Chef News is sponsored by the the Kitchen Porters Club
The Killingworth Castle (Glympton Road Wootton, Woodstock Oxfordshire OX20 1EJ) is ending 2025 on a high with a hat trick of celebrations. Recently listed as the 17th best pub in the UK by the Good Food Guide, a refreshed listing as one of the Top 50 Gastropubs in the UK for 2026 and the appointment of new head chef Edward Dutton means that The Killingworth Castle is better than ever. And just in time for Christmas, the pub is now wrapped up in a big red bow.
A fiercely independent pub serving great food complete with comfortable rooms, to now be featured at number 17 in the Good Food Guide’s inaugural pub list and listed as one of the top 50 gastropubs in the UK for 2026 means The KillingworthCastle is a pub well worth visiting.
Determined to maintain their foodie status and always improve, the food is now under the leadership of Edward Dutton. Fresh out of the hallowed kitchens of Claridge’s he joins as Head Chef complete with an impressive pedigree in fine dining and is no stranger to rosettes, or stars. Passionate about championing British farming and supporting local producers, Edward’s farm to plate ethos is perfectly aligned with that of The Killingworth Castle. Supporting him on his mission is a newly appointed Sous Chef, Rob Mason who trained at The Cricketers in Clavering for Jamie Oliver’s dad as well as subsequent experience at Michelin and AA decorated venues including The Cottage and Hampton Manor.
Run by husband and wife team, Jim and Claire Alexander, they have been in Cotswold hospitality for 19 years. Having started at the deep end with The Ebrington Arms, a run-down village inn that they fully refurbished to award winning acclaim, and later sold, The Killingworth Castle came next.
Built in 1637, The Killingworth Castle is situated in the village of Wootton, just outside Woodstock. Bought as a wreck in 2012, Jim and Claire have lovingly restored it to its former glory. No stranger to success, The Killingworth Castle has been Michelin recommended for the last eight years and is the beholder of 3 AA Rosettes for three consecutive years (2024 – 2026) as well as being listed in Conde Nast’s Best Cotswold Restaurants of 2025.
Wrapping up all this good news will be a giant red bow. Located on the pub’s exterior and impossible to miss, the bow is a symbol of the Killingworth’s recent achievements, ongoing success and of course Christmas.
The aha Forum, in Partnership with Thomas Franks: Movement forms Community
Chef News is sponsored by the the Kitchen Porters Club
