Luxury hotel launches new sustainability initiative

A luxury historic hotel in Warwickshire, which has undergone a £7 million refurbishment, has launched a new sustainability initiative which will prevent 47,000 plastic bottles from ending up in landfills every year.

Billesley Manor Hotel and Spa, on the outskirts of Stratford-upon-Avon, is a country hideaway set in 11 acres of Warwickshire parkland.

The venue has undergone a five-year refurbishment which has seen the whole hotel, including its 71 bedrooms, conference and events facilities, restaurants, bars, public spaces, spa and health club, renovated to the highest standard.

Final work is now taking place to install air conditioning and upgrade its outdoor lighting which will highlight key features of the hotel and grounds to guests – including the 120-year-old topiary gardens.

The Grade II listed venue is steeped in history, with its most notable guest being William Shakespeare in 1599 who wrote his comedy As You Like It during the visit, and the refurbishment has enhanced the building while remaining sympathetic to its original features.

Billesley Manor is now focusing on sustainability, and its partnership with Molton Brown will see single-use plastic bottles replaced with dispensers.

It has introduced a comprehensive supplier screening process to ensure they also share the same sustainability values, has installed EV charging points and energy-efficient boilers and upgraded to LED lighting.

The hotel has also created a kitchen garden, with chefs growing their own fruit, vegetables and herbs to use in dishes, and has established a ‘no mow zone’ to nurture wildlife.

New ‘Green Meetings’ are held to promote environmentally-friendly events, while a full review of the business is set to take place to highlight where energy and water consumption can be improved further.

The venue features 71 guest bedrooms and conferencing and events facilities which can cater for small meetings of just four people up to larger conferences, as well as events and weddings for up to 120 people.

The Stuart Restaurant uses the best local and regional produce to create mouth-watering dishes packed with seasonal flavours as well as traditional Sunday lunches and afternoon teas, while

The Great Hall Bar and Lounge serves a range of drinks and an all-day dining menu.

The spa provides a space to relax and unwind and offers a range of ESPA treatments, and the health club features a 12-metre pool, sauna, steam room and gym.

General manager Stephen Fearnley said: “We’ve undergone a huge transformation in the last five years, all of which has been done in small stages so it hasn’t impacted our guest experience.

“We’ve received some incredible feedback and we now have the highest guest satisfaction ratings the hotel has ever achieved on both online portals such as TripAdvisor, Google Reviews and Booking.com and our own internal guest survey.

“At the core of the hotel is our people, and we strive to provide the best experience for both our guests and staff, and we are delighted to have welcomed a new Deputy General Manager, Paul Woodhouse, who will focus on making this even better going forward.

“We’re also now focusing on sustainability, and we are keen to take an active role in helping to preserve the planet for future generations.”

Further information about Billesley Manor Hotel and Spa is available by visiting www.billesleymanor.com