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Story & Photography by Manos Angelakis
New Hall Hotel & Spa
Walmley Road
Sutton Coldfield
Birmingham, West Midlands B76 1QX
United Kingdom
(+44) 121-378-2442
New Hall, an 800-year old four-star Country Manor Hotel, can trace its history back to the 13th century, to the time of the Marcian Kings, before the Norman  Conquest. The original building, circa 1200, is surrounded by a water-filled moat fed by seven springs, a necessary means of protection in those times. Today the moat plays host to a wide variety of wildlife including ducks and geese and some of the largest carp to be found in the Midlands. Once the moat was established, the only entry to the manor was through a drawbridge which today is used as access to the Bridge Restaurant.
King Henry VIII was a visitor to Sutton Coldfield Manor, as the mansion was then named. In preparation for those visits, the north wing, including the Great Chamber and the main stair hall, was added in red stone to match the style of the existing building. Magnificent 16th Century gables were constructed in the center and on the left of the main front. Windows were added to the south and southeast wings.
1590 saw the advent of perhaps the most notable family to occupy New Hall.  Henry Sacheverell of Morley and Callow, in Derbyshire, a scion of an ancient Norman family, obtained possession of the manor after the death of Thomas Gibbons, an earlier owner. Henry Sacheverell, remodeled and rebuilt part of the structure in Elizabethan style adding an oak-studded door as the main entrance, decorating the staircase with heraldic beasts, and enlarging the Great Chamber.
In 1645, during the civil war, Charles II is said to have stayed at New Hall during his flight from England. Another of the owners, George, the son of Valens - illegitimate son of Henry Sacheverell and “Mistress Keics” - was suspected of magical practices. He was certainly an alchemist, as two poems “Sacheverell’s Warning” and “The Alchemist of New Hall” attest. They can now be found on the walls of  the bar. Numerous other owners performed remodeling and alterations to New Hall until 1885, when the building and surrounding twenty six acres was turned into a college. Unfortunately, the school was not a financial success and was eventually sold in 1903 as a private residence. Walter Wilkinson and his wife modernized the structure and returned it to its former splendor. Thistle Hotels purchased New Hall in 1985 and invested substantial amounts to rehabilitate the old mansion and add a new wing in the style of the old buildings. The Thistle Hotel opened in May of 1988. In 2005, new owners purchased the property from Thistle Hotels.
Public areas with fine paneling and mullioned stained-glass windows create a unique historic ambience; the magnificent Great Chamber is particularly impressive. This is a property renowned for exquisite food, fine wines, and excellent service in stylish, relaxing surroundings. Sixty guest rooms and suites, 4 with antique four-poster  beds, are individually designed and feature complimentary wireless internet connection, satellite television, hairdryer, and tea/coffee making facilities with homemade biscuits.
New Hall Health & Leisure Club offers personal attention in a discreet and welcoming environment. In addition to a superb swimming pool, Jacuzzi, sauna and steam room, the club offers a fully equipped gymnasium. There are a number of mapped out runs around the grounds. For a game of tennis, you could join friends on the floodlit court, or take advantage of improving your technique with one of the tennis coaches. The club also boasts a 9-hole practice golf course. An experienced golf professional is available to help you improve your swing. One could also participate in the very popular Aqua aerobic classes, or if you are a mother-to-be, you could take advantage of the Aqua Natal class run by a midwife. ‘Beauty at New Hall’ now offers a full range of relaxing, restorative, and holistic treatments using products from Dermalogica.
At the Bridge Restaurant, Chef Wayne Thomson creates outstanding food using local, organically farmed seasonal produce. With an eye for freshness and a flair for presentation, he guarantees mouthwatering dishes. The Terrace restaurant is equally popular, with a friendly welcome and a tempting range of favorites. During the summer you can dine alfresco on the terrace, with a view of the moat and beautiful surrounding grounds.
 Not to be missed is the opportunity to partake of one of the afternoon teas. Whether you stick with the traditional cup or add a special glass of champagne, it is an afternoon eating experience to be savored. Delicious sandwiches, cakes, pastries, and scones are baked fresh in the kitchen. Anna, Seventh Duchess of Bedford, who started afternoon tea as a meal served in her boudoir in the mid-afternoon, would have been proud of the specialties served at the Terrace.
© September 2008 LuxuryWeb Magazine. All rights reserved.
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