We’re giving away a two-night, half-board staycation for two guests at the historic Billesley Manor Hotel and Spa, just three miles from Shakespeare’s beloved birthplace Stratford-upon-Avon. The prize includes £100 spa credit per person, and a contribution of up to £100 towards rail fares in the spirit of a sustainable escape.
The Billesley Estate is steeped in history, and there have been settlements on this pristine portion of British countryside since the eighth century. The site is recorded in the 1086 Domesday Book, and purportedly welcomed Shakespeare himself, who allegedly married wife Anne Hathaway in All Saints Church, next to what is now the magnificent hotel and spa complex. This link to the bard is celebrated throughout the property – seek out artworks celebrating not just this literary great, but also centuries of local history.
The recent £5.6 million refurbishment re-established Billesley Manor as the go-to for Britons in need of rest and relaxation. Bedrooms have been upgraded, and many have period features such as fireplaces alongside contemporary furnishings and four-poster beds, still in keeping with the Elizabethan home’s storied charm – oak wood panelling complemented by rich golds and royal blues, and velvet furniture throughout the property.
Four dining spaces offer breakfast through to suppers via afternoon teas and long, convivial lunches. The Great Hall Bar and Lounge is the perfect place to wile away chilly afternoons over craft cocktails and local ales, plus light bites and sandwiches. The Garden and Terrace is a hub of activity on sunnier days, while the As You Like It Lounge is best enjoyed over hushed conversations and a book – or sonnet. The jewel in the property’s culinary crown is The Stuart Restaurant. In the kitchen, talented chefs prioritise local produce in classic dishes, paired with wines from small-production, sustainable vineyards. Melt-in-the-mouth Gloucester pork belly, rich butter-poached halibut and crumbly cheese boards are some of the seasonal dishes that keep travellers – and locals – returning time and time again.
Billesley Manor Health Club is no doubt a draw for wellness-focused staycationers escaping the city. The gym is filled with state-of-the-art equipment, and group activities include yoga, aquafit and pilates. Tennis courts can be found on-site, while the heated swimming pool is ideal for getting those laps in.
In the treatment rooms, soothing massages and glow-restoring facials use Espa products. Therapies can be enjoyed in bite-sized sessions, or incorporated into wellness programmes such as the restful ritual; a back massage using restful aromatherapy oils, realignment, a double cleanse with exfoliation, skin analysis, face mask, scalp massage and warm rose quartz massage, altogether priced at just £99 per person.
To be in with a chance of winning this indulgent stay in the UK countryside, answer the question below and fill out the form.
Which historical Startford-upon-Avon playwright is celebrated throughout the hotel?