Nailcote News

February 9th sees the launch event for our Bride of the Year 2013.

Situated in the beautiful Warwickshire countryside but within easy reach of Solihull and Birmingham, Nailcote Hall is a wonderful place to celebrate your wedding and in 2013 our Nailcote Hall Bride of the Year could be you. All couples booking a wedding reception before the end of January 2013 will be entered into the draw to be held at our special event in February. One lucky couple will be drawn at random and will win a free wedding reception worth around £5000. What a fantastic way to start your married life.

Perfect Brides wedding fayre - February 26th

Nailcote Hall will be hosting the Perfect Brides wedding Fayre on February 26th from 11am - 4pm.

Fashion show - FREE ENTRY

50 of the best regional exhibitors

Free prize draw at 3.30

Pre register at info@perfectbrides.co.uk

To exhibit call 07912435570

New chef brings his expertise to Nailcote’s Oak Room

When a talented new chef arrives at an established restaurant, there is a tricky balancing act between maintaining the old favourites and introducing something newand exciting. Thankfully, Neil Peers at the Oak Room Restaurant, Nailcote Hall, has succeeded.

Nailcote Hall Hotel has long held a reputation for excellence when it comes to serving traditional cuisine.

The fine dining restaurant The Oak Room, which is in the 17th century manor part of the country house hotel near Berkswell, is a gorgeous venue.

Opulent and rich, with its dark beams, formal table settings and heavy curtains, it is an intimate dining room that is perfect for special occasions. Despite its formal and traditional appearance, however, it is a relaxed and unpretentious restaurant. Regulars love the flambés, Steak Diane, Crèpes Suzettes and home baked soufflés and you will rarely find an empty table when Sunday lunch is served because its roast beef is difficult to beat.

Since Neil Peers arrived as head chef, he has been careful to keep regular diners happy by maintaining the old favourites, but he has breathed new life into the Oak Room thanks to a new menu he has devised with owner Rick Cressman.

Neil’s flair and expertise is more than apparent.

Alongside the flambés and steaks, Neil has introduced an array of fabulous new dishes that will delight those diners who love the more exotic and modern. We were very keen to see how he has transformed the restaurant.

Before we caught sight of this exciting, new menu, we enjoyed a pre-dinner drink in the aptly named Celebrity Bar.

The walls are adorned with photographs of the many celebrities who have enjoyed the hospitality of Nailcote Hall, including sportsmen and women who have competed in their very successful annual Par 3 British Farmfoods Golf Championship, which is held here every August.

You can’t help but feel at home here. As we enjoyed our drinks, we noticed how warmly the guests are treated by the friendly staff. Many of them have worked there since owner Rick Cressman bought the hotel 20 years ago and the efficiency of Skender and Carole is legendary.

We moved to the dining room and were delighted that the starters gave us an indication of the quality of food we could expect from the Oak Room.

The choice was inventive, with starters including a velouté of cauliflower served with a curry dumpling; a duo of rabbit, with carrots three ways; a fillet of red mullet served with shaved fennel and radish salad, crab cake and tomato essence.

We opted for the superb baked local goat’s cheese, which was served with golden beetroot salad and smoked aubergine purée, and seared king scallops served with confit pork belly and pea purée. It was fabulous. The baked goat’s cheese was cooked to perfection, while with the large scallops were beautifully cooked. In each dish, the combination of flavours was judged very well.

For our main course we were also spoilt for choice. Diners who love the drama of a traditional steak Diane flambéed at their table will be assured to know they can still expect the highest standards of this classic dish that is served with sautéed garlic, wild mushrooms, diced shallots and tomato concasse. For those who prefer simpler food, the whole grilled Cornish sole served with lemon and caper butter is a good choice, while vegetarians are also well catered for with the intriguing sounding roasted globe artichoke served with scented tagliatelle, poached duck egg and choron sauce.

We chose seared fillet of brill, which was served with crayfish ravioli, samphire and saffron foam, and the contra fillet of Aberdeenshire beef that was accompanied by potato terrine, girolles purée, wilted autumn greens and horseradish foam.

We certainly made the right choices. Neil Peers adventurous streak has resulted in dishes that are packed with flavour and unusual combinations.

The desserts are also very tempting. Again, traditionalists can enjoy the very fine crèpes suzettes that are flambéed at your table, but those looking for something lighter could opt for the light strawberry and Champagne Jelly with a creamy vanilla custard, strawberry espuma and served with black pepper meringues.

I’d recommend keeping room for the desserts - especially the dark chocolate tart that is served with caramelized hazelnut ice cream or the rhubarb crumble soufflé, which is one of chef’s specialities and is served with stem ginger ice cream and crème Anglaise. Delicious.

For those of you who have not visited Nailcote Hall’s Oak Room Restaurant in a while, do make a return visit. Neil Peers has created an excellent menu to suit all tastes – from the ultra traditional dishes to more modern plates with some exciting twists. You will not be disappointed.

by Karen Jones - Originally published in touchbase magazine www.touchbasemagazine.com/

X-Factor star returns to Nailcote Hall

We are delighted to have Andy Abraham, star of X-Factor, back to Nailcote Hall for our ‘Black Tie’ charity party on 19th November 2011. This spectacular event promises to be a wonderful night out and all in support of a great cause - Children In Need.

Children in Need

Children in Need provide grants to projects in the UK which focus on children and young people who are disadvantaged. They support small and large organisations which empower children and extend their life choices in all corners of the UK. A great cause which I'm sure we can all get behind.

Andy Abraham

In 2005 Andy came 2nd in the biggest light entertainment show on TV; X Factor in which he wowed the judging panel and audiences across the nation with this soulful voice and winning personality.

Since then, Andy’s career has gone from strength to strength as he continues to amaze audiences with this dazzling stage presence. In 2009, Andy embarked on a sell out 54 date UK tour as well as performing at a number of prestigious events. These included performing at the Muhammad Ali Charity event, Nelson Mandela Charity evening and joined Beverly Knight on stage at England’s football star Theo Walcott’s 21st birthday party.

With raw talent, a captivating personality and stage presence to enthral and mesmerise; it’s no wonder Andy has gone on to become a true star and one of the UK’s most successful soul singers. Andy was recently a big hit when he performed during the evening celebrations at the Farmfoods British Par 3 Championship here at Nailcote Hall.

This is definitely a night not to be missed and a chance to support a very worthwhile cause. Why not book your place now!

More changes for the Par 3 Championship course

Despite being recognised as the best short course in the UK, Nailcote Hall has started work on a number of changes which will make the host venue of the Farmfoods’ British Par 3 Championship even more challenging in 2012.

In fact only the 6th and 9th holes will escape the attention of Nailcote’s owner and course designer, Rick Cressman who commented, “It was a great championship this year and more and more golfers, societies and corporate users are coming to play the course, so I want to be sure that the course is as challenging and entertaining to play as possible”.

The longest hole, the 7th has just had the green extended by about 6 yars, allowing an additional but very tricky pin position.

To attack it, players will have to flight their shot over 125 yards of water and the large, “St Andrews” style bunker if they are brave enough to attack the flag.

The 8th hole is actually having the green enlarged which Rick thinks will make it a little fairer, but again it also provides for an extra pin position alongside water and bunker protection which will be hard to attack without taking some extra risk.

Behind the 5th green, new mounding has been put in place which gives the hole and setting of the green a more enclosed look and means, “the bunkers at the back of the green will be more visible and styled like the bunkers at the back of Augusta’s famous 12th !

A new bunker and shaping to the back of the 4th green is just about to start and extra sprinkler heads are being placed on the 4th, 5th and 8th to give a more consistent quality of surface in dry conditions.

But the big project which will transform a large part of the course and have a major visual impact when players visit Nailcote, is the development of a new water feature in front of both the 2nd and 3rd holes.

This will result in the existing two front bunkers on the 3rd being removed and the water will come to within 2/3 yards of the edge of the green. “From 125 yards, I don’t think this will be the second easiest hole on the course any more” ! said Rick. “But it will look absolutely stunning from the tee and great for spectators to view at the Farmfoods’ British Par 3 Championship which is set for August 7th-0th next year. I can’t wait to see the Pro’s reactions.”

The course will be open throughout the winter so players can enjoy the course and see what is happening too.

Sunshine and stars brings record crowds to Nailcote Hall

The sun shone and the crowds came in record numbers to enjoy the top golfers and celebrities competing in this year’s Farmfoods’ British Par 3 Championship.

The event was hosted again by Ryder Cup captain and double major champion, Tony Jacklin CBE who flew in from Florida with his great friend, Larry Laoretti, 1992 US Senior Open champion and the event’s first ever USA competitor.

Armed with his trademark cigar, as well as his clubs, Larry charmed all the spectators with his sense of fun and style. The first American amateur team to play also joined in all the fun for the four days play – the Brandenburg team led by Lee Brandenburg from California was ably assisted by Doug Breen and Frank Christian from Augusta who along with his father has photographed every Masters since it started in 1934 – a year after the first Par 3 Short Course Championship !

Past Ryder Cup and current Senior Tour player, Gordon J Brand won the Celebrity/Pro title on the first day while the very colourful Ian Halliwell’s team “The Social Golfer” assisted by Grand National winner, Bob Champion won the team event.

The Black Tie Gala dinner which followed saw Tony Jacklin singing after swinging! And Laura White – X Factor finalist and the evergreen Barron Knights with Pete Langford entertained the 250 guests with a terrific Rock ‘n’ Roll show.

After the first days warm up the serious business of the 36 hole PRO-AM started on Wednesday morning – at 7.20 a.m! And right from the start the youngest competitor 10 year old Harry Fearn made quite an impression, birdieing the first hole by chipping in from the bunker to the delight of his professional partner – 2006 Par 3 champion- Shaun P Webster.

Without a doubt the array of professionals joining the Championship was the best the event has ever seen with past Ryder Cup stars Maurice Bembridge, Tommy Horton, Malcolm Gregson and Gordon J Brand, being well supported by European Senior Tour players Carl Mason, Mark Mouland, Gary Wolstenholme, Tony Johnstone Andrew Sherborne and Dennis Durnian in their hunt for the title.

With a record £15,000 going to the winner and £5,000 to the over 60’s Super Senior winner, competition was sure to be fierce. Younger stars from the European Tour who were chasing the big prize included Graeme Storm, Gary Boyd, Scott Jamieson, Paul Broadhurst, Danny Willett, Simon Wakefield, David Dixon and Seve Benson.

At the end of the first day’s play, the clubhouse lead was held jointly by No 1 European Tour Senior star, Carl Mason and current European Tour player, David Dixon at 3 under par – a very good score in the tricky breezy conditions.

Another bright day brought the crowds out in force to see the conclusion of the main championship. Jasper Carrott who was playing with Paul Broadhurst and Peter Schmeichel who was paired with 2010 champion, Richard O’Hanlon were hoping their partners could make strong moves up the leaderboard but they both had to cope with finishing 14^th.

But a couple of players were playing well and one in particular Andrew Sherborne was charging up the leaderboard. Starting at 1 over par he reached 5 under par with two holes to play. Then successive bogeys dropped him back to finish at 3 under par – but with the lead in the clubhouse. Carl Mason and David Dixon had been slipping back during their rounds but Simon Wakefield and Seve Benson were pushing the new leader. Simon birdied the 35^th hole to get to 2 under par and needed a birdie at the last to force a play-off !

But, under pressure his tee shot failed to find the green and a bogey 4 saw him finish at 1 under par for 2^nd place, behind the champion – Andrew Sherborne. Seve Benson finished on level par for 3^rd place – a very creditable effort on his first visit to Nailcote.

Seve enjoyed a consolation success in winning the Better Ball Pairs title and the Halliwell Cup with partner, Jason Preston. The runners up were Shaun Webster and his 10 year old partner, Harry Fearn !

After all the excitement of the main event, it was back to another Celebrity/Am team day on the final day with more celebrity players joining in, including Bobby Davro, Anton du Beke, James Jordan, Ron Atkinson, Willie Thorne, Bill Roache and Alan McInally.

A great day finished with Bobby Davro’s Britvic team in the runners up place and just pipped by the Dowding & Mills’ team with celebrity Dougie Brown to the last title of the week. Shaun P Webster won the individual celebrity prize.

Evening celebrations included Nailcote’s owner Rick Cressman being presented with a very special 60^th Birthday cake designed top look like the 9^th hole, by his wife Sue. Partying went on until the early hours with entertainment by Bobby Davro, X Factor runner up Andy Abraham and a James Brown Soul & Funk Party tribute.

All in all a great week helped by some lovely weather and the generosity of everyone involved raised £24,000 for the Rainbow’s Hospice. Now the plans start for next year when the Farmfoods’ British Par 3 Championship will return to Nailcote Hall from the 7^th – 10^th August. Tony Jacklin confirmed he will be back again and reminded everyone at the final dinner that the “short game” is the part of golf that really matters !