Nailcote Hall Hotel

After reviewing this excellent hotel in part one, we were delighted to find that they have tried hard to offer far more to their visitors in the way of entertainment during your visit here, and the present owner, Mr Rick Cressman has done well with his ambition for this lovely property. It is a 15 acre site, with the very attractive old Jacobean house as it focal point, and has a very well laid out 9 hole par 3 golf course, while indoors you will find a very pleasant heated swimming pool, a small but well equipped gym, a facility area ideal for small wedding occasions with a lovely setting, while larger gatherings will be delighted with the large marque that will hold wedding parties and regular evening entertainment with various shows that you would enjoy. OUR REVIEW Parking is easy enough, but only one disabled bay, but it’s not far to walk anyway. The grounds outside have been landscaped in a natural way, with many tall old trees and shrubs to see, (photo 1) and passing Nailcote Halls Jacobean 17th century hall, an inviting path leads ahead (photo 2) towards the purpose built leisure centre (3). Entering, which is on the level, you enter a cheerful well decorated ground floor greeting area, (4) very clean and inviting, and the metal ironworks and staircase hold promise of what’s to come (photo 5), and this room can be used for wedding day delights, or for small entertainments (6). The disabled do not have to worry, as a small lift is available for you, just beyond the staircase (7) which is big enough to get you and your chair inside, along with your Carer (8). The room today has been set up for a wedding reception, in what is called Ricks Bar, but Over in the right hand corner (photo 9) the door will lead to a very nice Roman bath style heated swimming pool, (10) with a bubbling jacuzzi that looks so inviting (11) and a steam room is available for your use. You will also find a small but well equipped modern gym that awaits your attention (12). The entertainment facilities here are very popular and booking is important, but it is a very nice building, well lit and has natural lighting provided by its glass roofed ceiling (13). The main path will now lead you pass the grounds (14) and the up to date converted and restored brick work of the upper bedrooms (15) towards the nine hole par 3 golf course (16) and beyond this you will reach a delightful summer outdoor seating area (17). At one time, part of the grounds held a croquet lawn, and Pétanque area, which is an interesting game that disabled could enjoy as well. HOW YOU WOULD HAVE PLAYED. It’s a type of boules game, but with this game you toss the ball into the air rather than roll it, to try to get as near as possible to a jack, BUT the ball must not touch the jack, or you loss that round. So this is ideal for disabled, as no steps are taken, you can remain in your chair while you toss your ball, and these are smaller than normal boules so are easier to grasp. Sadly it is no longer used here for these two games anymore. The grounds with its own small pool (18) has an entrance (but mind you, with steps to get you up into the marque ). The disabled will of course have to enjoy arriving into this huge marque, from inside the hotel and the specially built entrance (19) but what a treat greets you (20) and it’s here that the large entertainment shows are held, as well as wedding day treats. Most of the regularly held shows will include a three course meal and a late night show, usually finishing by 1.00 am. Details can be found on the hotels website. So you will gather it’s a popular hotel nowadays, and to see it at its best do please read our part one review, for we are sure you will enjoy your visit just as much as we did. OUR FINAL THOUGHTS. We really do recommend this hotel to our disabled friends, and our review of the hotel itself will show you why, but this review of what you can do and expect on a visit here should encourage you to come and see for yourselves, they really do try to please, the shows that are provided are very good, the food is well recommended, it’s quite easy enough to get around both indoors and out there when the sun is out to play, and most of all, you will be well looked after by the staff members, and they will make sure you enjoy your visit, do come and play .

This is truly a lovely 17th century Jacobean Country house, built in 1640 just before the English civil war, when it received considerable damage during the war by Oliver Cromwell's troops, but thereafter restored to its past glory. It’s history however can be traced back to at least 1288, when it was known as Naylcote. Nayl of course meant a nail, or it could have been a measurement for a length of cloth, and Cote was a cottage or farmhouse. On its outside it still has the timber frame and brick noggin, with tall Elizabethan chimneys. (Photo 1) In the 1600’s the house belonged to the Mathews family, then in 1669 it was owned by the Whitehead family, then through later marriage it became the home of the Lant family for some 300 years, and in 1780 due to extension work, a Georgian wing was added. The old original house is a picturesque black and white timber framed Jacobean country house (photo 3). Following the death of the last of the Lant family, a miss Katherine Lant, a lady then in her 98th year, who died in 1938, the house was bought by Cecil Douglas Gay, who was born on 22 November 1894, who in later life became an enthusiastic engineer, and following the end of World War One, he attended Trinity college taking in engineering science. In 1924 and shortly afterward he helped to form the tool company of A.C. Wickman of Coventry., where he remained until his retirement in 1945. It was his successful business life that allowed him to buy NAILCOTE House, in 1938. In November 1952 the house Gained grade 11 listing as NAILCOTE House . After selling the house in 1962 to Wickmans, he continued to live the rest of his life in the nearby village of Berkswell, until his death in 1980 at the age of 85. Wickmans kept the house as a guest house for visiting VIPs until 1981, then a Northamptonshire business man bought the house, but sold it within a year, and by 1984 it’s new owner, a furniture designer Tony Barney, along with his wife ran it under her care as a restaurant. In 1987 it was sold again to the director of Elegant Ways, Michael Muir. The present owner, Mr Rick Cressman bought the house in 1991 when it was still known as NAILCOTE house, and it’s stands on 15 acres of landscaped grounds, but today the house is known as NAILCOTE HALL hotel. Here we find 49 delightful bedrooms, a top class restaurant, a leisure and conference centre, and includes a nine hole par 3 golf course, with a main par 3 championship tournament. It also has a Spa and fitness centre, which we will review in our PART TWO of NAILCOTE HALL Hotel. OUR REVIEW What’s not to like (photo 1) a beautiful Jacobean country house with tall Elizabethian chimneys (photo 2) while the house is set off by well tendered gardens (3). Parking is easy enough, with a disabled bay right by the entrance for this delightful hotel (4) You then enter into a nice hallway with shining polished oak flooring (5) which leads you to a warm and inviting reception desk area (6). At the far end is the bar lounge (7) which is small but comfortable, and the bar itself has character (8). We returned, passing the reception (9) to enter the warm, characterful attractive restaurant (10) where we settled for our three course lunch, and both thoroughly enjoyed our starters (11). The Restaurant has so much character, leaded windows, warm lighting which enhanced the restaurant (12). A real olde worlde room, with oak pillars and beams (13) which made us feel as if we were back in Jacobean times, the big stone hearth, so warmly lit, showing all the old cooking utensils (14). Using modern utensils, our most delicious main course arrived, with such a delightful taste to the well presented dishes (15) followed by a dessert (16) worthy of our full praise. A small corridor led to the ladies and gents, (17) small but adequate, but no disabled toilet. However, you will cope quite well. Time to bid farewell to a most enjoyable visit to this enchanting hotel. (18). OUR FINAL THOUGHTS It is a must, well worth a visit, even if it’s just for a coffee break, to come and see the old character of this delightful hotel. We highly recommend a visit here. But we still have a lot more to show you, so please read our PART TWO review for NAILCOTE HALL Spa and grounds.