Stanbrook Abbey Hotel

Stanbrook never fails to absolutely fascinate us every time we visit, it’s review after review as we are so impressed by this delightful hotel. Of all hotels we have reviewed for our disabled friends this is a must, and we hope you will like Stanbrook as much as ourselves. PLEASE READ ALL THE REVIEWS WE OFFER SO AS TO GET A REAL FEEL FOR HOTEL. On this review we want to tell you about the fantastic cellar you can look at, and then enjoy a really nice lunch here, in lovely surroundings. So where shall we begin ? Pictures tell the stories, so let’s use these to tell you about our wine and dine delight. It’s so easy to enter the hotel as two disabled bays are situated right outside by main entrance, ( photo 1) all on the level, with automatic doors, which by the way, we always find then opened for us, and you Immediately enter a delightful warm attractive reception area (photo 2) and over to the left a lift awaits you (photo 3) which is wide enough to get your chair in there quite comfortably (photo 4) Take the bottom button, not shown on this sign, for wine cellar, and a fascinating journey will begin for you. A long old cellar invites you to explore, lots of room for wheelchair to move around (5) old barrels of my favourite aperitif pop Tio Pepe line the walls, as you stand in the tasting room, with a table calling you forward to sit and sip (photo 6) owhich you can do so on the evenings that they hold wine tasting events while you glance at their selection of bottles (7) that line the wall. Empty ! I wonder why ? Heading on, more treats line the wall (8) as you reach the Green room and Games room (9) and what a pleasant surprise, it’s green ( 10) with cosy leather chairs looking so comfortable (11). A quiet organised games room allows you to try out your skill on a few game tables (12) and a pool table is ready for you, go on, enjoy the game (13). At the far end another lift will take you up to the ground floor, and back to reception desk. We hope you enjoyed that little surprising visit to the cellars, but now it’s time to take lunch and a small sip or two at George’s Bar) (photo 14). Now, you can either sit here for lunch, or do as we do, go out of hotel at reception, and allow carer to take you down the ramp to the terraced area, and then across to the door to enter the lounge, a nuisance, but it’s worth it. (One day someone will sort out this disabled entry for us ) but as you enter this most delightfully decorated attractive lounge (15) you will forgive their oversight at not thinking about us, and settle down to browse the menu (photo 16) We find it more comfortable on the settee and carefully spaced little tables (photo 17) and awaited our lunch to arrive. As we have had lunch here before, and always a treat, we decided to try out the fish and chips (photo 18) and we will be honest with you, they were the most enjoyable, well cooked and presented fish and chips we have probably ever had. The fish was done just right with a very crusty crumbly coating, the chips where crisp and the best tasting yet, the peas had that minty hint to them, and it seems the tartar sauce must have been hand made, a truly wonderful lunch (19) with an opportunity to get stuck in (20) in a very cosy, quite, beautiful lounge. OUR FINAL THOUGHTS If you like character, interested in wine, then you will find this a must. The cellars are most interesting, with other rooms that we have not mentioned here, as unable to put more photos on our review. This is a hotel that every time you visit, you seem to find more to look at, and we would certainly recommend lunch here at this delightful historical hotel.

What a surprise, still more places discovered in this fascinating hotel, always an absolute delight to come and see. It’s a delightful approach you make as you arrive here (photo 1) but this time we have a look at the back of the hotel (photo 2) where the groundsmen take care of the many plants and shrubs that make it such a pleasant area, (photo 3) but it’s a part very few ever see as hidden away, so lovely steps and views remain unknown to visiting guests (4) Most will only ever see the front view, which is of course very pleasing to the eye (5). One important room you need to see is of course the very attractive restaurant (6) with a delightful colour deco that adds charm to the room (7) and bring guests in and the whole place changes to a place of elegance and warmth, and chit chat (8). The one thing that impresses us are the cheerfully tiled floors, (photo 9) always spotlessly clean, and they seem to be everywhere, leading to one surprise after another, and today was no exception, as we followed the signs for “Powder rooms” (photo 10) along yet another corridor, that took us to “the Nuns room (photo 11) and what a surprise ! Have you ever seen a toilet that looks like this ? (photo 12) Magnificent ! It was posh, how else do we describe a toilet like this, even the washbasins (13) and cubicles (14) impressed us, well done Handpicked Hotels. So what about the gentlemen, or as they list it, “Monks Wash room” ? (Photo 15) Good, but not spoilt like you ladies (16) but very nicely laid out, spotlessly clean, nice seating, if needed, and although it was not a disabled toilet, (17) it still had enough room to get a wheelchair in there, and it had grab rails, what more could we ask ? And take a look at your servants room, ops,” Grooms room” (18) solid wooden door and furniture, with leather seating, talk about spoilt (19) and you even have a guard on duty (20). You really must go and visit Stanbrook Abbey, it’s an ideal disabled persons trip, not yet fully wheelchair friendly, but easy enough to cope with, you will we believe be as impressed as we are, do try to go.

The house that first stood here was first built in 1625, then later rebuilt for the homes first occupier Richard Case, the house then known as Stanbrook Hall, but was then bought on behalf of Benedictine nuns in 1838. It was then put in the care of the architect Charles Day, and later managed by sons of Augustus Welby Pugin, and the Gothic Abbey was designed to have a church, cloisters and a tower. It’s set in 26 acres of lawns, gardens, orchard and a lake. It is a beautiful interesting building, very nicely furnished with long tiled corridors in rich colours, all leading towards the church itself. The nuns worshipped in the former church of the Abbey, Callow great hall was then consecrated in 1871. You can see the high vaulted ceiling, and wonderful designs of the stained glass windows as you wander around. The stunning East window depicts “Our lady of consolation protecting Benedictine nuns”. The original floor tiles were created by Minton ltd. The 100 foot Bell tower, with 140 steps, takes you up and overlooks views towards The Malverns with distant views of the river Severn. The last nuns moved out of the Abbey in 2009, and it was sold and turned into a multi- million pound hotel, receiving a makeover to be able to turn it into the hotel. Clarenco became the new owners, buying the building in 2010 and The modern section was built in 2015, as noted on carved inscription above the main entrance. Hand Picked Hotels purchased it as a going concern, with an unknown cost in 2017. The CEO of Clarenco said about the sale, “that they were pleased to have sold the hotel to someone as excited and passionate about the hotel as they have been”. And what a wonderful place it has become over the years, and we feel you will love this hotel as much as we do, so please go and see why it has received so much praise. Remember, our review is to invite you to visit, and enjoy a relaxing drink before or after your visit, or if you would like, then book an overnight stay, as there is so much to see and do around the Abbey itself, or enjoying the 26 acres of land. We arrived at Stanbrook Abbey hotel , this time with the objective of looking at the church, built for the Benedictine nuns who lived here until 2009 (photo 1) The modern new front entrance was built in 2015. We parked in the disabled bay, and went into the entrance, which is on the level (photo 2) with an automatic sliding door. Coffee beckoned us into the George’s Bar (photo 3) where we had our coffee break (Photo 4). Over to our left there is an archway which led us down a very attractive corridor (photo 5). We could then look across the courtyard at the old Abbey buildings ( photo 6). Continuing down the corridor, passing stone carved images of religious scenes (photo 7) before the corridors led us into the church entrance (photo 8). What a wonderful place, wooden furniture, pews, stained glass, a real treat to see how the nuns lived and worshipped (photo 9). This impressed my husband, even though we do not personally have anything to do with churches, but he could not but help admiring the craftsmanship involved in the church (photo 10). Leading from the church, a corridor led us towards the library (photo 11) with a collection of not only religious books, but historical books as well (photo 12). The nuns even had their own printing facilities, and upstairs and in other rooms, thousands of books have been recorded and stored (photo 13). Further along other corridors which now highlighted the approach to the gardens (photo 14) which were just beginning to show off their Autumn glory (photo 15). A paved pathway led us past the formal gardens (photo 16) and along towards the terrace patio (photo 17). Sadly, the weather had changed (photo 18) and rain had set in, so we went up the ramp (photo 19) and collected our car for our return journey, and driving past the Orchard and woolly sheep (photo 19) we made our way home. May we encourage you to read both parts to get a fuller feel for this delightful hotel, it’s full of history, and an amazing place to see, then if you enjoy your visit, and our review pleases you, would you be kind enough to tick the “I like” button for both parts, as we hope others will note your response and will then read the reviews and hopefully go and enjoy the Abbey hotel and all it offers. Thank you for your support to our fellow disabled members of Euans guide. Our final thoughts My husband found it a very fascinating visit and well worth the second visit to this hotel. I would have liked to have spent more time in the interesting old library. If you have the opportunity, we recommend you visit this old and most interesting Abbey.