Oundle's Attractions - Barnwell Country Park

The area around the hotel is full of wonderful days out for all of the family - Barnwell Country Park is a lovely example of this. Open all day, every day it is a beautiful spot to take the kids, with a exciting fenced play area and plenty of space to use up all of their energy!

Admission to the park is free, although there is a small charge for parking in the pay and display parking.

Those fond of fishing will find the park a delight as the waters at Barnwell Country Park include two former gravel pit lakes, and "the Backwater" a streamy side channel of the River Nene.


The park has around 5.9ha of willow fringed lakes and 1km of river bank of which fishing is permitted on North Lake (2.48ha), Mill Lake (1.43ha). The lakes and backwater contain a natural head of coarse fish. No formal stocking has taken place.

The lakes gained quite a reputation for specimen carp with the fishery record for mirror carp standing at a massive 46lb. Unfortunately this fish died in 2005; however fish to over 30lb are still present. Pike to 28lb have been caught and other species include Tench, Roach, Perch, Chubb, Bream and Eels.

Photograph by Chris Holmes

The park is also a wonderful spot for walks, with plenty of quiet spots by the lakes to watch the sun set. We highly recommend you visit the park on your stay with us.

Our Menus

Here at the Talbot we have a real passion for good food, with locally-sourced produce a huge feature of our menus, as well as the very best of British ingredients.

We'd love to have you join us for a meal - be it just a light snack in our bar area, a full dinner in our gorgeous new Garden Room Eatery or a special evening around our Oak Table.


You can enjoy a meal in our Lounge, Eatery or Bar areas from the following times:-

Monday to Sunday

Residential Breakfast - 7.30am to 10.00am
Breakfast/Brunch - 8.00am to 12.00pm
Lunch - 12.00pm to 2.30 pm
Afternoon Tea - 12.00pm to 6.00pm
Dinner - 6.00pm to 9.30pm

Private Dining is available.


To download our menus, click the links below:

• Breakfast
• Lunch and Afternoon Tea
• Main Menu
• Dessert Menu
• Wine List

For evening meals, parties, large groups or Sunday Lunch we highly recommend you book a table with us. To do so, please email the reception team at : talbot@bpcmail.co.uk or phone : 01832 273621

The Barnwell Feature Room

Our hotel boasts the finest in feature rooms, if a standard double simply isn't enough! These light, spacious rooms are all individually designed and named after notable, beautiful local villages.

The Barnwell Feature Room is one of our largest feature rooms and boasts a truly gorgeous purple colour scheme. The large double bed is wonderfully soft and the bathroom is stunning!

To book the Woodnewton Feature Room for your stay with us, please visit our website at : http://www.thetalbot-oundle.com/ or ring our friendly reception team on : 01832 273621

Oundle Cinema - Autumn Season 2012

The Oundle Cinema has released their line-up for the Autumn Season and we at The Talbot can't wait to see some fantastic films on our doorstep!

All films start at 7:45pm, with doors opening at 7:15pm for ticket sales. This makes the cinema ideal for a great evening out - why not pop into our bar or eatery for a meal, few drinks or a snack with friends before taking a very short walk down the road to the cinema?

Coming up this Autumn:

Sunday 9th September
The Artist (PG) - "A silent movie star meets a young dancer, but the arrival of talking pictures sends their careers in opposite directions."

Friday 14th September
Carnage (15) - "Two pairs of parents hold a cordial meeting after their sons are involved in a fight, though as their time together progresses, increasingly childish behavior throws the evening into chaos."

Sunday 14th October
The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (12A) - "British retirees travel to India to take up residence in what they believe is a newly restored hotel. Less luxurious than its advertisements, the Marigold Hotel nevertheless slowly begins to charm in unexpected ways."

Friday 19th October
The Way (12A) - "A father heads overseas to recover the body of his estranged son who died while traveling the "El camino de Santiago," and decides to take the pilgrimage himself."

Sunday 4th November
Salmon Fishing in the Yemen (12A) - "A fisheries expert is approached by a consultant to help realize a sheik's vision of bringing the sport of fly-fishing to the desert and embarks on an upstream journey of faith and fish to prove the impossible possible."

Friday 16th November
The Angels' Share (15) - "Narrowly avoiding jail, new dad Robbie vows to turn over a new leaf. A visit to a whisky distillery inspires him and his mates to seek a way out of their hopeless lives."

Friday 7th December
Once Upon a Time In Anatolia (15) - "A group of men set out in search of a dead body in the Anatolian steppes."

Friday 14th December
The Five-Year Engagement (15) - "One year after meeting, Tom proposes to his girlfriend, Violet, but unexpected events keep tripping them up as they look to walk down the aisle together."


Tickets are just £5, with under 18s only £3.

We will post remainders as the days approach so you don't miss out on this fantastic opportunity to see the best in cinema without having to travel into the city!

Teas at The Talbot

At The Talbot we are serious about our teas and coffees!  All of our coffee comes fair-trade and from sustainable, ethical plantations and all of our teas are provided by Tea Palace, who create the finest in loose leaf tea varieties.

Tea Types

We provide four types of teas at The Talbot - Black Teas, Green Teas, White Teas and Organic Herbal an Fruit Infusions. This means there is a tea you'll love perfect for any time of the day or night - our caffeine-free 'Pure Organic Peppermint' is perfect to settle down with!

Black Teas
Palace Brew - An energising and full bodied blend of Assam and Ceylon black teas.
Finest Darjeeling - A superior single estate black tea with a deliciously smooth, aromatic taste.
Assam Superior -  Full-bodied, strong and malty black tea.
Palace Earl Grey - A delicious, classically flavoured cup with a sophisticated, aromatic taste.
Lapsang Souchong - A distinctive tea, its leaf smoked over firewood for an intensely smoky flavour.

Above - 'Angel Peach' Green Tea by Tea Palace

Green Teas
Organic Chinese Sencha - An organic green tea with a crisp, light refreshing taste.
Angel Peach - The finest China sencha green tea and sunflower blossoms giving a fragrant peach flavour.

Above - 'Jasmine Silver Needles' White Tea by Tea Palace

White Teas
Jasmine Silver Needles - The delicate taste of white tea with the scent of jasmine blossoms, packed with antioxidants, this tea is refreshing and energising.

Above - 'Pure Organic Peppermint' Organic Herbal Tea by Tea Palace

Organic Herbal and Fruit Infusions
Pure Organic Peppermint -  Created with certified organic peppermint leaves and nothing else. Calming and soothing to the digestive system and naturally caffeine-free.
Pure Organic Camomile Flowers - A calming, soothing golden infusion.
Wild Berries - A delicious infusion of bilberries, elderberries, raspberries, strawberries and blackberries.

Our teas are served all day and are wonderful with a tasty treat from our pastry cabinet. Why not visit us today and experience the taste of pure loose leaf teas - you won't touch a teabag again!

Mary Queen of Scots Feature Room

The most famous room in The Talbot is arguably the Mary Queen of Scots room. Situated at the very top of the stairs which she is said to have walked down to her execution, this room is packed with character and history.

It boasts a huge double bed, a sitting area in a Scottish tartan theme, a lovely bathroom and views from the window of the historic Oundle Market Place.

To book the Mary Queen of Scots Room for your stay with us, please visit our website at : http://www.thetalbot-oundle.com/ or ring our friendly reception team on : 01832 273621

Oundle Farmers Market - Tomorrow

Some of the lovely fresh local produce available on the market!

Just in case you forgot, the Oundle Farmers Market is tomorrow (Saturday 11th August). The market is held on the 2nd Saturday of every month - so don't miss it!

From pies to potatoes, local brew, burgers and everything in-between, the Farmers Market sells the very best in locally-produced food. Pop in to see us at the Talbot for lunch or a spot of afternoon tea after you've taken a leisurely stroll around the very best in British - we are only a few steps away from the market, opposite the war memorial.

About Oundle

Oundle Market Place - Photo by Baz Richardson

The Talbot Hotel, Eatery and Coffee House is located in the heart of Oundle, an unspoilt, historic market town on the River Nene. We are about 68 miles north of London and 12 miles south-west of Peterborough, which offers high speed rail journeys into the capital. 

Oundle has been inhabited since the Iron Age and was originally used as a market and trading place for local craftsmen and farmers. Unlike many other local settlements, Oundle was unaffected by the Black Death in the mid-14th Century!

The Laxton School, just in front of the Cloisters. Photograph by Simon Holder.

Oundle is perhaps most famous for its grammar school, which has stood in some form since 1465. The Oundle School and Laxton School attracts students from around the globe and boasts a huge range of facilities as well as being host to a number of art and music events throughout the year.

The Courtyard of The Talbot,  looking towards the oldest part of the hotel.

Among the oldest buildings in Oundle is our very own Talbot Hotel. This was first constructed in timber and used as a holstelry for pilgrims, but then rebuilt with stone from the ruins of nearby Fotheringhay Castle. Once a brewing town, famous for its many breweries, Oundle boasts many fine public houses in addition to the Talbot Bar. These include the Rose and Crown, the Ship Inn, The Angel and The George.

In addition to places to drink and learn (although possibly not in that order), Oundle boasts a number of beautiful churches. St Peter's has the largest steeple in the area (you may see it as you approach Oundle), but there are also Methodist, Baptist and Roman Catholic churches.

An example of a stall at the Oundle Farmers Market.

Foodies will love all the local fare on offer at the Farmers Market, which is held in the Market Place on the second Saturday of every month. If you'd rather have someone cook it for you, The Talbots Eatery menu offers a range of delicious dishes served all day featuring the very best in local and British produce.

There is plenty of local entertainment to be found, with the Stahl Theatre offering a range of plays and films, while the Oundle International Festival is a music festival and pipe organ school, founded in 1985, which provides many fantastic events thoughout the year. In addition, the Oundle Festival of Literature showcases the very best authors, with plays, events, workshops and guest speakers throughout the early Summer.

A competitor at the World Conker Championships. Photograph by Bambography.

If you prefer your entertainment to be slightly sillier in nature, the World Conker Championships, located in Ashton, a village nearby, may be more up your street. The championship takes place in the second Sunday of October and features the games, but also real ale, good food,  Morris Dancers and other traditional local entertainment - making it a great day out for the family!

We will be blogging about all the latest events and festivals in and around Oundle to enjoy - so please bookmark us. If you run a local blog or run any local events, please drop us a comment or email Rebecca at talbot@bpcmail.co.uk and we will link back to you here!

Oundle's Attractions - Oundle Museum

The Oundle Museum is one of Oundles gems, packed full of a wealth of information on Oundle and the local area. 

Oundle Museum is in the former Courthouse and is an independent museum wholly staffed by volunteers.

The museum has won numerous awards and features displays about Oundles history from the prehistoric to modern times including many exhibits from the Roman, Saxon and Medieval periods. Next to their permanent display gallery  features an exhibition room which changes each year - so there is always something new to see for the young and old alike.

The Museum is open March to November on Saturdays, Sundays and Bank Holidays from 2 pm. to 5 pm and for groups by special arrangement. The museum has free car parking nearby and admission is free, plus it is brilliant for a visit when the weather is a little wet!

We are indebted to the Museum and Jim Irving for his enormous help in researching the past of the Talbot Hotel, and we were honoured to have him officially open our hotel after the renovations in June. 

Just a short walk from the hotel, we strongly encourage you to visit and learn more about Oundles rich history.

Good Luck, Mark!

We were pleased to welcome Mark Rogers and his lovely team of supporters this morning at our hotel. He is cycling from Oundle to Edinburgh in aid of Cancer Research and is doing fantastically well with his fundraising so far!

Of course, we'd love you to help support him further - take a look at his JustGiving page for more details : http://www.justgiving.com/mark-rogers88

A History of the Hotel

Image courtesy of the British Museum

The Talbot boasts a long and rich history, with its origins dating from 638 AD when a group of monks, in order to give food, drink and shelter to pilgrims and travellers, established a hostel on the site of the present building. This hostel was attached to an old monastery, built by Bishop Wilfred on the site now occupied by part of the Oundle public school.

An example of a Heralds Tabret

The Talbot Hotel was formerly known as the Tabret (a form of tabard worn by heralds), with the oldest part of the hotel boasting a medieval, timber frame on the Southern side with the New Street arched entrance and stunning original features.

An example of the graffiti scratched into the glass in our Gallery. This was made using diamond engagement rings and the messages are notes of love - for example, this one reads "My Pretty Polly Winter of Cork, in Ireland no girl can stitch so well - 1755"

The principle feature of the Talbot is a first floor, galleried walkway linking the main southern wing to the New Street frontage. This, originally open, gallery was glazed during the 16th century. This glazing still remains today and is interesting for its authentic 16th and 17th Century graffiti!

A painting of Mary, which hangs in our hotel.

Of course, it is the story of Mary, Queen of Scots that resonates most strongly in the hotels history. Queen Mary spent the final years of her 18 year imprisonment by her cousin, Queen Elizabeth I, in nearby Fotheringhay Castle.


She was tried for treason and executed in the castle’s great hall on the 8th February 1587. The royal executioner stayed at the Talbot on the night before the execution and it is rumoured he enjoyed one too many of our locally-brewed ales!

The famous haunted staircase, which Mary is reported to have descended to meet her execution.

When Mary’s son, James I, became king on Elizabeth’s death he immediately ordered the castle to be demolished. William Whitwell rebuilt the main part of the Talbot Hotel (which was then primarily a timber-framed building) in the stone transferred from Fotheringhay in 1626. The hotel’s principle staircase was, purportedly, also transferred from the castle. It is believed that Mary descended this very same staircase to her execution.

Our stunning courtyard, looking down towards the oldest parts of the hotel, with the new eatery on the left.

Present day, the Talbot recently completed an extensive renovation, with an all-new glass fronted eatery, completely renovated bedrooms with modern bathrooms and many of the original period features meticulously restored to their former glory, including some beautiful original open fireplaces, exposed oak frames and, of course, the 16th Century gallery.

Welcome!

The Talbot Hotel, Eatery and Coffee House.

A very warm welcome to our new blog! Here we will keep you updated on all of the happenings at our newly-refurbished hotel, with plenty of photos, offers and tips for the best stay with us and in Oundle.

Photograph by Simon Holder

Just ten minutes from the A1 and A14, the Talbot Hotel, Eatery & Coffee House, is nestled in the heart of the beautiful market town of Oundle, Northamptonshire, which is situated in the picturesque and unspoilt Nene Valley.

 

The Hotel’s origins date from 638 AD when a group of Monks established a hostelry, on the present site, in order to provide food, drink and shelter to pilgrims and travellers visiting the monastery

 It was in the 17^th Century that the present building was purchased and rebuilt in stone, transferred from nearby Fotheringhay. 

With plenty of history including the staircase from Fotheringhay Castle, which is allegedly the very staircase that Mary Queen of Scots was led down to her execution, the Talbot Hotel has recently been updated and refurbished  to an exceedingly high standard.


The ground floor boasts a conservatory which overlooks the courtyard and Tudor entrance, warmed at night by the soft exterior lighting and roaring open fires within. All the public areas are light and airy making it an ideal place to meet friends, eat and drink.


The restaurant offers a delightful mouth watering menu to include full afternoon tea, lunch and evening menu, all prepared with the finest locally sourced ingredients.

With 34 bedrooms, suites and feature bedrooms, and 3 meeting rooms, the Talbot Hotel, Eatery and Coffee House looks forward to offering guests a warm, friendly and professional welcome.