Belvoir Castle – The history

Belvoir, meaning beautiful view in French, dates back to Norman times.
“The name “Belvoir”, is in fact, a Norman import by the French-speaking conquerors, though the native Anglo-Saxon population was unable to pronounce such a foreign word, preferring to call it “Beaver Castle”. Belvoir Castle is still pronounced “Beaver” — despite its spelling — to this very day, which may actually go a long way to explaining the age-long animosity between the insulted French and the traditionalist English…” said Michael Zlatokovsky.
The castle was rebuilt by the wife of the 5th Duke of Rutland and this is when it gained its Gothic look. The architect James Wyatt was chiefly responsible for this restructuring, and the result is a building which bears a superficial resemblance to a medieval castle, its central tower reminiscent of Windsor Castle. The present Castle is the fourth building to have stood on the site since Norman times.
The Castle contains many notable pieces of art and includes paintings by Gainsborough, Reynolds, Holbein and Poussin. It houses outstanding collections of furniture, porcelain, silks, tapestries, French furniture and Italian sculpture. Sculpture extends outside into the Rose and Statue Gardens which are elegantly laid out round a central fountain. The Statue Collection terraced into the hillside includes work by Caius, Cibber – Sculptor to Charles II.
Guided tours are free and available during the weekdays at 12.30pm and 2.30pm or for groups at pre-booked times to suit.

RAF WADDINGTON INTERNATIONAL AIRSHOW at The Olde Barn Hotel

Royal Air Force Waddington, 3 miles south of the city of Lincoln, hosts the largest annual RAF Airshow in the country. Our 2-day show held over the first weekend in July regularly attracts crowds of between 120,000 to 140,000 people. The 2009 show broke all previous records when a crowd of over 170,000 visited the show over the weekend. Although principally a family show, we draw most of our customers from an arc running from Cambridge and Peterborough in the south, through Nottingham, Derby, Sheffield, Doncaster, Leeds, York and onto Hull, plus of course the whole of Lincolnshire. We also attract enthusiasts both nationally and internationally. A crowd survey taken at the 2008 show indicated 75% of the surveyed crowd originated from these expected regional areas, with 37% coming from within the Lincolnshire county boundary. The remaining 25% travel from the rest of the UK and beyond.
The 2009 show drew crowds of over 100,000 on the Saturday and 70,000 on the Sunday. Traditionally Sunday has been the larger day and made up of predominantly local families however, the last 2 years has seen a significant shift to Saturday seeing the largest crowd.

Check this out on The Olde Barn Hotel website.

Murder Mystery Evenings and Weekends at The Olde Barn Hotel

To all budding Sherlocks, Poirots and Columbos why not test your sleuthing skills with our Murder Mystery evenings and weekends in association with Superbreak. Right from the start there's plenty of action as you and the characters are faced with shocks, surprises and even the odd murder or two. Each plot has enough twists and red herrings to challenge the most serious sleuth while at the same time providing lots of fun. A team of talented and professional actors will guide you through the event as both the victims and the suspects. You are the sleuths and together you work to establish the identity of the murderer. Each event has a specific theme, ranging from a Masked Ball to a Medieval Supper, giving you the opportunity to dress up, become a character and let your imagination carry you away, or just sit back and relax. However you decide to enjoy the break, we can promise you excellent, professional and lively entertainment.


Dates for our one and two night breaks are:
24th October 2009
12th & 13th February 2010
20th March 2010
9th & 10th April 2010


Please telephone Superbreak on 0871 221 4444 for more information or to reserve your place on one of these fantastic breaks.

The Secret Garden and Bar at Grange Hotel Newark

Not only has the Grange Hotel been refurbished to an outstanding level, but the gardens are now a sanctuary as well - and are available for use by hotel guests or restaurant diners.
This hidden away tranquil landscaped Victorian Secret Garden offers immaculate lawns, pathways, ornaments and a fountain.

There are wooden tables and chairs on a newly paved area which can be floodlit for evening soirees. Patio heaters ensure that the English weather doesn't ruin the occasion.