combe, Wiltshire
Bybrook Restaurant in Manor House Hotel in Castle Combe, Wiltshire Bybrook Restaurant in Manor House Hotel in Castle Combe, Wiltshire

Breakfast is also served in Bybrook, with a decent self-serve selection of cold items, and a hot breakfast served to order. (This may have changed in order to observe post-lockdown hygiene and distancing guidelines, so please check what’s currently being offered before booking).

The Manor House is a lovely property, and a great choice for an indulgent one or two night break. It’s a good base for exploring the Cotswolds and visiting Bath, as well as the nearby Castle Combe Circuit, a must for motor-racing fans.

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20 Comments to "The Bybrook at Manor House Hotel | A Celebratory Treat in Castle Combe"

  1. Snigdha Nag

    Hi Kavey,
    We were in Castle Combe a little over 10 years ago. We went to Bybrook and had a wonderful meal. But best of all, we discovered a superb wine, a Gewürztraminer. We loved it so much we asked the staff about it. They soaked the label off the bottle so we could take it home. We ordered it for our wedding meal. We celebrated our 10th wedding anniversary last month. Thanks for this post, you brought back joyful memories. Good to see the restaurant is still fabulous.
    With love
    Snigdha

    Reply
    kaveyeats

    I really love this story, not only because of the lovely memory it brought back but also the excellent service they gave you in soaking that label off for you!

    Reply
  2. TeamNotfeafy

    Lovely to read your post and of your memorable stay, Kavey. It brought back some of our memories too! We had our honeymoon & a fair few anniversaries there in another era, when it was owned and run by Wing Commander & Mrs.Clegg. Their presence and unchanging staff made it feel as though staying with family, albeit a more formal, upmarket branch. The Cleggs ate lunches and dinners in the bar and restaurant; woe betide any suppliers whose produce didn’t live up to Mrs. C’s standards “This ham isn’t good enough. Too much fat. Tell Chef to send it back”.

    Packing hurriedly for our honeymoon meant M NL forgot clothes needed to meet the restaurant’s dress code. We explained, sighed and asked resignedly for room service. Instead, he was invited into a room behind reception and offered a rack of jackets, ties and assistance to choose something that best suited. On Sunday evenings the menu was replaced by a cornucopious cold buffet, with a table the width of the restaurant laid with every classic meat, fish, seafood, cheese, egg and salad dish imaginable, not to mention gargantuan desserts. So good to know that the spirit of the place lives on!

    Reply
    kaveyeats

    What a wonderful era to visit the Manor House that must have been! Thanks so much for sharing your memories!

    Reply
  3. Larch

    Castle Coombe is only 30 minutes away from me, but I have only been to the race track. I have been looking for somewhere to take my partner for his birthday, and I think I have just found the spot!

    Reply
    kaveyeats

    Oh how fab, I’m so pleased! Look at their midweek deals, we found that a really good way to get great value!

    Reply
  4. Krista

    The Manor House looks like somewhere I would love to stay. I love the old world charm of villages like this. And the food you got looks incredible too!

    Reply
  5. Sophia Bawany

    This looks like SUCH an idyllic getaway. The Manor House looks like a mixture of charm, luxury, and history. Just the type of place we would love to spend the weekend exploring. The food all looks soo good. We can’t wait to get back out into the world and see these fabulous places first hand.

    Reply
  6. Renata Green

    This seems to be the perfect location for a special occasion. I love the very British decor, but the food just blows me away: Little pieces of art! I can only imagine how heavenly all this must have tasted. Hm, better than just imagining is tasting, so I’ll bookmark this since I absolutely want to visit this place – to celebrate the end of the pandemic!

    Reply
  7. Kelly Francois

    The Manor House looks amazing and such a homey, quaint spot to spend a couple of days. I love the “cottage” decor and all of the food looks fantastic!

    Reply
  8. Archana Singh

    Castle Combe does look like a charming village indeed. Right from the building, to the interiors and food…all look very cute and worth visiting. I had no idea it was used as a backdrop for film and TV dramas including Dr Doolittle.

    Reply

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