Set in seventy seven acres of delightful parkland and landscaped grounds, the fortified knights' residence Hazlewood Castle offers a distinctly different lifestyle experience in an idyllic rural location only 20 minutes from York and Leeds.

Hazelwood Castle has been in the family estate of Vavasours since Norman times and was first mentioned in 1086 in the Domesday Book. It remained in the family for nine hundred years. The castle enjoys panoramic views of Hazlewood's seventy-seven acres of parkland and woodland.

Hazlewood Castle, a former monastery and retreat has been thoughtfully and tastefully designed to offer a distinctly different lifestyle experience. Hazlewood combines the elegance of the Castle with the excellence of the food and service offered to all our guests. Whether visiting Hazlewood for the first time with friends or as a delegate at one of our major conferences you will always be greeted with a warm welcome.

We have twenty-one bedrooms and suites at Hazlewood. Nine of them are situated in the main castle and twelve are in our annex area "St Margarets" which is located in our picturesque Courtyard. All bedrooms are beautifully decorated to the highest standards, with great care taken to enhance their natural beauty. All bedrooms are individual and vary in shape and sizes, designed to provide a relaxing haven full of knickknacks (and little rubber ducks!).

Also available is an exclusive car park situated in our Courtyard for all of our overnight guests. Just follow the signs for 'Resident Guests Car Park'.

Rooms

All the rooms at Hazlewood Castle are special and individual by design and are named after flowers. They all have satellite television, trouser press, tea and coffee making facilities, telephones, modem links for e-mail and internet access, writing desks, natural daylight, ensuite bathrooms with bath, shower and Gilchrist and Soames toiletries, hairdryer and rubber ducks!!

The Hazlewood experience is unique and we recommend you take advantage of the opportunity to stay in such a wonderful castle with so many fabulous bedrooms. We have Tansy, an Oak beamed room, but mind your head! Dandelion has bumble bee patterned bedspreads and wallpaper, and in Lavender, you can watch the sunset whilst lying in bed and looking out of the window. The Hibiscus room is extremely different! Some say it resembles a boudoir, but guests return again and again. Some are said to be haunted, but that all depends in whether you believe in ghosts.................... well, do you?

Restaurant Anise

This modern French / Continental restaurant is inviting and a perfect place to visit at any time of day.

Open from 10am until 10pm each daily, we offer a special In Betweenie Menu from 10am until 11.30am and from 2.30pm until 5.30pm when you might want to call in to linger over a coffee and have a small snack.

Throughout lunchtime (12noon until 2pm) we offer a selection of dishes which are individually priced for ultimate freedom of choice with offerings ranging from Moules Frites and Tagine with Couscous, and still including the ever-popular Hazlewood Battered Cod with Chunky Chips.

In the evenings from 6pm until 9pm we offer a five choice per course dinner menu which changes on a regular basis and is priced at £21.00 for two courses and £25.00 for three courses.

We have a beautiful patio area immediately outside Anise where you are welcome to sit and enjoy our gardens – even if it’s a bit chilly it’s a lovely place to take time out.

Our kitchen is led by our French chef, Valerie Hamelin who was born and raised in Angers in the Loire Valley, she brings with her a wealth of experience and she is very happy to be cooking a number of dishes from her native country.

Conference Facilities

Hazlewood Castle is one of the top meeting places for people from the arts, press, law and business. Conferences, business meetings & special events at Hazlewood all have the advantage of modern day technology combined with the elegance of days gone by.

Hazlewood is not just another conference venue, we can organise outdoor activities, team building days, clay pigeon shooting and many more group activities.

Meeting Rooms

The Great Hall
Garden Room
State Drawing Room
Old Dining Room
Victoria Room
Old Chapel

Wedding Facilities

Your wedding day is special, we at Hazlewood pride ourselves In attention to detail in every aspect. From the planning of your menus to the detail in your photographs (black cats and all!!) Our experienced Wedding Co-ordinators will work with you throughout the planning process of your wedding, offering support and advice every step of the way.

The Castle’s renowned elegance and style lends prestige and panache to all weddings.


Ghost Sightings at Hazelwood Castle

• Tansy bedroom is mentioned in a ghost book (nothing to do with the hotel) as having a black habited monk making his presence felt in the room.

• Seen to come from the exit from St Margaret’s courtyard, a black dressed figure walks across and disappears into the yew tree.

• Same figure seen to cross from St Margaret’s across the courtyard to the laundry store area.

• A voice saying “goodnight” from Cookery School door to Alison Benson-Smith one night when she was leaving the Restaurant Anise to enter Reception but no-one there.

• A priest is believed to have walked from the direction of the Great Hall into the Library and disappear (they used to walk from the Great Hall to the tower to go down into the cloisters i.e. where the fireplace is now positioned in the Library).

• Lavender bedroom - When one of the housekeepers recently was knelt down facing the mirror in the bedroom which faces the bathroom, she became aware of someone in the bathroom and began a conversation believing another housekeeper was there, with no reply. She had a more determined look and there was no-one there!

• Rose bedroom - When entering the door, a shadow movement on the wall made one lady look up the corridor to Jasmine bedroom but no sighting..

• Over the Christmas period of 2003 one guest complained repeatedly overnight of a baby crying which kept her awake. No babies in the adjoining rooms.

Location

Hazelwood Castle is situated off the A64 between Leeds and York.
Take the A1(M) to the Bramham Roundabout, then follow the A64 towards Tadcaster & York. Take the A659 turnoff signposted Tadcaster and return to the opposite carriageway of the A64 towards Leeds, turning immediately left onto Paradise Lane (see information signs directing to Hazelwood Castle).