Month: June 2023

The new owners behind troubled Wroxall Abbey Hotel in Warwickshire have pledged to ‘rebuild trust in the community’ as they announce huge plans for the site.

The Warwick venue, which reopened its doors last autumn, has unveiled a million-pound refurbishment and expansion under its new ownership of ONS International Ltd T/A.

It marks a bright new chapter for the historic four-star hotel which has twice gone into administration in the last four years.

Some months after its sudden closure in October 2019, Trinity Hotel Ltd reopened Wroxall Abbey following refurbishment works, in June 2021. But it was never to recover from the negative impact of national lockdown restrictions due to the pandemic and fell into administration a year later, in July 2022.

Today, its family owners have revealed plans for huge new investment in the Victorian neo-Gothic brick mansion hotel, a former girls’ school and one-time country estate of architect Sir Christopher Wren.

Company Director Paresh Thakkar said: “We acknowledge the rich history of Wroxall Abbey and understand it’s significant importance and value to the local community.

“While we understand the negative press that has surrounded Wroxall Abbey in the past, especially with the recent administration, our main goal as a business is to restore the historic reputation of this magnificent estate, re-building trust with the community and to provide a high-quality service for our guests.”

Since its takeover in September, the business has obtained a wedding licence and launched afternoon tea and Sunday lunch menus. Most popular among the local community though is the reopening, after five years, of the 14^th century church. Wroxall Abbey is the only hotel in the country with its own on-site chapel, and since March, it has been recommissioned and holding Sunday services again for The Order of St. Leonards as well as hosting weddings and christenings.

Following the services, the congregation are then welcomed into the hotel to enjoy complimentary refreshments.

The hotel was originally founded as a Benedictine nunnery by Hugh fitz Richard of Hatton in the middle of the 12th century.

The church was built in around 1315, originally part of the priory itself and the only part that remains standing. In recent history it was made into a cathedral of the Free Methodist Church but has been returned to The Church of England under its new owners.

The hotel currently offers 73 bedrooms, plus six conference rooms, a patio garden overlooking the 27-acre grounds, Henry’s Lounge & Bar and Henry’s Restaurant which serves seasonal British and Mediterranean cuisine as well as Sunday Lunch and Afternoon Tea.

Ambitious future plans now include a new state-of-the-art spa and health club and renovation of the Courtyard Building to create an additional 24 bedrooms by the end of next year. Developed in 1866, The Courtyard formed a large part of the estate when it was transformed into a school.

Paresh added: “Our dedicated team are aware of the continuous and challenging up-keep with the Grade II listed building. Our business has the long-term vision to continue to transform Wroxall Abbey into a beautiful and luxurious venue.

“This is a family-run four-star hotel and we do things a little bit differently but our key objectives now are to always look after our guests and move forward with our grand plans.

“We sincerely hope that you share our exciting vision for the future of Wroxall Abbey and we look forward to sharing our developments along our journey.”

Visit: www.wahotel.co.uk

PEDAL power will once again be propelling two Warwickshire fundraisers who are preparing to cycle 30 miles on a side-by-side tandem bike.

Friends Alex Pearson from Stratford and Emma Brayne from Warwick are planning to cycle a route from Claverdon to Hatton, via Warwick, Henley, Shrewley and Wootton Wawen as part of their intrepid challenge on June 26th, in aid of local children’s charity Molly Ollys.

It brings a move to terra firma for the ladies who, for the past two years, have  taken to water for a 12km fundraising canal pedalo challenge. This time they hope to raise at least £500, which will then be match-funded by The Morrisons Foundation.

The journey, which is expected to take around seven hours including stops, will commence from Claverdon Primary School, where Molly Ollerenshaw was a pupil, and finish at Hatton, where her family home is.

Alex, a community champion for Morrisons in Leamington, said: “We support local charities and communities and we support Molly Ollys every year because the work they do is phenomenal.

“You hear the heart-warming stories about the wishes they’ve granted or the care they give through Olly The Brave. It is these little things that make such a big difference to families, helping to make their dark days a bit brighter.

“It is a local charity but one which supports many children all around the country and the team do such great work. Raising awareness is just as important as the money – and this should hopefully help with that!”

She added: “Thank you to Woodside Care Home in Warwick who allowed us to ‘train’ on their side-by-side tandem, New Horizon Logistics and Mencap in Birmingham who are loaning us their tandem for the fundraising day.”

Molly Ollerenshaw died from a rare kidney cancer in 2011, aged just eight years old.

The charity, established in her name, last year marked its 10^th anniversary of supporting children with life-threatening illnesses and their families. It helps with emotional support and donates wishes, therapeutic toys and books to children directly and through hospitals across the UK.

Since Molly Ollys started more than £3 million has been raised to emotionally support children across the UK. Anyone wishing to donate can do so at https://www.mollyolly.co.uk/learn-about-donating/

Of the latest challenge, Molly’s mum and the charity’s Founder Rachel Ollerenshaw, said: “Big thanks to Alex and Emma who do so much for so many good causes. They always try to find different ways to fundraise and try to make each challenge very personal to the charity that they are supporting. We are extremely grateful to them and of course David and Adam and everyone else involved.”

The girls will once again be supported by Alex’s friend David Fletcher and Emma’s husband Adam Brayne who will cycle with them to help maintain health and safety en route. And they’ll be greeted at Hatton locks Café by Warwick Mayor Cllr Oliver Jacques who has chosen Molly Ollys as one of his charities of the year.

Donations towards their cycling challenge can be made via: https://www.justgiving.com/page/alex-pearson-1686083178810

Business owners are inviting people to make tracks to The Old Town Railway Arches for a special day celebrating this historic part of Leamington.

The Victoria Business Centre will play host to family activities, including free face painting and a Mexican wrestling display, as well as showcasing the area’s rich history going back two centuries through a series of displays.

Live music will also come from ARCH RIVALS, who also have a unit on the site, plus The Ben Jennings Ensemble. DJs Miss Carol, Steve Glitch, Rob Etch, CROM and ILK will keep the sounds coming throughout the day and special music guest appearances are also planned.

Street food and drinks will be available to purchase from Warwick Street Kitchen.

The event, on July 8^th, has been organised by four of the businesses which operate out of The Arches – Windmill Hill Brewing Company, BRUBL Beer, Warwickshire Gin Company and Vice Motorcycles.

Windmill Hill Brewing Company was established six years ago by friends Gavin Leach and Rob Singleton and now brews and sells award-winning seasonal and limited-edition craft ales.

Ahead of the event, Gavin said: “It’s the first time we’ve done something like this. We want to open our businesses up and so people can see what we get up to down here and drum up some interest. We’d encourage people to pop down, talk to us and see first hand what we do.”

Visitors on the day will also have the opportunity to see motorcycles on display, including a Triumph Bonneville with sidecar and Vice Motorcycles’ TT Lightweight custom Mutt, back in Leamington after being displayed at shows in London and Thruxton Racetrack as well as Mutt HQ in Birmingham.

Vice Motorcycles build custom bikes and manufacture parts for Triumph motorbikes. Founder and manager Carl Harris has been based at The Arches for the past six years and has spent his working life in product design-related industries.

He said: “This area is not appreciated enough for its history and thriving business community so we hope to address that through this first open day.”

The Arches has been home to Warwickshire Gin Company, run by Dave Blick, for five years. The hand-crafted drinks range of five gins and a rum and vodka recipe, are all inspired by historical events, with two more rums soon to launch. They also offer gin tasting experiences.

The newest Arches tenant is BRUBL Beer, run by Nathan Barnes who moved in at the end of last year after building the business which started life as a home-built garden beer shed in lockdown.

BRUBL continues to add to its wide range of ales, from an easy-drinking IPA, ‘Highway to Hop’ 4.3% ABV, to the luxurious, deliciously dark ‘Baltic Smoked Porter’ 7.6% ABV.

Nathan said: “With all the artisan businesses here, this area has real potential to become a future destination. We want people to come down here and enjoy our products and linger a while longer.”

Other businesses based in The Arches engage in cake-making, metal casting, vehicle and shop signage and even power lifting and amateur wrestling! The event runs between 12-10pm.