Overview

Warwickshire Park Hotel, Meer End road, Honiley, Kenilworth. CV8 1NP www.warwickshireparkhotel.co.uk We found this to be a very nice, smallish but pleasant hotel, quirky and historical, and an inviting hotel. It is slightly off the main sights of Warwick area, but ideal as a base when visiting local attractions, such as Stratford apon Avon, Warwick castle, Kenilworth castle, or Leamington Spa. It lies in the area of Honiley, just outside Kenilworth, with a few interesting points we would like to share with you. The early history of Honiley tells us it was an area held by a man named Alwold, who was a free man, that means he was someone who held land, and able to earn money from his property, and he was not held as part of the manor of his day. During 1086, records show that Honiley was a well wooded area, and now at this time, the estate belonged to Count Meulan, and later records tell us it lay between Kenilworth and Wroxall, deeds of 1208 showing us the boundaries, and having two woodland areas, known as Shortwood and NutHurst. Today there are just a few copses that are known. The estate was later on passed to Henry, Earl of Warwick, and then onwards to his descendants, who were still in charge up to 1495, when the last owner of that time, Sir Simon Baldwin, was put on trial for treason, and the land passed on to the Crown. A farmhouse was built in Honiley in 1592, and remained as such until it was converted to become “The Boot Inn” at an unknown date, but we do know that in the early 1900’s a William Watrus worked the attached farm while his wife ran The Boot Inn. There are many old photos of the Inn available to see, which shows the Inn as more of a square type of building with a few outbuildings. It would eventually be taken over to become a hotel, and extensively remodelled , by demolishing the outbuildings and extending the frontage to become a long modern building, very much recognised as it now stands. The Boot Inn was incorporated into the building itself and can still be recognised as the old Inn, but at one time the Inn part of the hotel became known as “The Phantom Coachman” with a signpost showing us this on some photos, the sign proudly on display alongside the main road. The hotel was branded as “Mercure” in December 2017 and opened as such in January 2018, but was sold to Countrwide Hotels, and the hotel was bought by the Talash Hotels group, but just two years later it was back on the market during 2019, and then built on again in 2020 as the Honiley Court hotel. However, it was again sold on in April 2021 for £ 2,159,994 pounds and took on its new name of the “Warwickshire Park hotel” and has been modernised , but we are pleased to note that various items of “interesting relics of olden days” have been kept and now used on display in various areas of the hotel, thus adding to its charm. The name The Phantom Coachman, is now used as the hotels restaurant, which still features the original beams in use. The Bar also retained its historical past and has become The Boot Inn bar and restaurant, offering more simple fayre. Throughout, we regard this hotel as a very appealing, pleasant and quirky type, and really impressed by their efforts, so May it go well with them. You are assured of a warm welcome, and will feel relaxed in their rooms, especially the bedrooms, which offer tea and coffee facilities, modern en suite bathrooms with free toiletries, and importantly, free car parking. ================================================================== OUR PHOTOS We managed to find a spot alongside the main road, tight, so not ideal to be able to open door wide enough (photo 1) but there is a disabled bay unclearly marked on the first bay as you enter carpark area. However, round the back of hotel are many more general bays, so disabled people should find a convenient spot. The hotel is a long two storey building, very appealing, and very tidy looking (photo 2) with historical relics on display (photo 3). The front entrance is inviting (photo 4) and tidy, and a good ramp is available next to steps to help you get up to the front entrance (photo 5). Right away you will see how quirky the hotel will be when you arrive at the reception desk (photo 6) with open areas both to the left and right, pleasantly decorated in mute colours, and spotlessly clean (photo 7) Over to your left from reception you will find cosy comfortable seating areas (photo 8) with a small nice little bar area (photo 9) where drinks wlll be most welcomed as you sit at unusual coffee type tables (photo 10) There are plenty of seating areas (photo 11) along separate portions of the long areas, and a small doorway will lead to the outside garden area for those warm sunny days (photo 12) Heading back towards reception (photo 13) passing restaurant areas, way ahead of you will be the toilet areas (photo 14) which both ladies and gents were very clean, modern facilities, but just normal cubicle types (photo 15) which would be difficult if you cannot get up off your wheelchairs. Opposite the toilets you will find reception desk (photo 16) but ahead to your right is a very attractive passageway (photo 17) which leads to staircase for bedrooms (photo 18) but there is a nice little lift available for you, which will take most types of chairs and scooters (photo 19) and will take you up to bedrooms (photo 20). OUR FINAL THOUGHTS Well worth a visit, a mixture of old and new, quirky, but very comfortable, a nice relaxing hotel.

Transport & Parking

The hotel stands in open countryside, a pleasant drive to reach hotel, as the main road is not to busy. Parking is ideal with a few spaces alongside the main road, but just one disabled bay that we could see, hidden away in the corner of parking area as you approach hotel, but there are plenty of spaces around the back of the hotel.

Access

By the front entrance for hotel, you will find a good ramp to help you up to the front door, and then throughout the hotel we found no steps to worry about, and everything was on the level for us to move around and enjoy relaxing in many small areas with a drink in hand. If staying here, a lift is available, and the bedrooms are reasonable large, so no problems for disabled visitors.

Toilets

No disabled toilet was found, but ladies and gents were very clean, typical cubicles, so no wheelchairs could really get in, it would be difficult.

Staff

Quite, but friendly and willing, we were well looked after.

Photos