STUDLEY Castle has been officially re-opened after a three year renovation.

The attraction was recently declared officially open for guests by Warwickshire County Councillor Clive Rickhards, following a ceremony attended by members of the local parish and council.

Lovingly restored by short break specialists Warner Leisure Hotel in a £50million investment – one of the most significant investments by any British hotel group over the past few years – the castle has undergone a three-year renovation in order to restore it back to its former glory.

As well as the building and stonework, the team worked with ecological consultants to safely move a family of bats to a new home, and created a protected area for Great Crested Newts which also reside within the grounds of Studley Castle.

Commenting on the opening, cllr Rickards, said: “It’s an honour to declare this prestigious hotel open once more. In the trusted hands of Warner Leisure Hotels, which has great pedigree in restoring historic buildings across the country, I know that Studley Castle will do wonders for our area, and I for one am eager to stay here and sample the excellent service on offer.”

General manager Dean Saunders added: “The renovation process has taken us all on a long but very exciting journey, and we’re thrilled to be able to declare the hotel open.”

The Grade II listed property was originally designed by the famous London theatre architect Samuel Beazley, and has had a diverse list of owners, from Lady Warwick who turned it into an agricultural college for women, giving them equal opportunities to men within agriculture, to the Government who used it to train the Women’s Land Army during both world wars.

As well as creating more than 200 new jobs in a welcome boast to the local economy, Studley Castle Hotel offers guests heritage and contemporary comfort, with the 209 guest rooms offering 19th Century elegance with added modern technology.

Additional facilities include two restaurants, a cinema, a gin bar and lounges, a spa with a range of specialist treatments, a wide choice of outdoor pursuits to enjoy (laser clay, cycling, archery), and one of the largest live performance venues on the UK hotel scene.