The Castle and Ball, now Marlborough’s premier hotel and restaurant, is back in business, re-opening today (Saturday) after a two-month refurbishment costing close to £1 million.
The historic coaching inn that dates back to 1670 now has additional bedrooms to cope with tourism following the controversial sale of the Ivy House Hotel, on the opposite side of the High Street, to Marlborough College.
“We are clearly committed to Marlborough by the fact that is our most expensive refurbishment to date costing close to £1 million,” Gordon England, regional manager for owners Green King/Old English Inns, told Marlborough News Online.
“We are absolutely delighted to be Marlborough’s premier hotel and we are looking forward to a prosperous and exciting future ahead.”
The Castle and Ball, originally called The Antelope at the time of the Spanish Armada, now has a total of 37 bedrooms, two more than before, both fitted with en suite showers instead of baths.
The original 35, some with four-poster beds, have all been upgraded with new decoration and carpets. Some have been upgraded to a higher standard than before offering superior accommodation to some of the 84 people the hotel can accommodate when fully booked.
Only nine bedrooms are currently available, the rest coming on stream during the rest of March with a double room costing £89 a night with a £10 or £20 additional charge being introduced at peak times. This includes a full English breakfast or alternatives.
“We are treating the Castle and Ball as a research and development project by raising its splendid bedrooms to a higher status,” said Mr England, who controls 14 hotels in five counties.
The new general manager in charge of a team of 30 members of staff is Nigel Forrester, who has been recruited from Whitbread Hotels, the biggest chain in the country.
And chef Adam Barrett and his staff have a new kitchen to prepare meals for those attracted by the hotel’s distinctive and newly gilded sign with gold leaf.
