The Killingworth Castle has started 2026 on a high after securing its place once again in the Top 50 Gastropubs in the UK, ranking at number 37 for the year.
Located on Glympton Road in Wootton near Woodstock, the historic pub has climbed an impressive 42 places from last year’s list.
The latest recognition follows another recent accolade, with The Killingworth Castle named the 17th best pub in the UK by the Good Food Guide, under the leadership of new head chef Rob Mason.
Food remains firmly at the heart of the pub’s offering, with guests able to choose from a variety of menus including à la carte options available at lunch and dinner, a newly introduced set lunch menu, and tasting menus set to launch soon for diners keen to sample a broader range of dishes.
The à la carte menu features starters such as aged beef tartar with cacklebean egg yolk and capers, or cured chalk stream trout with buttermilk and caviar.
Main courses include confit pork belly with baked apple and mustard, alongside roasted loin of venison served with celeriac and black garlic. Desserts range from classic sticky toffee pudding to a carefully curated cheese selection.
Available Wednesday to Friday from 12.00pm to 2.00pm, the new set lunch menu is priced at £33.00 for two courses or £39.00 for three. Dishes include butternut squash soup, slow-braised ox cheek with celeriac, cavolo nero and black garlic, followed by woodruff panna cotta with forced Yorkshire rhubarb.
The Killingworth Castle is run by husband-and-wife team Jim and Claire Alexander, who have spent 19 years in Cotswold hospitality.
After restoring and successfully running The Ebrington Arms, they purchased The Killingworth Castle in 2012, refurbishing the 1637-built property from a state of disrepair into the award-winning destination it is today.
The pub has been Michelin recommended for the past eight years, holds three AA Rosettes for the third consecutive year (2024 to 2026), and was listed in Condé Nast’s Best Cotswold Restaurants of 2025.
Leading the kitchen, Rob Mason brings extensive Michelin and rosette experience, having trained at The Cricketers in Clavering and worked at venues including Hampton Manor and The Cottage in the Woods, Malvern.
Independent, family-run and multi award-winning, The Killingworth Castle continues to cement its reputation as one of the UK’s standout gastropubs.
