Tourism attractions and the hospitality sector in South Warwickshire are gearing up for a busy Father’s Day in 2022.
At this time last year Covid restrictions were due to end fully on June 21 and so many businesses were only just starting to get back to normal.
This Sunday (June 19) families can once again celebrate Father’s Day with day’s out, a special meal, staycations and local produce galore.
At the award-winning British Motor Museum in Gaydon, the 72nd Banbury Run takes place on Father’s Day itself. Families and visitors can watch one of the UK’s biggest gatherings of 500 vintage motorcycles and three-wheelers, made before 1931, set off at 10am with Instagram-worthy perspectives from the museum’s viewing areas.
Gift ideas range from a day out at the museum to drives in classic cars and an annual Membership at the Warwickshire museum where dads can admire more than 400 British classic cars. The museum’s online shop also stocks novelty motoring themed items including ‘Man Cave’ tin signs, cufflinks, hip flasks and mugs.
For an authentic steam express train experience Vintage Trains, a charitably-controlled company operating high-quality dining and Pullman coaches on the main line, has just launched a new summer and autumn tour programme. Father’s Day gift vouchers are available for The Shakespeare Express which will be running ‘Summer Sundays’ between July 17 – 24 from Birmingham Snow Hill, Moor Street and Tyseley to Stratford-upon-Avon with dining options and five hours to explore this historic market town.
Alternatively, travel from Stratford-upon-Avon through the scenic Warwickshire countryside to Birmingham on a return trip. It will also be running during Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games on Thursday and Friday evenings, plus weekends between July 28 and August 8 from £30 return. Other experiences include Murder on the Shakespeare Express and theatrical Mad Hatter’s Tea Parties.
Tables can be booked at award-winning restaurants across the county for Father’s Day, including Michelin-starred The Cross at Kenilworth, which will be serving its à la carte and tasting menus, as well as a delicious Sunday roast - featuring Chateaubriand roast beef and all the trimmings.
Boutique four-star sister hotels, Mallory Court Hotel and Spa in Leamington Spa and The Arden Hotel in Stratford-upon-Avon, have this year launched a range of new Father’s Day gift vouchers. They include ‘Midweek Afternoon Tea for Two’ or a ‘Tasting Menu for two’, including a glass of Champagne at Mallory Court Hotel’s 3 AA Rosette Dining Room; and ‘Afternoon Tea for Two’ or a three-course ‘Dinner for Two’ at the award-winning Arden Hotel from £59.
Afternoon tea is not just for mums. The acclaimed Knight’s Afternoon Tea at historic four-star Coombe Abbey Hotel is a cream tea with a twist served on a rustic bench. A freshly-made savoury selection, it includes crispy panko salmon and tartare fish finger sandwich, a Malt Kiln pork pie and tarragon mustard mash topped lamb and Merguez sausage shepherd’s pie.
Billesley Manor Hotel, near Stratford-upon-Avon, is also serving up its special Queen’s Afternoon Tea in honour of the Platinum Jubilee until the end of the month.
For dads who enjoy a tipple and like to support local independents, artisan Stratford-upon-Avon drinks producer, Shakespeare Distillery, now offers personalised bottles of gin with customised messages, and British-made rum made at the distillery in three flavours including chocolate. Gift vouchers for their popular distillery tours, gin cruises with Avon Boating and Gin School experiences are also available.
Historic Coombe Abbey has also partnered up with award-winning independent Birmingham distillery, 1000 Trades, to create its own classic Coombe Abbey Gin and Coombe Abbey Mead.
Helen Peters, CEO of Shakespeare’s England, the not-for-profit regional DMO for South Warwickshire and surrounding areas, said: “Father’s Day is the ideal opportunity to spoil dads of all ages, enjoy the warm summer weather and make the most of all our vibrant county has to offer - its wonderful attractions, top-class hospitality venues and amazing local food and drink producers!
“Whether you are planning a big family outing or a celebratory meal there is so much to do across Coventry and Warwickshire – and it’s so great to see everywhere open for business again.”
The full list includes:
- Vintage Trains
A new tour programme has just been launched by the UK’s only charitably-controlled steam express train operating company from June to December based in the West Midlands and Warwickshire. Father’s Day gift ideas include experiences and day trips across the country running throughout the summer. They include a Mad Hatters Theatrical Experience and Murder on the Shakespeare Express from Birmingham to Stratford-upon-Avon. For more tour information and to book a ticket for an event or a gift card visit https://vintagetrains.co.uk/
- British Motor Museum, Gaydon
Whether it is a special day out or a unique gift, ideas for Father’s Day include the annual Vintage Motorcycle Club’s Banbury Run at the British Motor Museum on the day itself, Sunday June 19 from 10am – 4pm. It is the biggest gathering of pre-1931 motorcycles and three-wheelers in the UK and makes for a wonderful spectacle.
Other ideas include an annual Membership at the Museum from £42 a year, which not only includes free entry to the venue and all events, but member-only events, including Museum on the Move, offering the opportunity to ride in some of the museum’s cars, (. For classic car owners there is a range of Heritage Certificate products including original factory records (britishmotormuseum.co.uk/archive/heritage-certificates).
- Magic Alley
This Father’s Day dads go free at the Stratford-upon-Avon family attraction in Bell Court. The latest event, Wonderland – Who Stole the Tarts? is a magical whodunnit with a steampunk twist based on Alice in Wonderland. https://magicalleystratford.com/
- The Cross at Kenilworth
An award-winning pub, The Cross has held a Michelin star for six years and also boasts 3 AA Rosettes. This Father’s Day expecthttps://www.thecrosskenilworth.co.uk/#
- Coombe Abbey Hotel
A cream tea with a twist, the savoury Knight’s Afternoon Tea is a great one for dads and is available in the Garden Room Restaurant on Father’s Day. It includes freshly-made selection including maple and sesame seed glazed pancetta wrapped chipolata, crispy panko salmon and tartare fish finger sandwich, smoked olive and aged feta tartlet and Malt Kiln pork pie.
Pre-book in advance, https://www.coombeabbey.com/visit/eat-and-drink/afternoon-tea/knights/
Other Father’s Day gift ideas include a medieval banquet experience and Coombe Abbey’s own gin and mead created in collaboration with an award-winning independent craft distillery in Birmingham, 1000 Trades, available in the on-site Abbey Artisan Market shop. To book an event visit https://www.coombeabbey.com/visit/events/
- Mallory Court Country House Hotel and Spa, Leamington Spa
Father’s Day gift vouchers are available for two special experiences: Midweek Afternoon Tea for two at Mallory Court Hotel – Stratford upon Avon, Warwickshire | The Eden Hotel Collection (ibookedonline.com) for £59. Enjoy the grand British tradition of a full afternoon tea including a selection of finger sandwiches, homemade scones, cakes and fancies, accompanied by fine tea.
Secondly, enjoy a Tasting Menu Dinner for two at Mallory Court Hotel – Stratford upon Avon, Warwickshire | The Eden Hotel Collection (ibookedonline.com). Tantalise your taste buds with a Tastes of the Season menu and a glass of Champagne in the hotel’s 3AA Rosette restaurant, The Dining Room, now under chef director and Michelin-award-winning chef Simon Haigh for £190.
- Billesley Manor Hotel and Spa
Extend the Platinum Jubilee celebrations to Father’s Day and cordially invite dad for a Queen’s Afternoon Tea at this four-star Elizabethan Manor, just outside Stratford-upon-Avon. Highlights include Battenburg, Victoria sponge, chocolate macaroon, scones, smoked salmon quiche and sandwiches. Available throughout June from £20. Book online or call 01789 279 955, https://www.billesleymanor.com/dining/afternoon-teas/
- The Arden Hotel
Two Father’s Day gift vouchers are available to book at this boutique waterside hotel in the heart of Stratford-upon-Avon. They include Afternoon Tea for two at The Arden Hotel – Stratford upon Avon, Warwickshire | The Eden Hotel Collection (ibookedonline.com) for £60.
There is also, Dinner for two at The Arden Hotel – Stratford upon Avon, Warwickshire | The Eden Hotel Collection (ibookedonline.com)
- Shakespeare Distillery
The award-winning independent artisan drinks producer in Stratford-upon-Avon has a host of Father’s Day gift ideas from personalised gin bottles (Stratford Dry Gin, Rhubarb Gin, Mulberry Gin Liqueur or Elderflower & Quin) with customised messages for dad to gift vouchers for their popular distillery tours and Gin School experiences. If rum is more his thing, British-made Jester Rum is made from scratch at the distillery in three exquisite flavours - Jester White Rum, Jester Spiced Rum and Jester Chocolate Rum. New gift boxes and mini & mixer sets are now available, https://shakespearedistillery.com/
- Go Cotswolds
Book your dad onto a Brewery, Pub Lunch & The Cotswolds. It features a guided minibus tour of The Cotswolds, a visit to award-winning Warwickshire craft brewery, Purity, and lunch at the National Trust owned pub, The Fleece Inn, Bretforton. Spaces available on July 2, September 3, October 1, November 5 and December 3, https://www.gocotswolds.co.uk/product/brewery-pub-lunch-the-cotswolds-pub-tour/
- Bicester Village
If a shopping trip is on the cards for Father’s Day, enjoy up to 60% off the original retail price from during an Extraordinary Sale at the designer outlet, home to 160 boutiques, from June 16 – August 14, https://www.thebicestercollection.com/bicester-village/en/campaign/extra...
He can also experience iconic and historical moments from the Williams Formula 1 racing team at the Bang & Olufsen boutique at Bicester Village - and try his luck with a racing simulator. Book to have-a-go here: https://appointment.tbvsc.com/00Db0000000KhKW/g/96Sf97QYQZ
For further information about Shakespeare’s England and its members visit www.shakespeares-england.co.uk