Warwickshire &amp; West Midlands


<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-location">THE LOCATION</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://warks.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2022/08/Untitled-design-769.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-50280" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2022/08/Untitled-design-769.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2022/08/Untitled-design-769-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2022/08/Untitled-design-769-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2022/08/Untitled-design-769-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2022/08/Untitled-design-769-788x525.jpg 788w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



<p>In the Baroque surrounds of a country estate in the Warwickshire/ Coventry countryside sits this stunning hotel and former monastry, surrounded by a moat, no less. It’s hidden away from it all in some 500 acres of landscaped gardens, grounds, lake and woodlands, but just 15 minutes away from Coventry city centre.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://warks.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2022/08/Untitled-design-787.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-50295" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2022/08/Untitled-design-787.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2022/08/Untitled-design-787-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2022/08/Untitled-design-787-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2022/08/Untitled-design-787-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2022/08/Untitled-design-787-788x525.jpg 788w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



<p>Coombe Abbey, with its medieval origins, links with the Gunpowder Plot and roll call of regal guests – Queen Elizabeth I lived here as child – has a prominent place in many history books. And the medieval banquet is its offering to transport you back to all that pomp and pageantry. It&#8217;s held in the historic Abbeygate which was once used as stables and servants quarters and is dripping in heritage, charm and original features &#8211; you could be on a film set. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">THE VIBE</h2>



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<p>Lit by candlelight with stone flagged floors and knights in armour, the place really looks the part, so the guests have to as well &#8211; fancy dress is positively encouraged, with around half the guests dressed up to the nines in costume &#8211; think ladies in corseted dresses, knights and even a few peasants. Ever one to get stuck in, we, of course, were in full medieval dress &#8211; you only live once hey?</p>



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<p>If you&#8217;re expecting just a meal and a few glasses of mead, then think again. The whole night is an experience, with historic sketches filled with innuendos, sing-alongs and members of the audience dragged on stage to participate. Luckily we managed to hide behind our goblets and avoid the glare of the performers. </p>



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<p>There&#8217;s no packing up and heading home straight after dinner either &#8211; there&#8217;s even a disco at the end of the night. And if you haven&#8217;t seen a historic building filled with lords and ladies dancing their socks/garters off then frankly, where have you been?</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">SCOFF &amp; QUAFF</h2>



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<p>We pulled up a pew (literally) at one of the long tables dressed in sumptuous velvets and lit by candle light and sipped on goblets of red wine and flagons of ale while we waited for the first course (Dutch courage was in plentiful supply).</p>



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<p>The starter was &#8216;Baron&#8217;s Broth&#8217; &#8211; a hearty veg soup you have to drink from the bowl, peasant style, with freshly made bread for dunking. Next up was &#8216;The Royal Rib&#8217; a perfectly cooked &#8216;rib of swine&#8217; with sage, cider and honey &#8211; also perfect finger food, while on the side was a butternut squash, spinach and stilton risotto (fork provided). </p>



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<p>The next course (well, it is a banquet!) was a king-size portion of roasted fowl with herby potatoes, corn on the cob and a salad. For those who don&#8217;t eat meat there was potato, cheese and leek bake. </p>



<p>Arguably my favourite course was dessert &#8211; a classic apple and apricot crumble topped with a lovely light elderflower cream and served alongside a spoon! </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">STAY</h2>



<p>If you fancy making a night of it and renting a room to really live out your Maid Marion dreams, you can stay in one of Coombe’s grand medieval style rooms overlooking the beautiful Capability Brown grounds.&nbsp;</p>



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<p>Rooms are full of their own quirks and style like roll top baths and sash windows and it really has that luxe historic feel. The 121 rooms are hidden all over the building round winding corridors and are pretty much straight out of a Bridgerton scene. They&#8217;re handily put into categories on the hotel&#8217;s website to make it easier to know which to book for families, couples, friends and so on. </p>



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://warks.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2022/08/Untitled-design-781.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-50289" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2022/08/Untitled-design-781.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2022/08/Untitled-design-781-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2022/08/Untitled-design-781-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2022/08/Untitled-design-781-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2022/08/Untitled-design-781-788x525.jpg 788w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">THE MUDDY VERDICT</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://warks.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2022/08/Untitled-design-786.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-50293" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2022/08/Untitled-design-786.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2022/08/Untitled-design-786-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2022/08/Untitled-design-786-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2022/08/Untitled-design-786-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2022/08/Untitled-design-786-788x525.jpg 788w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



<p><strong>Good for:</strong> If you&#8217;re looking for something different to do with friends and family then this is a night you&#8217;ll be talking about for years to come. </p>



<p><strong>Not for:</strong> If you&#8217;re after a quiet meal then this isn&#8217;t it. It&#8217;s raucous, hilarious and great fun if you go with the flow. </p>



<p><strong>The damage:</strong> Tickets start from £49.95 including four-course feast, a mead cocktail on arrival and beakers of wine and ale with dinner. If you fancy staying over then rooms start from £105 and increase depending on which you opt for.&nbsp;</p>



<p><a href="https://www.coombeabbey.com/product/mediaeval-banquet-2/">Coombe Abbey</a>, Brinklow Road, Binley, Warwickshire,&nbsp;CV3 2AB</p>



<p>Tel: 02476 450 450</p>


Review: Coombe Abbey Medieval Banquet, Coventry

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