1960's prices for anniversary couple at Menzies Welcombe Hotel

A couple, who spent their wedding night at the Menzies Welcombe Hotel in Stratford-upon-Avon, celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary at the hotel with a special 1960 price deal.

John, 72 and Patricia Staite, 71 from Evesham stayed at the hotel on Friday 17 September in room 131, the very same room they celebrated their wedding night on the 17 September 1960. As a gesture of goodwill, the hotel agreed to charge the couple the same rate as they would have paid in 1960!

Mr Staite still has the original receipt from 1960 which shows his bill to be £9.3s.3d for dinner, bed and breakfast. Today, room 131 would cost £250 - £300 for dinner, bed and breakfast, however the couple were charged just £9.20!

The celebrations, which were organised as a surprise for Patricia Staite, included a bottle of Champagne and a special anniversary cake kindly supplied by the hotel.

The Menzies Welcombe Hotel was converted to a hotel in 1929. Back in 1960, the hotel was owned by British Transport Hotels until 1983 when it was bought by Venice Simplon Orient Express Hotels. In 1990 the Yamada Corporation of Japan purchased the property. It was acquired by the Menzies Group in 2003 and is now one of the leading luxury country house hotels in the Heart of England.

Mr Staite commented on his stay “It was a very generous gesture from the hotel to offer us the same room rate as in 1960. I can remember our wedding day as if it was yesterday and we couldn’t have wished for a better hotel in which to stay on our wedding night. It has been a real pleasure to return 50 years later and see that the hotel is just as magnificent as it was then. The decor and furnishings in room 131 have changed however, including having a TV!”

Greg Fehler, General Manager of The Menzies Welcombe Hotel, stated “We thought it would be a lovely idea to offer Mr and Mrs Staite the same rate as they paid back in 1960. It has been a pleasure to have made the couple’s 50th wedding anniversary so special and we’re delighted that they came back to the Welcombe to mark the occasion”.

Located on the outskirts of Stratford-upon-Avon, the luxury country house hotel is situated just 5 minutes from junction 15 of the M40. Please visit the website for more information at: welcombehotelstratford.co.uk