From The Shropshire Star, 13th February 2006

£2m castle revamp set for autumn

A £2 million redevelopment at Ludlow Castle, the most expensive in its history, will be completed by October with new tea rooms, shops, exhibition hall and holiday units. Workmen are on course to complete a massive programme of works at the castle as part of a huge redevelopment by owner, Powis Estates.

Today castle custodian, Helen Duce, said: “We should have a new tea room open to the public in time for the Whitsun Holiday. We should also have three retail units selling a wide range of goods to people who are visiting the town.”

Mrs Duce said the castle’s first weddings could also be held by autumn, with work well on course in a new exhibition hall and suite. Mrs Duce said the scheme was slightly behind schedule but builders expected to catch up in the coming months.

Ludlow Castle from Grose's Antiquities, 1774.

Plans of the castle from the same source, 1776.

From the Shropshire Star, 13th November 2006

Castle work set to finish

A £2 million project to breathe new life into Ludlow Castle will be completed by Christmas, its owners said today. Today Thomas Till, from castle owner Powis Estates, said work had been progressing well.
He said the first phase of the improvements had been completed some months ago and the final building works would be finished before Christmas.

Mr. Till said a new restaurant, tearoom, artists’ studio and jewellery shop had opened earlier this year and proved popular. Builders were currently constructing three holiday units, so people could enjoy short breaks amid the splendour of Ludlow Castle. He added that work was also progressing well on an exhibition area called the Beacon Rooms, which would host weddings and other events.

Mr. Till said: “The building work is progressing well and we expect it to be finished before Christmas. After that, there will be a period of fitting out and that should not take too long.

“We hope to have all of the facilities up and running early in 2007.”

The huge redevelopment by Powis Estates follows years of planning by officials.

Castle custodian Helen Duce said: “The castle is very much the jewel in Ludlow’s crown and we are very excited by these developments. The programme will enhance the castle and make it even more attractive to visitors.”

From The Shropshire Star, 14th January 2007

1086 Restaurant Ludlow Castle

Rating: *** - I have always loved walking through the gateways of Ludlow Castle. I always imagine all the feet that have marched though its imposing structure over the centuries. As a schoolgirl I remember visiting the castle on school trips and while at college, right next door to this magnificent building, I used the building as the basis of many projects.

Now, as an adult, I don’t get much cause to step through those gates. Perhaps once or twice a year maximum is the extent of my visits, during Ludlow’s many festivals. How wonderful, I thought, then when the castle announced the opening of a tea room and restaurant inside the atmospheric walls. It would give me a good excuse to make full use of what is truly one of Shropshire’s tourist gems.

The restaurant is appropriately named 1086, the year the castle is first thought to have been developed, and is actually a part of Castle House, which adjoins the castle. However, you walk through the castle’s main gateway to reach it. The building has been beautifully and lovingly converted so that the essence of what the castle is all about - its history - is carefully entwined with modern facilities such as automatic doors.

The revamp was part of a multi-million pound project by owners Powys Estates to breathe new life into the building and it has certainly achieved that. The scheme was on the drawing board for several years and officials had to overcome a number of legal obstacles before securing approval. I for one am certainly glad they won this battle at the castle.

As you walk through the glass doors at the entrance of the restaurant complex you step into a corridor encased between the castle’s thick stone walls with a glass roof above. There is a row of about four tables on a small terrace on the left and I made a note to come back and enjoy a coffee there in the future. It is an extremely atmospheric place and you start to wonder what this part of the building was used for hundreds of years ago. Who might have sat where you are now?

The restaurant itself is divided into two small rooms, which each hold around four or five tables. At the moment they still overlook some building work within the castle but once those are removed you have a spectacular view of the castle’s inner section.

We went on a winter’s evening, when the castle was beautifully lit up. The dining rooms were stunning, retaining much of the traditional character of the building. However, my only complaint would be that it was a little cold inside. We sat at our table, next to the window overlooking the view of the castle, and were promptly served by a very polite young waiter, who was immaculately turned out. It felt very welcoming inside and even the menus were impressive, with wooden covers, carved with the name of the restaurant.

The menu was select with just three choices of starter, main course and dessert, so if you’re a fussy eater this is perhaps one to be careful of. However, the choices were traditional English meals, with vegetarian options, so it would suit most appetites. Plus we were informed that the menu changes on a weekly basis, so there is always something new on offer. It was also very reasonably priced. Two courses would set you back just £16.50, while three courses are £18.50.

I opted for the locally smoked salmon with traditional accompaniments to start, while my friend chose the roasted vine tomato soup with orange scented creme fraiche. We didn’t have to wait long before they were placed in front of us. In fact we had barely begun to tuck into our fresh bread rolls.

The starters were delicious and extremely well-presented. My salmon was succulent and there was plenty of it. And the soup was hot and bursting with flavours.

For main course, three of us opted for the braised Herefordshire beef with herb dumplings, while my other friend chose the turkey and ham pie with flaky pastry. All the meals were served with a selection of seasonal vegetables and we each had a miniature jacket potato. And in a town that prides itself on the quality of its food, the 1086 Restaurant also boasts locally sourced, fresh produce. The beef was very tender and the dumplings looked really tasty however, the meal was a touch flavourless for me. The turkey and ham pie was packed with meat and my friend soon devoured each mouthful, describing it as “delicious”.

The portions were more than adequate and none of us could even manage a pudding afterwards.

The drinks selection is somewhat limited, as the restaurant does not have a bar. But there is still ample to chose from with wines and spirits on the menu along with bottled beers and soft drinks.

The service was second to none. We were very well-looked after without being gushed over. It was an altogether very pleasant evening and I shall certainly be returning to sample the ever-changing menu again.
The restaurant is also open during the day for teas, coffees and light lunches and I would say it is the perfect accompaniment to a trip around Ludlow’s fine castle or even just to the town itself.

ADDRESS
1086 Restaurant, Ludlow Castle, Ludlow
01584 878796

MENU SAMPLE
Starters
Warm winter salad, Parma ham with poached figs, Crispy whitebait with a sipcy chilli mayonnaise.
Main courses:
Partridge stuffed with cranberries and pistachio, Pan fried skate wing with a caper, parsley and lemon butter, Vegetable bread and butter pudding with blue cheese sauce.
Desserts
Prune cognac and bitter chocolate tart, Honey and ginger syllabub.

ATMOSPHERE
Intriguing, mystic and pleasant.

SERVICE
Some of the best I have experienced. Extremely polite and courteous.

DISABLED FACILITIES
Fully accessible and has a disabled toilet.

SMOKING POLICY
No smoking throughout.

An old print of Ludlow castle in 1808, courtesy of www.antiqueprints.com

Two old postcards of Ludlow Castle, recently purchased. The first one is postmarked 1937.

Two engravings of Ludlow Castle dated 1813, and recently added to my collection.

Another old postcard of Ludlow Castle, recently purchased.

Great stuff, Andrew. Some of those walls must be 5 foot thick!

An absolutely beautiful castle - I imagine it must have been pretty spectacular in its glory days.