Kilworth House
Kilworth House is a four star country house hotel, located west of North Kilworth, Leicestershire.[1]
Kilworth House Hotel
This glorious Grade II listed Italianate country house was built as a family home towards the end of the nineteenth century for John Entwisle, the High Sheriff of Leicestershire. After the death of Mr Entwisle’s second wife in the 1960s, the house passed to the Snowdon family who turned it into several flats. In 1999 the current owners, Celia and Richard Mackay, bought the house and a major restoration project restored it to its former glory. This painstaking restoration process involved working with English Heritage to preserve the star listing of the Victorian Orangery – an exquisite construction featuring stained glass windows on most aspects, wrought iron finials on the roof and a striking original black and white mosaic floor. Much work was also undertaken to remove false ceilings, staircases, windows and doors which had been added throughout the building’s history, and which were not in keeping with the original architecture. The renovations extended throughout the estate. An idyllic lake set within the grounds was extended and stocked to offer excellent fishing, while major trees were catalogued by species, age and height to facilitate ongoing care and to help create a refuge for local wildlife. The bats that had made their home in various outbuildings were relocated to a custom-built roost.
The Kilworth House Hotel is located within easy reach of several international and regional airports. East Midlands and Birmingham International Airports are both around 45 minutes away by car. The M1 J20 is just 4 miles from the Hotel with the major road networks of the M6/A14/M69 all within a few miles. Kilworth House Hotel is the perfect venue for business or leisure blending Victorian opulence with fine food and contemporary luxury. Set amid thirty-eight acres of landscaped South Leicestershire parkland, it has two unique features – the stunning award-winning Theatre set in a wooded glade which opened in 2007 and the Hotel’s ornate Victorian Orangery overlooking the parkland. Guests are offered the opportunity to enjoy the delightful details of the fine period rooms, together with ultra-modern comforts and amenities. At the end of a long, tree-lined approach, you are welcomed by graceful surroundings and are free to explore the gardens and enchanting woodland, where there is an abundance of wildlife or just relax amidst the many antiques, artwork and period fabrics of the fine lounges. Guests can expect modern conference facilities, relaxing beauty treatment rooms, a fitness room and forty-four charming bedrooms which include eleven individually named luxury rooms.
With its beautifully manicured estate Kilworth House is the perfect backdrop for weddings and special occasions and at Christmastime guests come to admire the generous and glittering Christmas decorations.
Food is served from imaginative menus in both the Orangery and Wordsworth restaurants and the renowned Afternoon Tea is a popular choice. Stunning private dining rooms are also available for parties looking for the perfect place to celebrate. The Staging Post log cabin located adjacent the Theatre a popular addition to the Estate was added in 2007 and is used for corporate entertaining and private parties throughout the year.
The Kilworth House Theatre opened in 2007 in a beautiful wooded glade close to the lake in the grounds of Kilworth House Hotel in south Leicestershire. One of a handful of privately owned theatres in Britain, it is the first to be built in the grounds of a UK hotel and was constructed without any financial subsidy.
The opening of Kilworth House Theatre fulfilled a lifetime passion and dream of owner Celia Mackay to build a theatre. The theatre took 2 years to complete – this was from the initial discussions to completion – and opened on June 5th 2007 with a concert given by Adam Watkiss, followed by 20 performances of Gilbert & Sullivans ‘The Pirates Of Penzance’ running from 19th June – 8th July with a cast of 30 and a 12 piece orchestra. The theatre initially opened with a capacity of 330 seats which – due to demand – was increased prior to its second season in 2008 to 550. Since then the number of performances has increased to over 100 attracting audiences of 50,000 plus and ‘sold out’ notices are the norm for the two ‘West End standard’ musicals produced at Kilworth House Theatre each season.
Audiences and critics have been enthralled and excited by the quality of work produced by the theatre, with the venue being described by the Daily Telegraph as ‘Britain’s best-kept theatrical secret’ and their productions receiving the much sought after Critics Choice Award.
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Coordinates: 52°26′45″N 1°06′54″W / 52.445701°N 1.114981°W