Harley Young stays overnight at the affordable Castleton spot

Sometimes its nice to have an evening away from home. Whether you’re escaping the kids and leaving them with their grandparents, you managed to bag a last-minute pet sitter, or you’re just looking for a change of scenery, a night at a hotel doesn’t have to be saved for special occasions. 

And, when rooms are as good value for money as The Royal Toby Hotel & Restaurant in Castleton, Rochdale, you don’t even need an excuse to treat yourself to a clean, comfy bed and cooked breakfast made for you in the morning. 

2024 07 31 The Royal Toby Outside
Outside The Royal Toby Image: Confidentials

The menu at The Royal Toby restaurant is of a decent size and focuses on popular British dishes while Cenetta’s is ideal for fans of modern Italian cuisine - it’s also got a rather stylish gothic style bar which was previously the altar at the Notre Dame Convent, making it extra unique. 

We dined at The Royal Toby restaurant; a tastefully-decorated space that gives off 1920s vibes. The menu features pub classics like chicken Kiev, prawn cocktail and homemade pies as well as homely and hearty desserts including sticky toffee pudding and custard. 

2024 07 31 The Royal Toby Prawns
Prawn cocktail Image: Confidentials
2024 07 31 The Royal Toby Soup
Carrot and corriander soup Image: Confidentials
2024 07 31 The Royal Toby Pie
Braised ale pie Image: Confidentials
2024 07 31 The Royal Toby Chicken Kiev
Chicken Kiev Image: Confidentials
2024 07 31 The Royal Toby Creme Brulee
Creme Brûlée Image: Confidentials
2024 07 31 The Royal Toby Treacle Sponge
Sticky toffee pudding Image: Confidentials

The rooms at The Royal Toby have recently been given a facelift, still in keeping with the colours and themes of the pub downstairs but bringing them into the 21st century and freshening them up a bit with newer facilities. 

A bigger flatscreen telly wouldn’t go amiss, but, for the price, its got everything you could need (including the all-important high speed Wi-Fi and tea and coffee-making facilities) for a one or two night stay. 

2024 07 31 The Royal Toby Thumb
The rooms Image: The Royal Toby
2024 07 31 The Royal Toby Bathroom
The en-suite bathrooms Image: Confidentials

Breakfast in the morning is served back downstairs in The Royal Toby restaurant, with a decent spread of continental items including sweet and savoury pastries, porridge and fresh fruit ready to dive into at your leisure. Toast, tea and juices can also be found on the table by the continental options. 

2024 07 31 The Royal Toby Continental
Continental options Image: Confidentials

Being someone who never turns down a cooked breakfast, I ordered a Full English from the hot food menu - other options included eggs Benedict (which Dave went for) and scrambled eggs. 

2024 07 31 The Royal Toby Eggs Benedict
Dave's eggs Benedict Image: Confidentials

Unlike most Full English breakfasts you order from a menu, the eggs are the only things made in the kitchen then served to you; the rest of the elements that makes up your breakfast are served via bain maries laid out in a row along the side of the restaurant. 

2024 07 31 The Royal Toby Bain Maries
Ban the bain-maries Image: Confidentials

Personally, I’d scrap this and serve it all together on one plate as it seems like an unnecessary added step. The meat and eggs were of good quality though, which made up for the musical chairs first thing in a morning. 

2024 07 31 The Royal Toby Full English
Full English with poached eggs Image: Confidentials

Currently, an overnight stay, with a 3-course dinner at The Royal Toby or adjoining Italian restaurant Cenetta, and breakfast for two, will only set you back £125-165 depending on which day you stay. When you’re paying as little as £62.50 per person for all that, you can’t really grumble, can you? 

To find out more about dining offers and overnight stays at The Royal Toby, head to theroyaltobyhotel.co.uk.

The Royal Toby Hotel, Manchester Road, Castleton, Rochdale OL11 3HF


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