500-year-old hotel’s amazing makeover

A STUNNING Warwickshire hotel dating back to the 16th century has undergone an impressive restoration.

The multi-million pound project saw the Grade II-listed historic building closed for a year while extensive works took place.

Hotel Indigo, which was formerly known as The Falcon Hotel, will open its doors to the public again on February 25.

The Stratford-on-Avon hotel boasts 93 bedrooms and a restaurant ran by the owner of London’s only Michelin starred pub.

Dating back to the 1500s, the original property was a private dwelling for 150 years after it was built before it became a hostelry.

Stepnell, the Warwickshire-based constructors, stripped back every part of the black and white half-timbered building, to its barest form.

As a listed building, like had to be replaced with like, and everything that could be kept has been including many of the original oak beams which date back to 1622.

Only beams which were beyond repair were replaced with 18-year air dried European Oak.

Traditional methods have been used for the repairs which are sympathetic to methods undertaken in the past.

Of the 93 rooms, 76 are standard rooms, two are accessible, 12 are superior and three are suites.

All rooms are equipped with comfy Hypnos beds, spa-inspired bathrooms, Nespresso coffee machines, high speed Wi-Fi and a 40” flat screen TV.

The hotel’s brand new restaurant - The Woodsman will be ‘a definitively British offering.’

Mike Robinson, owner of The Harwood Arms in London, says he is “very excited about bringing the best of British seasonal ingredients to Stratford”.

The restaurant will have its own entrance off Church Street.

The best wild and farmed ingredients are being sourced from the local area and Mike even harvests the wild deer and game from the Cotswolds for the kitchen.

Owners say The Woodsman will be unpretentious, charming and focused on its amazing wood fired oven and charcoal grill.

Head Chef Jon Coates will serve delicious flame grilled and roasted meat, fish and local vegetables from his open kitchen.

Simon Hall, general manager at Hotel Indigo Stratford-on-Avon, said: “Through significant investment, St James Hotels have played a vital role in restoring this magnificent Tudor building for residents and visitors to enjoy for centuries to come.”