Country Life

Nuthurst Grange is more than just a great wedding venue.

It’s confession time. I have slightly more than a vested interest in Nuthurst Grange. 25 years (and two previous owners) ago, my husband and I were married there on a cold, wet and very windy January day.

Nuthurst, therefore, has a very special place in my heart. It’s really lovely to be able to say that, even before the request for this article came in, Nuthurst was still a favourite, and still a destination for lunches, drinks, special occasions and of course anniversaries. Suffice to say it – and us – have survived in some considerable style!

There is however a bit of an elephant in the room. Locally, Nuthurst seems to be known as a ‘wedding venue’ – which of course it is.

But today, most of those take place in the renovated Stables, which is separate from the main hotel. And yes – the Stables is perfect for any kind of special event: weddings, private parties, corporate meetings and even funerals.

Having this separate area, however, allows the main building to retain its character as a country house hotel – and a versatile one at that.

In its current guise, Nuthurst dates back to 1882, when construction of the main house started. Extended and updated throughout the years and converted to a hotel mid-last century, the gorgeous interiors still reflect the elegance of yesteryear. Nowadays, however, it is much more than a venue for ‘a bit of a do’ and the hotel offers a sense of comfort and familiarity combined with a touch of class.

For local residents, it is a meeting place for coffee, afternoon tea, a cracking Sunday lunch (believe me, great beef!) and of course lovely meals in either the main Kingswood restaurant, the light-drenched Orangery, the lounge or the bar: plenty of options dependent on the mood.

From breakfast to lunch, and into dinner, you have a wide choice. Breakfast here (open to non-residents in case you’re wondering) is a bit more ‘grown-up’ and special than on the local high street. Head Chef Matthew Beecham has been with the hotel for 10 years; he is classically trained, and this reflects in the choice of lunch and dinner menus, a combination of British and European, with classic meat cuts and no ‘cheffy’ surprises: sometimes excellent classical food is just what is needed.

Here it is done with care, attention and an understanding of the best ingredients. Meat comes from the renowned Aubrey Allen in Leamington, eggs are from Chadwick Farm in Knowle, and dairy produce is from Grove Wood Farm in Hopwood, complemented by leading specialist suppliers from across the UK and Europe who take an equally sustainable approach to food production and purchasing.

Nuthurst also offers the perfect spot for private dining. I organised a 50th birthday here recently for a friend: 18 guests seated in an elegant, sophisticated room with candles, flowers and really great staff, dedicated to ensuring the celebration went off without a hitch. I also did my own vow renewals here: we took over The Orangery, a gorgeous spot for a larger group, and with a very flexible events team to work with, they even indulged the control freak in me and allowed me to pick and mix from the various ‘set’ menus.

This is when you start to understand why this is one of my favourite places, and why it should become one of yours. Good service never goes out of fashion. Nor does Nuthurst Grange.

Kate Rouse

Sample menus & prices

Breakfast @ £16.95pp
Including full cooked English or something slightly different with grilled kippers, smoked haddock and poached eggs or a kedgeree with mustard risotto.

Lounge & bar menu for lunch or an informal dinner
Starters from £8.95 include Caesar salad, crab arancini and soup & starter of the day.

Mains from £17 include battered cod with the essentials, catch of the day and pea & shallot ravioli with spinach & parmesan cream sauce.

Desserts from £7.00 featuring all your favourites.

Kingswood Restaurant Lunch & Dinner
Starters from £9.00 include baby chorizo & gruyere croquette with lemon hummus, confit cherry tomatoes and basil crisps. Or smoked salmon & shrimp roulade and smoked chicken tian with homemade piccalilli, sourdough croute and pickled carrots

Mains from £20.00 include a pan-roasted fillet of beef with black garlic truffle pomme purée, wild mushroom & cabbage parcel and thyme jus. Wild line sea bass meanwhile is paired with crab crushed potatoes with a lemon & fennel dressing and a smoked paprika mayonnaise.

Desserts from £10.00 include Malibu-poached pineapple with pistachio crème diplomat and coconut sorbet and blood orange and lemon mille-feuille. A cheese board is also available with exceptional poached grapes!

Afternoon Tea
Full afternoon tea is £29.95 pp but you can also have a cream tea for £9.95pp

Sunday Lunch
Choice of five main courses.
£29.95 pp for two courses and £39.95 pp for three, including coffee.

The hotel and restaurant are excellent with children, vegetarians and vegans, and special dietary requirements.

Open 7 days a week. Pre-booking advisable.
Available to book direct or via OpenTable.