The Ostrich Inn, Colnbrook, Berkshire
Overview
The Ostrich Inn combines a characterful pub stay with a convenient location in Colnbrook, near Windsor and Heathrow. Its timber-framed exterior and atmospheric interiors reflect a long coaching-inn heritage, while accommodation ranges from double and twin rooms to a distinctive four-poster suite and a serviced apartment.
With open fires, hearty food and a shared garden, it offers somewhere to unwind after exploring the surrounding area. Its reputation for hauntings and sinister folklore also makes it an intriguing choice for a spooky break.
The Property
The inn offers several accommodation styles. Standard Double and Superior Double/Twin rooms are located on the ground floor and have en-suite bathrooms, tea and coffee facilities, a hairdryer and a small desk. Superior Double rooms are available on the first floor.
For a more distinctive stay, the King John Suite has a handcrafted four-poster bed, exposed original beams, a copper roll-top bath and a feature fireplace. A dressing area and walk-in shower complete the accommodation. The first-floor Feature Room offers a bath within the bedroom and an en-suite toilet, with additional sleeping arrangements available on request.
The Ostrich Nest is a separate serviced apartment with a living room, kitchen and bathroom. Its kitchen facilities include an oven, fridge, dishwasher and toaster, alongside a dining setting and washer-dryer. These facilities belong to the apartment rather than the standard bedrooms.
The shared pub and restaurant offer a traditional setting for meals and drinks, with timber beams and open fires. Food includes pub favourites, Sunday roasts and seasonal specials. Breakfast is available at an additional charge. There is also a shared garden, free Wi-Fi and free on-site self-parking.
Extra beds and cots carry additional charges. Guests planning to arrive after 9.30pm should contact the inn in advance.
For the Cat
Cats are welcome in designated pet-friendly rooms, which must be requested by contacting the property. A pet charge of £8 per accommodation, per stay applies. Food and water bowls are available.
Haunted History & Halloween
The Ostrich Inn stands on the old London-to-Bath coaching route. Hospitality on the site is traditionally traced back to a medieval hospice recorded in 1106, while the surviving Grade II* listed timber-framed building dates principally to the 16th century.
Its best-known legend concerns an innkeeper named Jarman and his wife, who supposedly targeted wealthy travellers using a hinged bed and a concealed opening above a boiling cauldron. The story is associated with Thomas Deloney’s early novel Thomas of Reading and should be understood as folklore rather than an established account of murders at the inn.
The building also has a reputation for reported hauntings. Accounts include unexplained footsteps after closing, objects apparently moving without a clear cause and stories of a young child being heard or glimpsed. These tales add an eerie dimension to the old beams and passageways, without making a ghostly encounter part of any promised stay.
Accessibility
Ground-floor accommodation includes Standard Double and Superior Double/Twin rooms. The inn has no lift, so room location matters when choosing accommodation.
Location
The Ostrich Inn is on the High Street in Colnbrook, Berkshire, close to Heathrow Airport and within reach of Windsor. It provides a village base for combining a historic pub stay with sightseeing and time outdoors.
Windsor Castle and the riverside town of Windsor make a nearby day out, while the Colne Valley Regional Park offers walking routes, waterside scenery and wildlife. Local options highlighted by the park include Staines Moor and the Wraysbury and Ankerwycke area.
Harmondsworth Moor has a circular walk of around 2¼ miles through parkland, with river views and historic village surroundings. These outings offer a change of pace from the airport and main transport routes nearby.
