The Castle Hotel At Taunton  

I had known about The Castle Hotel in Taunton (Somerset) for over a year before I decided that I wanted to stay there for a night and ‘check it out’. I was introduced to this venue on a familiarisation trip I went on back in March 2020, literally a week before Covid stopped us all in our tracks and we were all banned from travelling. We were shown around the Hotel, including the Kitchens, Restaurant, The Penthouse Suite and several of the different room types.

I was fortunate enough to secure a slight discount on my room, which was extremly generous of the Hotel seeing as I was staying in July, so peak season for them. I was given a beautiful large double bedroom, which for a single man, felt larger than my 1 bedroom flat that I have in Newbury.

As a gay man, with a mental disability (HF Autism), it is very important to me to know that I am booking and checking into a safe environment, a safe space, somewhere that does not discriminate and embraces inclusivity. The Castle Hotel did not disappoint. From checking in to dinning in the hotel restaurant, I was treated with respect and I never thought at any point I was being judged.

My room was bright and airy, with a lovely large en-suite that had a large bath that I was able to lie out in and soak in. At 6’2″ tall, I do like a bath that is big enough to allow me to lie fully stretched out in. The bed was extremly comfortable, which is very important to me as I have a lower back issue, so a poor mattress can lead to mobility issues the next day. There were tea/coffee making facilities, although I tend not to use these. I much prefer to enjoy a cuppa in the Hotel itself. There was plenty of hanging space for clothes etc, and the whole room was very clean, no odours, and very welcoming. As I am a person who mainly uses a bedroom purely for sleeping in, I would definitely say this room offered me everything I needed for my stay. I had a solid nights sleep, and was not disturbed by other guests in the corridors or entering/leaving their bedrooms.

My evening meal was an absolute delight, and in my opinion, offered exceptional quality and value for money. As I grow older, I find that I eat less meat, but I do love a chicken caesar salad, and what I received was definitely one of the tastiest I have ever eaten. I have been told I am fussy and often difficult to cater for, but my meal definitely hit the nail squarely on the head.

What you must take into consideration when looking to book this hotel, is there are no bedrooms on the ground floor, and the lift, which isn’t large, does not go up to all floors, so if you have mobility issues, then it would definitely be worth talking to reception before booking.

There is parking available directly oustide the hotel, and I had no issues securing a space. You will need reception to validate your parking ticket so you can exit the car park when leaving. I am not sure what the availability to park would be like when the hotel is fully booked, so it would be worth checking with reception about alternative parking just in case.

Overall, I couldn’t fault The Castle Hotel Taunton. For me it surpassed all my expectations and I was made to feel very very welcome by all the staff. So, would I recommend this Hotel? The answer is so easy….. YES!!

Even well behaved dogs are welcome, which is always a bonus when travelling. I am looking forward to staying here again later this year!!