A substantial new hotel in a Grade I listed landscape
Project: Warwick Castle Hotel
Location: Warwick, UK
Client: Merlin Entertainments PLC
Project Team: Blue Forest, MCL Projects, MES Building Solutions, Ian Keen Ltd, Lichfields, John Taylor Transport, Cahill Design Consultants, Simpson Associates, Enzygo Energy Consultants, Archaeology Warwickshire, Baker Consulting, Compass Energy, Assent Building Control, HK Safety Services, Saul Slater Consulting, Creative Outdoor Spaces, Willerby Homes
Timescale: Completed 2016
Size: 3,400m2

Delivered in collaboration with the design and build contractors Blue Forest, this scheme provided 14 timber framed lodges (28 hotel keys), and a new restaurant and conference facilities building at Warwick Castle.

Set within the Grade I listed Capability Brown landscape and adjacent to a Scheduled Ancient Monument, the development created a completely new visitor experience for Merlin Entertainments. Each lodge sleeps 8-12 guests and is themed to enhance the Warwick Castle brand. The restaurant/conference building houses an impressive open plan dining hall that services the lodges and an additional 40 seasonal glamping tents. This allows guests to experience a real medieval banquet with authentic medieval food and provides conference facilities as a potential additional income stream for the site.

The project was delivered in an incredibly sensitive natural and heritage setting; we developed a number of key technical solutions to achieve this working with MCL Projects and Keen Consultants. This included a helical pile foundation solution, which combined with modular pre-fabricated construction delivered a reversible built outcome that put no pressure on the existing tree roots. We also developed an above ground ‘no-dig’ servicing strategy, sitting below access boardwalks, to avoid disturbing the existing ecology.

Tate+Co created a wonderful new hotel in the Warwick Castle grounds, successfully delivering the scheme within our very challenging heritage restrictions. ”

Matthew Halford, Manager, Warwick Castle