Castle Envelopes Signal Menu Not Murder as Tasting Bookings Spike

Guests at Langley Castle could be forgiven for thinking they’ve walked into the game-play of The Traitors and not just because of the medieval castle ambience.   The reason lies in the fact some are finding a sealed envelope in their rooms, akin to the murder envelopes dispatched from the Traitor’s turret.

Luckily, in the case of Langley Castle guests, these do not seal the recipient’s fate.  Instead, they contain details of the tasting menu they will enjoy that evening, if they have decided to opt for this dining delight.  All tasting dishes have been exquisitely choreographed by the castle hotel’s new culinary director, Mark Greenaway, acclaimed for his eateries in Edinburgh and London and known for his cookery books and TV appearances.

This all adds a huge air of excitement to the affair, which comprises seven courses served in the atmospheric 2AA Rosette Josephine Restaurant at Langley Castle.  All are chosen taking into account the guest’s dietary preferences and all have the inimitable creativity associated with Greenaway’s food, as well as complexity underpinning seeming simplicity.  Add to that a true focus on food provenance and in-season ingredients and themes and it offers an exceptional Northumberland dining experience.

The tasting menu takes the diner on a true flavour and texture extravaganza, delighting the taste buds and allowing them to explore dishes they might otherwise not have ventured to select.

The flamboyance of the envelopes is truly getting guests hooked.  A large majority currently keep the secrecy and surprise alive, by not opening the envelope at all, only breaking the seal to read the descriptions of dishes once enjoyed. Whether they open the envelope ahead of dining or not, they can take it home as a wonderful keepsake.  

Since Mark Greenaway came to the helm and this theatrical approach was adopted, the popularity of the tasting menu has soared.  News has spread and the castle’s Josephine Restaurant is now generating tasting menu bookings from non-residents, as well as guests. 

Another change sits alongside the non-resident bookings, as Langley Castle has dialled up the romance within Josephine’s.  A more intimate atmosphere within the seven-foot-thick medieval stone walls has been created through a reduction in the number of tables, which couples are loving. It does make booking ahead a must, if you wish to dine in Josephine’s, but it is well worth that extra bit of effort.

Mark Greenaway says, “The Langley Castle tasting menu has never been as popular and is providing guests with a fabulous way of passing an evening here, in a way that adds to the whole incredible experience. We take guests on a culinary voyage into the unknown, enabling them to taste dishes and foods they may otherwise never have tried.

“My belief is that, when you come to an amazing place like Langley Castle, food should be part of the entertainment and that is what we are achieving.  Day by day, we are becoming a talked-about destination dining venue.”

The tasting menu costs £85 for the seven courses, or £120 if paired with a selection of five curated wines.  The sense of theatre comes at no extra charge!  Head to www.langleycastle.co.uk to discover more about the castle and to book a table.  

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Editors notes

Langley Castle, built in 1350, is located in Langley-on-Tyne, Northumberland and is one of the few authentic, fortified medieval castles in England. It has a rich history, with strong links to Jacobite rebellions, is located just a stone's throw from the World Heritage Site of Hadrian's Wall and boasts features including battlements, seven-feet-thick walls, window seats set into the walls and the best example of medieval garderobes in Europe. It is one of the most exquisite wedding venues in the north and also offers a wide range of options when it comes to exclusive use, with the castle being available for weddings, family celebrations, Bar Mitzvahs and Bat Mitzvahs, D&D-style events and a wide variety of corporate functions.