The inspector spends a night at a ‘fancy’ 16th-century Bristol castle once owned by Henry VIII… and calls it ‘a historical delight’.

You have to like Tudor to like Thornbury Castle in Bristol. Even if you find this time difficult, the authenticity of this beautiful building is undisputed.

It was built about 500 years ago by the Duke of Buckingham, the second richest man in the country.

The problem was that Henry VIII was the richest, and in 1521 he summoned the duke and beheaded him for alleged treason.

The king briefly took possession of the castle and stayed here with his second wife, Anne Boleyn, who was of course also beheaded later.

It is now a hotel with 27 rooms and a member of the Relais & Chateaux group. That means fancy food and fancy prices.

My room is called De Percy, with Queen Mary I and Gloucester just down the hall. It has double oak headboards, a patterned carpet and window frames.

King Henry VIII took possession of the castle briefly in the 15th century and stayed here with his second wife, Anne Boleyn. Pictured is the hotel’s Jane Seymour Suite – named after the king’s third wife

Downstairs, the film set is central, with large fireplaces, a grand entrance hall, wood paneling and two dining rooms.

I was hoping for a quick bite and wasn’t quite expecting three courses for £78 each; six courses for £92.

I only wanted two courses for which I paid £60 – but that included a few canapés, an amuse bouche and homemade bread.

The inspector describes the hotel’s ground floor as a “central film set with large fireplaces, a great hall, wood paneling and two dining rooms”.

Everything was tasty, although small portions. If you see Brussels sprouts on the menu here, get ready for some green leaves. The service was great and my crisp white napkin was beautiful.

The table next to me was occupied by five guests from the Middle East. Finally, they all stood up and pointed to the ground.

“Did you lose something?” the maitre d’ hurriedly asked for help.

“No, there’s a spider,” said one of them.

Fortunately, the spider was located and disposed of. panic over.

Before breakfast I walked the immaculate grounds. Practical signs pointed to several features, including the bay windows of the Duke’s bedroom, considered the finest examples of Tudor windows in the country. And I loved the courtyard with its mounting block, fountain and hydrangeas still taking center stage.

All in all a historical treat.