Enjoy a day out around Royal Sutton Coldfield
To start your day, set your satnav.
B78 2BF. (P) blue sign on map. Church Lane, Middleton.
10.00 am at Middleton Lakes parking
BIRMINGHAM CENTRAL TO FORAGE. 14 miles. 35 min drive
LONDON HEATHROW TO FORAGE. 114 miles. 2 hrs 15 min drive
BRISTOL TO FORAGE. 106 miles. 2 hrs 35 min drive
PETERBOROUGH. TO FORAGE. 85 miles. 1 hr 40 min drive
Follow our directions to get you to the start of the trip
Four directions you need to keep an eye on
Set your SatNav to Church Lane, Middleton, B78 2BF
Starting from BIRMINGHAM CENTRAL. Join the M6 towards London. At junction 4A take the M42 for the North / N.E.C
Starting from LONDON HEATHROW. Join the M6 towards Birmingham. Eventually join the M42 / M6 TOLL junction and stay on this motorway.
Starting from BRISTOL ..Join the M5 towards Birmingham. At junction 3A take the M42 The North / N.E.C.
Starting from the EAST .. Join the M42. At junction 4A, take slip road left for A4097 Kingsbury / A446 Lichfield, then follow directions below
ALL FOUR ROUTES WILL NOW FOLLOW THE ROUTE BELOW
The M42 and M6 will run side by side for a while. But get ready to take the slip road to the left for the A4097 Kingsbury / A446 Lichfield. You will then see you are crossing over the M6 Toll road below you. IMMEDIATELY and at junction 9, take the slip road to left for A4097 Kingsbury and A446 Lichfield.
At the island take second left for Wishaw A446, and now stay on the inside lane. At the next island, take the second exit for Tamworth A409 ( also signed for Middleton lakes )
Take the third left for Middleton (and Green Man pub) it’s also signed for “The Fig and Olive” and drive along Church Lane.
Now follow your SatNav directions to reach Forage at Coppice.
Enjoy a day out around Royal Sutton Coldfield
A relaxing day visiting historical hotels where you may simply relax and be pampered.
This is an ideal day out if weather not so good, and you just feel like sitting back and doing nothing, although we will introduce you to a very nice shopping outlet to start your day
Welcome to Forage at Coppice
Start your day with a pleasant experience at this shopping mall.
Forage has an inviting approach, with a large car park, and the entrance into the courtyard is very attractive, with a grey brick flooring, and this theme continues into the shop, with skylights that offer natural lighting along with wide open spaces which makes it easy to move around and see what is on offer.
The farm shop is well worth a visit, with Top quality food, and well laid out counters.
The food hall
As soon as you enter you have that feeling that everything will be worth while here, the bakery in particular has appetising break and cakes on display, and by being here nice and early, there was a full choice available. The fruit and veg counter is a treat, very good quality which looks as if it will last. The Buthers counter was so well laid out, everything on display showed a large selection of cuts, the meat of a high quality, a pleasure to note for future visits.
The garden and household departments A double automatic door leads the way into the household section, and it’s so easy to move around, and you have such a variety of displays to see. There are Barbecues, cane furniture and baskets of all sorts. Outside in the garden section, you walk over paved level slabs and brickwork which is easy enough to stroll along, with a wonderful selection of plants and utensils of every delightful items you would use for a wonderful display that your neighbours would I am sure admire.
Coffee break calls The toilets are just inside beyond the household goods, and spotlessly clean, well maintained, and easy enough to use. Then beyond these you will find a truly delightful cafe and restaurant, named as “The Fig and Olives” This is a treat, warm looking woodwork with nicely laid out tables call you forward, and beyond the counters stand two pleasant restaurant areas, beautifully laid out on wooden table and chairs, and would be worth enjoying a meal if only we had time, but for now why not join us for coffee.
May we suggest that if at all possible, you limit your time here, and try to depart at 11.00 am.
Now set your SatNav for the next destination
Moor Hall hotel, Sutton Coldfield. B75 6LN
arrive about 11.15
King Henry 8th gave Sutton Coldfield a Royal Charter.
And to this day it is known as Royal Sutton Coldfield.
You may find the history of the land and of the original first house built here to be very interesting.
Bishop John Vesey of Exeter, had a very splended hall built here on 40 acres of land in 1527. It was a brick built structure, and although little is known about this first hall, it is believed to have been of a grand Queen Anne style, and the Bishop lived in style, with 140 staff, some of whom dressed in Red Livery, and there he often entertained King Henry 8th, and it is felt that because of this friendship the small town of Sutton Coldfield in Warwickshire, was given the Royal Charter, and to this day it is known as “Royal Sutton Coldfield”.
During 1528, just one year after building Moor Hall, and following several successful and important journeys made by the Bishop on behalf of King Henry 8th, that he was given thousands of acres of land, which today form part of Sutton Park.
The Bishop survived the fall of Cardinal Wolsey in 1529, and he prospered under Oliver Cromwell, before loosing his title and rights as a Bishop in 1551, but was restored again as the Bishop two years later, in 1553. However, just another two years later, he died at the ripe old age of 103. His brother Hugh Harmen lived at Moor Hall for a short time, but then, Gawen Grosvenor became the owner in the early 1600, and his son, Leicester Grovenor took over as the owner.
In 1671 the Hall was in the hands of John Addyes. The Addyes family line remained here until 1762, but by then, apparently the hall had not been well looked after, and was in a sorry state, and it is believed it was then rebuilt sometime in the early 1800’s. It was altered quite considerably, as the Rector of Sutton, W.K.Riland Bedford said it was then quite modern.
It was later bought by Colonel Edward Ansell, ( of the Ansell Brewers) who very quickly had the hall demolished, and a new hall was built in 1905. Parts of the old mansion can be seen today, as used to keep the original fireplace in the lounge of 1905, and a glass stained window still shows the date as 1906. The Ansell family lived here until 1930, and was then bought by a local builder, Robert Streatham.
He converted the hall into a guesthouse, with 17 bedrooms. But in 1961, the property was sold, and additions were added to now make Moor Hall a 83 bed roomed hotel. It was opened in 1961 as a private members hall, then in 1972, it was named as Moor Hall Hotel and Country Club.
My wife and I were married in 1962 and lived in Sutton Coldfield, were we had two daughters, and most of the start of our family life involved me working throughout Sutton Coldfield., visiting Moor hall when my work called apon me to visit.
During 1991, the fitness centre and indoor swimming pool were opened, and then a bit later on, the sunken gardens was listed to protect this historical site. In 2003 it became the first UK Hotel to have “The Best Western Premier Status.”
May we show you around the hall and gardens, using a few photos we took of our recent visit.
Enjoy a coffee break at Historic Moor Hall.
Read about the interesting history of Moor Hall, and our own review about this historical area.
Help for you to enjoy your morning at Moor Hall hotel.
To the east of the hotel, you will arrive through open countryside of land used for the growing of crops, and the hotel stands just a few miles from the town of Sutton Coldfield, where many of the houses are more influential, rather than the drab area of the town centre itself. Our trip today concentrates on this open countryside around Sutton, but we will be suggesting places for you to visit just in case the weather isn’t to good, so at least you will be indoors.
May we suggest you use Moor Hall for a coffee break this morning.
Using our photos to guide you
photo 1. As you approach the hotel, you will drive along a pleasant and lovely driveway where you will see the golf course and its greens, and a delightful view across the fields.
Photo 2. There is a reasonably fair sized car park, with many bays, and a few that will be of help to the disabled and senior visitors, so that there is not a long walk to get to the entrance.
Photo 3. The entrance for the hotel is pleasant enough, on the level, without any steps to be of concern, and has an automatic doorway.
Photo 4. You will enter a rather pleasant reception area, plainly furnished but appealing enough. Just let staff members know your wish to join them for coffee, and they will direct you towards the bar lounge.
Photo 5. A corridor leads towards the lounge and Oak room.
Photo 6. The bar area is smallish, but comfortable with pleasing furnishing.
Photo 7. and you may enjoy your coffee or tea, in the Oak room.
Photo 8. The toilets are just beyond the lounge.
Photo 9. They are beautifully decorated in mute colours, with just the bare necessities, and an accessible toilet provided. It is not very big, but you will be able to turn around in there with almost all chairs. It may pay you to telephone reception to get more details if a large power chair is needed.
Photo 10. There is a nice conservatory that overlooks the garden. A small doorway step needs to be able to get up over if you wish to go outside
Photo 11. The entrance to The terrace is inviting if a warm morning, with Ratten furniture laid out ready for you.
Photo 12. On a warm morning, umbrellas are in place to keep you in the shade.
Why not consider an overnight stay ?
Photo 13. The short corridor will lead you back to the bar, and upstairs bedrooms. However, there are bedrooms on the ground floor, ideal for the elderly or disabled people, number 78 being an accessible room.
Photo 14. A reasonably sized room, spacious enough with furniture that includes seating, comforatable beds, wardobe, and office desk, just what you need for a quick stopover.
Photo 15. The bathrooms are beautifully furnished, pale colour schemes, nicely tiled, with modern facilities.
Photo 16. In the evening, enjoy dinner in the Oak paneled restaurant, in comfortable surroundings but with that hint of history, while the staff will make you feel at home, and present a lovely dining experience for you.
We both enjoyed our trip to Moor Hall hotel, quite impressed with this classy hotel, and recommend you visiting.
For more information click below to go to their website
We have drunk with Kings and Queens, the Clergy, and the Rich
Now join us for Lunch at the historical New Hall hotel.
Set your SatNav to, Walmley Road, Sutton Coldfield
B76 1QX
Here we suggest you consider a Lunch break.
Englands oldest Manor House, 1435.
Walk around the gardens and visit the Spa
Take a look at the History of New Hall, and our review .
Historical notes
History tells us that the land around the House existed during the time of the Norman conquest, when the land was owned by Edwin of Mercia, who was executed by William the conqueror in 1071, and the land taken over by the Crown.
In 1126, King Henry 1st gave the land to Roger de Newburgh, the then Earl of Warwick. During 1341, it was the home of a Knight, Sir John Lizours, who named the house as NEW HALL, for the first time.
The history of New Hall, Sutton Coldfield, shows this to be Englands oldest Motel Manor House, built in Warwickshire, with records dating back to 1435 that shows it was built by the Earl of Warwick as a hunting lodge.
The 15th century saw the building of the “Great Chamber” which had originally been built in 1542, and now the walls of the Great Hall were lined with Oak panelling.
The Moat is fed by seven springs, and the terraces south of the moat are 16th and 17th century, inside, the fine mullioned windows have Flemish glass and the windows glazed with leaded quarters, while the moulded stone fireplace is of the 17th century, while the gardens were added later from the 18th century period.
A descendant of one of the knights inherited the estate in 1715, a Charles Sacheverall Chadwick, and it remained in the possession of the Chadwick family until 1897, although it was used as a school from 1885 for some years.
During 1903 it was restored as a residential home, then in 1923 Alfred Owen bought the house, and this remained in the family until 1985, when it was bought by the “Thistle Hotels group” but then in 2008 it became part of the “Handpicked Hotel group” and as we are members of this group, it gave us the opportunity of taking a visit.
Following my wife and I being married and living in Sutton Coldfield, just a few months after the birth of our first daughter, we moved to live just half a mile away from New Hall, so it was a treat to return and take a look at this Elizabethian hall.
Our review of new Hall
Touch a photo to read about each picture that tells a tale.
Photo 1 We start our review of this delightful Moated Hotel with our long approach along a very scenic drive up to the hotel itself.
There is a large car park, that has a chipping layer on the hard core soil area, and for elderly or those who need to use a wheelchair, it may prove To be rather difficult and slow to get across until you find the paved pathways.
Photo 2 The overall appearance of the old house is very appealing,, with lots of character and a hint of excitement will no doubt be felt.
Photo 3. Entrance to the building is over an old wooden bridge, full of character in itself, and looking down while on the bridge, see if you can spot some of the largest Carp to be found in the Midlands. You may also see a variety of wildlife lazily paddling past the bridge, like migrating ducks and geese.
Photo 4. the impressive moat, still well maintained, helps you to view across towards the new extension of the old hall, which blends in well in the keeping of the Hall. It is easy to cross the bridge on the flagstones to reach the heavy double doors, which you need to pull open. Access is via narrow doorways above the moat, no problem for seniors or disabled if both sides of the door are opened.
However, to make life easier, you may want to make use of the other main entrance into the hotel,
Photo 13. situated just a few feet beyond the moat bridge, which is by far more level and easier, especially for older or disabled members of our family.
Photo 5. This way, you will find a pleasant reception area, where you can book in if an overnight stay is required, and we certainly recommend this hotel as an overnight stay.
Photo 6. Alongside the reception desk is a pleasant small Tapestry room, (which can get busy at times) but it’s a lovely room to sit in and watch the world go by, or at least the visitors arriving. We encountered no steps to worry about,( but there are ramps provided if you need help) There are no lifts here, as it is a grade one building, but if staying overnight, there is an accessible bedroom on the ground floor, and all older people will be encouraged to book a room on the ground floor anyway.
Photo 7 Having entered the hotel over the old bridge, you will be in the restaurant area, and it’s here you will offer your name if you have booked an Afternoon Tea, or a table for Lunch. There is a nice Bar with places to sit to enjoy a pre-lunch drink, or to simply have a drink if you haven’t booked any meals today. Just sit and relax awhile.
Photo 8 To take you to your seat in the main restaurant, there is a separate reception desk, A lovely entry to the restaurant
Photo 9 The Bridge Restaurant is delightful, with Oak panelling and comfortable seating arrangements, quite an intimate room, offering a very good selection of finger sandwiches, scones, and tasty cakes, and a Lunch here does have a reasonable selection of main courses, and well presented by willing staff.
Photo 10 Join the Disabled Traveller, Dennis, for a light lunch today, where we enjoyed a well presented lunch, washed down with a alcohol free glass of cider for Dennis, and a large wine for Veronica.
Photo 11 If the weather is pleasant enough, you may wish to enjoy your coffee on the terrrace, very nice area.
Photo 12 The terrace overlooks the moat at the rear of the hotel, with views across the gardens and distant hills.
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Our second set of photos for your help
Photo 13. The main entrance is just beyond the Moat Bridge.
Photo 14. This has the main reception desk that offers excellent help when you book in, for overnight stays, and general help.
Photo 15, 16 and 17. Alongside the reception, to the right, there is a hallway, and then a corridor to get you to the bedrooms, as well as to an accessible toilet, although this is very small, very basic, but the toilet does have pull cords and a grab handle if needed, (but please note, you will not get a wheelchair in there).
Photo 18. This corridor is also the way out to the gardens, but there are a number of high steps to then get you down to the garden area of grass and paved paths. However, If you would like to take a walk around the grounds, and steps are difficult for you, then you may wish to take the paths that are to the right of the hotel.
Photo 19. This is just before the new extension on the other side of the moat, which has turned left to encircle the hotel. The extensions were built by John Chadwick and his son Charles in Red brickwork, with stone quoins and Gothic windows, and a carved stone on the Tower bears the date of 1796.
Photo 20 There are very nice easy woodland and park walks around the grounds, dirt paths so beware if it’s wet. Take a visit in the Spring to see the Bluebell display.
Photo 21 The grassy fields lead you across to the Spa, along a hard core path, easy enough to walk across.
Photos 22, 23 and 24 The pool is very enticing, and seemed to be popular with those taking a dip, and there is a decent Gym with mod cons to take that Lunch away from an overfilled stomach.
For details about the Spa, take a look at it here
When you are on their website, in the search button
Type in “New Hall” and always read the help offered by
“Disabled Traveller”
We would recommend you considering using this hotel for a delightful afternoon tea, or a good lunch break, best to book this in advance however.
For more details about New Hall hotel and Spa, read below
We have drunk with Kings, dined with yesterdays rich,
Now join tomorrows hero,s
“The Belfrey”
The Famous Golf Club
Here they hold major championships, on three golf courses. And you are now invited to join us for a Cocktail or two.
Parking was ok, there was even plenty of disabled bays for your partner and friends to use, it’s a nice flat walk to get into the Hotels entrance, the reception area was lovely with friendly staff, the Bar and the lounge was a treat, lovely atmosphere in there.
a very nice Hotel, lively, lots of people passing along, the drinks are reasonably priced, it’s relaxing.
toilets were so clean and nicely furnished, the colour scheme is muted
The main hub is spacious, marbled floors shining away, and easy for everyone to move around. The restaurant looked very nice, we might try that one day.
The Terrace is lovely, the furniture is comfortable, the gardens are well maintained, you have areas to be alone in and have a good chat.
Would you like to know more about “The Belfry”
Or you fancy an Overnight stay here, then check out details below.
you must watch their opening video of the resort,
very impressive.
For senior citizens or our disabled friends
read more advice below
http://www.euansguide.com
When you are on Euan’s Guide page, in the search button just type in, The Belfry. Then always look for reviews by “Disabled Traveller”
What a lovely easy relaxing day out together
But now it’s time to head for home
Set your SatNav directions for Home
To Heathrow it will be around a 2 hour drive for some 110 miles
To Birmingham central it will be about a 30 minute drive, for some 12 miles
To Bristol it will be about 1 hour 50 minutes and about 101 miles
To Peterborough it will be about 1 hour 30 minutes and some 80 miles
Now look below to find how to enjoy a day out at other venues.
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