The manor house near Coventry with a fresh look and added grandeur The Times Mike Atkins, Senior Commissioning Editor, Travel The manor house near Coventry with a fresh look and added grandeur new An ambitious kitchen and redesigned rooms have helped to put Ansty Hall — previously all weddings and conferences — back on the map for pleasing weekend getaways Angela Ward Brown Mike Atkins , Senior Commissioning Editor, Travel Wednesday October 14 2026, 5.00am BST , The Times Listen 0:00 / · 3:39 min Share Share this article Email Twitter Facebook Link Save O nce a slightly fusty stalwart of the wedding and conference scene, Ansty Hall has started to emerge as a hotel you might actually want to, you know, stay at. These encouraging signs are down to Exclusive Collection, the country house specialists who took over the handsome grade II listed property in 2023 and have since been sprinkling their stardust hither and yon. There is still the slight whiff of canapés and lanyards in the function rooms and dreaded annexe, but the first tranche of refreshed bedrooms suggests an ambition for the interior to match the grandeur of the 17th-century house's red-brick façade and garden. Overall score 7/10 All recommendations within this article are informed by independent expert editorial opinion. This article contains affiliate links and links to our in-house travel agency, Times Holidays, all of which will earn us revenue. Rooms and suites Paul Driver Score 7/10 The 63 rooms at Ansty are split between the rather lovely Mansion House and the bright, modern, slightly workaday Weavers annexe. The seven revamped rooms are all in the main house, including a pair of splendid suites designed by the makeover maestros Russell Sage Studio. In Leofric, named after the earl of Mercia and husband of the local streaker Lady Godiva, a sturdy timber bed with an integrated pop-up TV anchors the spacious suite, while a deep copper bath dominates a corner by the window. Other reworked rooms are similarly impressive with bold pops of colour, lush furnishings and fresh, metro-tiled bathrooms. Rooms in the Weavers and those in the Mansion House still awaiting refreshment are pleasant and comfortable if a little bland, with slightly utilitarian bathrooms. All have Molton Brown toiletries. Best places to stay in the UK Food and drink Angela Ward Brown Score 8/10 The hotel bar is stuck in a corridor rather than ensconced in the cosy adjacent lounge area; but despite that, they know how to knock up a decent French martini, so silver linings and all that (cocktails from ￡12). The restaurant, Twine, is a pretty little thing with bespoke copper cutlery and textile wall hangings (a nod to local weaving heritage) and the staff are charming — although they would benefit from tasting the dishes to better understand the menu. They would be in for a treat as the kitchen is a cat's whisker away from being excellent. My butter-poached Scottish langoustines rather relied on the lemongrass and coconut sauce for flavour but looked immaculate. As did my Cumbrian lamb rump, and raspberry and peach bavarois, which each had the added benefit of being delicious. For breakfast, in the same room, my Staffordshire oatcake stuffed with egg, bacon and mushrooms was very good and the coffee drinkable. Advertisement What else is there? Paul Driver A 400-year-old cedar tree holds sway in the large garden, which shares a wall with St James's Church (hence all the weddings, presumably). The church was restored by the Victorian architect George Gilbert Scott, who had a hand in St Pancras Station and the Albert Memorial down in that London. Most beautiful places in England Where is it? Score 7/10 The tiny village of Ansty, with its pub and war memorial, is a few minutes' walk away, as is the Oxford Canal towpath. For adrenaline junkies, Coventry is a 15-minute drive. Price B&B doubles from ￡140 Restaurant mains from ￡32 Accessible Y Family-friendly Y Dog-friendly Y Top stories 1 Starbucks 'explores takeover' of Chipotle Mexican Grill US business Top stories 1 Rental tracker: have rents gone up or down in your area? Property & Home Mike Atkins was a guest of Ansty Hall (exclusive.co.uk) Advertisement Inspired? Our in-house agency Times Holidays can help you book your own, fully customisable trips Travel newsletter Your weekly round-up of the best travel inspiration, guides, hotel reviews and advice from our experts. Sign up with one click You've successfully signed up to the Travel newsletter Explore our newsletters An error occurred. Please use the link below. Travel newsletter Explore our newsletters Travel Destinations UK England Share Share this article Email Twitter Facebook Link Save Promoted Content Previous Article Next Article