Muddy Stilettos


<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="535" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Ansty-002-1000x535.jpg" alt="Ansty Hall Coventry Exclusive Collection boutique luxury hotel restaurant" class="wp-image-98680" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Ansty-002-1000x535.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Ansty-002-600x321.jpg 600w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Ansty-002.jpg 1246w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-location">THE LOCATION</h2>



<p>Just a few miles from Coventry&#8217;s bustling city centre, <a href="https://www.exclusive.co.uk/ansty-hall/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ansty Hall</a>, a 17th century, Grade II listed country house hotel, sits above the winding North Oxford Canal at the edge of a quiet Warwickshire village. Sleepy though it may seem, the location is simply fabulous for swift access to some of central England&#8217;s most-visited attractions including Warwick Castle and Coventry Cathedral, as well as Shakespeare&#8217;s Birthplace at Stratford-upon-Avon.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="605" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Ansty-004-1000x605.jpg" alt="Ansty Hall Coventry Exclusive Collection boutique luxury hotel restaurant terrace gardens" class="wp-image-98683" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Ansty-004-1000x605.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Ansty-004-600x363.jpg 600w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Ansty-004.jpg 1101w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>The hotel is set in eight acres of delightful grounds, with ancient trees bordering the green lawns, where guests are invited to laze in a deck chair, have a game of giant chess or croquet and enjoy a relaxing drink on the terrace. If you&#8217;re lucky you might make friends with the local chickens who sometimes venture into the garden.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-vibe">THE VIBE</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="667" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/ANSTY-001.jpg" alt="Ansty Hall Coventry Exclusive Collection boutique luxury hotel restaurant oak paneling" class="wp-image-98685" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/ANSTY-001.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/ANSTY-001-600x400.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>Exclusive Collection, the UK&#8217;s first B-Corp certified hotel group, are taking Ansty Hall in a new and rather luxurious direction, having undertaken a stunning renovation of the restaurant, lounge and bar areas where a luxe, mid-century style boasts rich textiles, marble surfaces and polished wood, all overseen by renowned designer Russell Sage. </p>



<p>There&#8217;s definitely a quirkiness too, with gorgeous oak panelled walls, enormous fireplaces and delightful vignettes dotted about showcasing collections of vintage teacups, artisan ceramics and antique silverware, giving the place a real sense of character that can be missed in some smart hotels, and adding a cosy, relaxed element to an afternoon spent sampling the gin menu in the lounge, which includes a few locally-produced treats from nearby Rugby Distillery and The Warwickshire Gin Company. Bonus points. </p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Ansty-005.jpg" alt="Ansty Hall Coventry Exclusive Collection boutique luxury hotel restaurant bar lounge interior design" class="wp-image-98686" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Ansty-005.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Ansty-005-600x600.jpg 600w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Ansty-005-300x300.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Ansty-005-500x500.jpg 500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>A nod to the area&#8217;s past industrial history is in evidence too, with woven artworks on the walls and textured wallpapers, evoking Ansty Hall&#8217;s history of weaving cloth and ribbon in the 18th and 19th centuries. Even the restaurant is named Twine, threading back through time to tell the story of this historic location. </p>



<p>I was visiting purely for pleasure (and gin, of course) but, given it&#8217;s central location, Ansty Hall is a great spot for business too, with two uniquely-styled rooms, Henry’s Library and the Gilbert Scott room, which work equally well for meetings or private dining. </p>



<p>Weddings are also a regular occurrence at the hotel, with the parish church right next door having&nbsp;been&nbsp;redesigned by Gilbert Scott, the architect behind The Midland Grand Hotel at London St Pancras and the Albert Memorial. The hotel’s Cedar&nbsp;room and Orangery also offer civil ceremonies and a fabulous party space overlooking the lawns.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-pillow-talk">PILLOW TALK</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Ansty-003.jpg" alt="Ansty Hall Coventry Exclusive Collection boutique luxury hotel restaurant bedroom luxe room" class="wp-image-98688" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Ansty-003.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Ansty-003-600x600.jpg 600w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Ansty-003-300x300.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Ansty-003-500x500.jpg 500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>There are 62 rooms at Ansty, across both the main house and in the newer Weavers annex next door. I stayed in one of the &#8216;Luxe&#8217; rooms overlooking the front lawns, which are spacious and have comfy armchairs to lounge in, large sash windows and the sort of characterful sloping floors you&#8217;d expect in a house of this vintage. Little touches bring personality to the experience of staying at Ansty, such as the local artwork on the walls, and we made excellent use of the coffee machine before we eventually dragged ourselves downstairs for breakfast. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-scoff-amp-quaff">SCOFF &amp; QUAFF</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="988" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/ANSTY-015.jpeg" alt="Ansty Hall Coventry Exclusive Collection boutique luxury hotel restaurant Twine " class="wp-image-98690" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/ANSTY-015.jpeg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/ANSTY-015-600x593.jpeg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>Dining is where Ansty Hall really steps into the spotlight, with the Twine restaurant, headed up by chef Ryan Swift (previous posts include The Belfry in Sutton Coldfield and The Dormy House in Broadway) championing local producers and serving beautifully plated classic British dishes with delightful flair in the gorgeously styled restaurant. </p>



<p>We warmed up our palates with a bottle of Vinuva Montepulciano d&#8217;Abruzzo (£36) – the wine list is excellent and not OTT price-wise – and some warm, homemade bread rolls with lashings of irresistible Lincolnshire Poacher salted butter, and starters swiftly followed. Worth noting that the service was fantastically friendly and just the right balance of present but not overbearing.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="665" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/ANSTY-011.jpg" alt="Ansty Hall crumpet crab starter" class="wp-image-98692" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/ANSTY-011.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/ANSTY-011-600x399.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>I went for the Ansty Crumpet, served with Cornish crab, wasabi and caviar (£15), which was simultaneously fresh and comforting, whilst my plus one opted for the Salt Baked Carrot (£13). It&#8217;s always so refreshing to see a vegetable dish given a bit of love and this was both delicious and creative. </p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="668" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/ANSTY-007.jpg" alt="Ansty Hall salt bakes carrot" class="wp-image-98693" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/ANSTY-007.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/ANSTY-007-600x401.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>The menu is wonderfully varied but somehow we both managed to order similar looking main courses, though the flavours were decidedly individual. Mine, a Cornish Cod served with Jersey Royals, prawns and samphire (£28) and his a Pan Fried Hake with aubergine, peppers, courgette and basil (£26). Portions here are not enormous but they don&#8217;t need to be as the flavours are intensely satisfying.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="771" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/ANSTY-006.jpg" alt="Ansty Hall pan fried hake menu main course" class="wp-image-98695" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/ANSTY-006.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/ANSTY-006-600x463.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>Puds were delightfully different, which really does make Ansty stand out from the crowd, as you so often see the same old things pop up on a dessert menu wherever you go. I had something called &#8216;Coffee, Milk and Sugar&#8221; (£12), which consisted of a soft and creamy coffee nougat, served in a coffee cup with hazelnuts, beignets and ice cream, while my date opted for the Brown Sugar Tart (£11) served with plum purée, roasted plums and stem ginger ice-cream, a delight for the taste-buds. </p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="750" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/ANSTY-020-750x1000.jpg" alt="Ansty Hall brown sugar tart dessert" class="wp-image-98698" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/ANSTY-020-750x1000.jpg 750w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/ANSTY-020-450x600.jpg 450w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/ANSTY-020.jpg 1000w" sizes="(max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px" /></figure>



<p>Breakfast at Ansty Hall is also in the gorgeous restaurant, which seems transformed in the daytime, surrounded as it is on two sides by enormous sash windows and views to the grounds. It&#8217;s table service and we were served with a basket of fresh pastries and homemade fig rolls along with a shot of  watermelon juice and fresh pots of tea and coffee, before ordering from the menu, which offers a range of fresh fruits, yoghurts and granola, as well as cooked brekkies. I had bubble and squeak with wild mushrooms, fried duck egg and chilli – which I have tried (and failed) to emulate since coming home – whilst my plus one opted for a crumpet with salmon, spinach, poached egg and lightly curried hollandaise. Breakfast is usually included in the room rate or £20 a head otherwise. </p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="901" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/ANSTY-021.jpg" alt="Ansty Hall breakfast int he Twine restaurant" class="wp-image-98700" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/ANSTY-021.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/ANSTY-021-600x541.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-out-amp-about">OUT &amp; ABOUT</h2>



<p>You&#8217;re in striking distance of the spectacular gothic ruins and juxtaposing Modernist architecture of <a href="https://www.coventrycathedral.org.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Coventry Cathedral</a>, which is a must-see, as well as the National Muddy Award-winning <a href="https://www.warwickartscentre.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Warwick Arts Centre</a>, which is actually in Coventry. Also head to nearby <a href="https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/kenilworth-castle/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Kenilworth Castle</a> and <a href="https://www.warwick-castle.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Warwick Castle</a> and be sure to have a potter around Warwick&#8217;s historic town centre too. </p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="750" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Coventry-Cathedral-750x1000.jpg" alt="Coventry Cathedral" class="wp-image-98702" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Coventry-Cathedral-750x1000.jpg 750w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Coventry-Cathedral-450x600.jpg 450w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Coventry-Cathedral.jpg 1000w" sizes="(max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Coventry Cathedral</figcaption></figure>



<p>Further afield there&#8217;s Stratford-upon-Avon with all it&#8217;s history and Shakespearian theatre at the <a href="https://www.rsc.org.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">RSC</a>, as well as <a href="https://www.comptonverney.org.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Compton Verney</a>, which is fantastic for art lovers and, for shopping, Birmingham is around half an hour&#8217;s drive. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-accessibility">ACCESSIBILITY</h2>



<p>Bedrooms in the main house are up a fabulously sweeping staircase, but there are a number of accessible rooms on the ground floor within the Weavers annex, which have accessible entry to the hotel&#8217;s restaurant, bar and lounge as well as an accessible loo. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-dog-friendly">DOG-FRIENDLY?</h2>



<p>There are a number of dog-friendly rooms and there&#8217;s even a <a href="https://www.exclusive.co.uk/ansty-hall/packages/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Tails &amp; Trails</a> package, designed to let dog owners and their furry friends holiday together.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-muddy-verdict">THE MUDDY VERDICT</h2>



<p><strong>Good for:</strong> Foodies should come for the amazing food, designer-lovers for the interiors. </p>



<p><strong>Not for:</strong>&nbsp;Light sleepers, as there is a road within earshot. If you&#8217;re looking for a lazy escape, this might not be quite for you – it&#8217;s more of a scoff, quaff and stagger to bed kinda place. </p>



<p><strong>The damage:</strong> Very reasonable, with B&amp;B rates from £140pn in a Weavers Room, or £180pn, including dinner for two. </p>



<p><em><a href="https://www.exclusive.co.uk/ansty-hall/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ansty Hall</a>, Main Rd, Ansty, Coventry, CV7 9HZ</em></p>


Review: Ansty Hall, Coventry

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