If you fancy doing Stratford-upon-Avon in style, then your place to stay must be the four-star Welcombe Hotel, Spa and Golf Club.
Situated on the outskirts of the town, you won’t find a grander hotel. Set amidst 157 acres of lush Warwickshire countryside, the hotel was formerly part of Menzies Hotels but is now owned by Hallmark Hotels, a collection of 28 distinctive properties scattered around the UK. The Welcombe Hotel is regarded as one of the leading country house hotels in the region – and it’s easy to see why.
Built in 1866, this Jacobean-style house, boasting 78 ensuite bedrooms and an award-winning à la carte restaurant, has all the charm you’d expect for a property dating from this period, including everything from an oak-panelled lounge to sumptuous four-poster suites, all of which blend well with the more contemporary style of the garden rooms and luxury spa.
The gardens and grounds are spectacular: it’s one of those places where you could easily spend the lion’s share of your time simply relaxing and enjoying the tranquillity of the splendid location. Mind you, there is too much to enjoy in Shakespeare Country to do that. But all I would say is, make sure you spend some time unwinding at the hotel, it’s a peaceful haven.
Situated just over five miles from junction 15 of the M40, the bedrooms have been individually decorated and some contain 19th century antiques and fine artwork. In fact, many of the original features have been carefully restored throughout the hotel.
My family and I stayed two nights and were made to feel welcome from the moment we parked in the large, free car park. At reception, my daughter and son were presented with a welcome pack which is always a good start when you have children in tow.
We stayed in one of the hotel’s contemporary-styled apartments, just a short walk from the main building, and found it had everything we could want for an enjoyable break, including free wi-fi (available throughout the hotel).
On our first night, we dined at the restaurant with its huge floor-to-ceiling windows affording diners expansive views out over the lawns. It’s all high ceilings, chandeliers, enormous paintings and mirrors. This is real fine dining, although as a family of vegetarians, we found the choice of dishes rather limited.
Limited is the operative word, too, when it comes to swimming time for children in the large pool. Being part of the Welcombe Spa and Health Club, I appreciate the main focus will be on the adult clientele’s requirements. The only trouble is, the times when children can use the pool (10am-noon and 3pm-5pm) are when most families would be out sightseeing. It would be great if another slot, perhaps 5-6pm, could be added to the schedule. Still, this is just a minor point.
The facilities at the spa and health club, however, are excellent and include a pool with underwater music, heated loungers, foot spas, gym, treatment rooms and a spacious conservatory for refreshments and light lunches.
Overall, the Welcombe Hotel is highly recommended and scores well in many areas, especially in its splendid setting.
More information:
Warwick Road
Stratford-upon-Avon CV37 0NR
www.hallmarkhotels.co.uk, tel: 0330 028 3422
For further information on Stratford-on-Avon, visit:
www.Shakespeare-Country.co.uk and www.discover-stratford.com