Service charge: from 1st April all food and beverage items, except for breakfast, will be subject to a 10% discretionary service charge (which means you are free to opt out). We have done this in order to comply better with HMRC guidelines.

Local wedding parties: we regret that we cannot accommodate guests attending local weddings, who merely want a place to stay. Experience has shown that wedding guests' needs are not compatible with our regular guests who value the hotel for its good food and peaceful ambience. We know this decision does not go down well but are prepared to take the flak in order to protect those who support us year in, year out.

Special offers: all bookings made on these terms are subject to pre-payment, with no refund available for cancellation.

Festive packages: St. Valentine's, Easter, summer Bank Holiday, Christmas and New Year are all subject to special booking and cancellation terms. These will be notified at the time of booking and can also be obtained in writing on request.

Group bookings: the maximum number of rooms that can be booked for any one night is five (5). We require 21 days' notice of cancellation or part-cancellation or any change to the date(s) of the original booking or appropriate penalty charges will be applied. (One night's standard bed & breakfast rate per room affected, per night affected.). The booking must either be guaranteed with credit card details supplied by each room's occupant(s) or the organiser will be required to guarantee all the rooms on his/her credit card. For lunch or dinner reservations of six to 10 persons (maximum) our private dining room, the Parlour, will be used.

Smoking: the entire hotel site, apart from the main public terrace, is non-smoking. If a bedroom has to be taken off to allow for deep-cleaning and airing before another guest can occupy it, we will charge an extra night's stay – at the prevailing B&B rate – to the credit card given to secure the booking.

No single Friday or Saturday nights: we normally require a minimum 2-night stay at the weekend. However, if a midweek multi-night stay has extended into the Friday, we will always sell the Saturday night on its own so it's worth an ask. If we happen to have rooms unsold for a weekend just approaching it is also worth an ask for either a single Friday or Saturday night. In both cases, the room will always be sold on a dinner, bed and breakfast basis.

2-night weekend packages: Fridays and Saturdays are always sold as a 2-night dinner, bed and breakfast package, except on rare occasions, see above. If you are worried about arriving in time for Friday dinner it can be changed to a 3-course Sunday lunch.

Single occupancy: Our Good House and Best Garden rooms are available for single occupancy. Please speak to reservations for availability and precise terms.

Bringing own wine: should guests wish to bring their own wine to consume in the restaurant, it may only be by prior consultation with Tim Sunderland – a corkage charge will be made. Guests are welcome to bring their own wine or champagne to consume in their rooms but if ice buckets, glasses, etc., are requested then a service charge of £10 will be added to the final account.

Parking: we have enough parking on site for nearly every room but, when we are full, guests may occasionally have to use the (free) parking in the village square, by the castle, or outside the hotel. There are no traffic wardens in operation. Please always come to reception first anyway so we can help with bags.