Amberley Castle

Accommodation
Rooms at Amberley Castle have individual furnishings with antiques and exquisite fabrics. Rest your head on a Vispring bed with crisp white linen. Forget about your worries by using l’Occitane skin care and bath lotions in the en-suite bathroom with a bathtub or walk-in shower.

Room options
Classic Rooms: Bramber overlooking 17th century Manor House and flowerbeds; Camber overlooking the dry moat, lakes towards the South Downs; Knepp with a present-day style.

Superior Rooms: Bodiam overlooking dry moat, lakes towards the South Downs; Rye overlooking the castle grounds.

Junior Deluxe Rooms: Winchelsea with king-size bed and overlooking the dry moat, lakes towards the South Downs; Pevensey with king-size bed and shared entry to the 14th-century tower; Crowhurst overlooking the 17th century Manor House and flowerbeds.

Premier Deluxe Rooms: Chichester with four-poster bed and a fireplace overlooking the grounds and countryside; Arundel with granite fireplace and beautiful Cathedral windows; Amberley with granite fireplace overlooking the castle grounds;

Lewes with four-poster bed, separate lounge area overlooking the dry moat, lakes towards the South Downs; Herstmonceux with entry to 14th-century battlements overlooking the castle grounds; Hastings with exposed beams overlooking the castle grounds.

Restaurant
The restaurant at Amberley Castle is known for its outstanding cuisine; situated on the first floor, there are two dining areas with their own charm. The Queen’s Room is known for its open fire and barrel-vaulted ceiling dating back to the 12th century. However, the Great Room was built in 1165 and is an exceptional example of Norman architecture fitted with an open fireplace, oak flooring, tapestries, and suits of armour.

Facilities
In 2003, the castle celebrated its 900th anniversary and welcomed an 18-hole putting course where guests can enjoy a round of golf or marvel at the stunning views of the South Downs whilst taking a stroll through the garden.

This property possesses over 12 acres of delightful formal gardens within the castle walls, with an upper courtyard that offers the perfect location for afternoon tea. Here you will find camelias and magnolias in bloom and lovely ponds filled with Koi carp.

At Amberley Castle, there is a hard tennis court by the lake where you get spectacular views of the South Downs countryside. Croquet is available for all guests in front of the castle battlements within the grounds. The reception team is happy to assist or give information as well as provide equipment to play.

History
Caedwalla, King of Wessex, gifted the land where Amberley Castle sits to Bishop Wilfrid in 683 AD. A timber-framed hunting lodge built in 1103 laid the groundwork for the castle’s current buildings. Over the next 400 years, the lodge transformed into a reinforced manor house under several resident bishops’ supervision.

After the Civil War ended in 1651, Amberley Castle was taken from the Church by Parliament and sold to a Mr John Butler, a cloth merchant from London. With the Monarchy restored in 1660, King Charles II visited the property twice and gave it back to the Bishopric. The Butler family continued living at the castle for another two generations.

In 1872 church commissioners sold the castle to Lord Zouche, who was the owner of Parham House. He used the property as a hunting lodge until the 15th Duke of Norfolk bought it in 1893. Time passed, and the Emmet family bought Amberley Castle in 1926 until they sold it in 1982. By 1989 the castle got converted into a hotel that enjoyed an international reputation for luxury.

Eventually, in October 2011, Andrew and Christina Brownsword bought Amberley Castle, and it has been a member of Brownsword Hotels ever since.

Touring Guide
Amberley Castle is the perfect location to stay for your Private Tour of England with a personal guide. Take the opportunity to explore South Downs National Park and go for an English sparkling wine tasting. Pay a visit to the beautiful Chichester Cathedral, make your way down to the harbour or unwind at sandy West Wittering Beach. Half an hour away lies Petworth House that houses one of the most notable collections of 17th-century paintings.

Only twenty minutes away, you’ll find Arundel Castle, the great fortress in the south. If you’re looking for an outdoor activity and food experience, then the Goodwood Estate is the place to go. You could even go on a Private Tour of Brighton, Arundel and the Sussex Downs.