I live by Warwick Castle… we get incredible £50 perk but there’s an exotic intruder which invades our gardens
CLASHING swords, pyrotechnic explosions and the pounding hooves of jousting horses reverberate around the ancient walls.
‘Dragon Slayer’ evenings are in full swing at Warwick Castle right now, with the two-hour summer show packing in audiences between 8.15pm and 10pm every evening.
The courtyard acoustics amplify the drama, while a projection show blazes colour through the stone keeps and turrets.
“It’s not for the faint-hearted,” jokes local resident Vikki Holroyd.
But like most of those living alongside the town’s iconic 1,100-year-old medieval castle, she and husband Ian don’t need to leave their Mill Street home to enjoy the full event experience, as they can hear everything just by sitting on their garden balcony.
“We knew it was going to be noisy when we moved here seven years ago,” Vikki, 73, a retired primary school headteacher, tells The Sun when we visit.
“Anyone who chooses to live in a bustling town under the walls of a castle as famous as Warwick’s would expect it to be busy in high season and make the most of when it’s not so busy out of season.
“We used to come and enjoy concerts here before we moved into the town, so we knew residents were happy to accommodate tourists.”
Retired sports agent Ian, 76, believes the castle’s pro-active policy of making sure residents are clued up on the events schedule – or have someone to moan at if they’re not happy – promotes peace between castle and community.
That, and the very attractive perks.
“Residents get free annual passes worth about £50 which get us into the castle grounds, the attractions and live shows free of charge,” says Ian.
“It’s a great perk, especially as there are discounts if you want them on short breaks and evening events.
“We often sit out on our balcony and listen to the concerts. We’re already looking forward to the Proms evenings next month, and the Christmas choirs are fantastic.”
Last month, alongside the usual 800,000 annual visitors to Warwick Castle, more than 15,000 people attended a five-day sell-out series of live castle concerts featuring a world-class line-up of Bastille, Nile Rodgers and Chic, Rag‘n’Bone Man, Kaiser Chiefs and Will Young.
Residents get free annual passes worth about £50 which get us into the castle grounds, the attractions and live shows free of charge… It’s a great perk
Ian Holroyd, local resident
The increased footfall was welcomed by traders, restaurants, pubs and hotels hit hard by the pandemic.
The town’s Chamber of Trade chairman Phil Baker, 59, who took over Ronnie’s Bar in Jury Street four years ago, says everyone benefits from the extra business the castle’s events programmes brings.
“Covid had a devastating impact on business in Warwick and, sadly, a number of businesses were forced to shut up shop for good. We even lost our Marks & Spencer store,” he says.
“The district and town councils have been really supportive in helping the community get back on its feet and we’re working closely with the castle and Warwick Racecourse to bring more visitors to the town.
“The castle brings a buzz and also uses and promotes local businesses and suppliers.”
When Liam Bartlett took over as the castle’s general manager just three weeks ago, he’d already made his mark with residents and businesses after 15 years in the role of Operations Director.
Amusingly, he says noise and traffic from concerts and events aren’t what irks residents.
“The most recent complaints I’ve had are about our peacocks,” Liam chuckles.
“We’ve got 15 of them and we get phone calls from residents telling us they’ve escaped over the wall and gone into gardens or flown onto a roof or a wall.”
The most recent complaints I’ve had are about our peacocks… we get phone calls from residents telling us they’ve escaped over the wall and gone into gardens
Liam Bartlett, Warwick Castle general manager
Retired secretary Jill Denny, 75, has lived in Stuart Close, backing on to the castle, for 15 years, and often enjoys a glass of wine in her garden while listening to a concert.
“Michael Buble was fantastic last July,” she recalls.
“Concerts don’t go on longer than 10pm so it’s not as if we have to put up with booming music into the early hours.
“There’s plenty of parking at the castle so visitors don’t have to leave their cars on side streets.
“And there are double yellow lines to deter that.
“The castle management has a good communication strategy so you do feel listened to if there is a major problem.”
Retired software company owner Michael Ashford, 79, has lived at the side of the castle on Castle Lane for 25 years and enjoys the town’s year-round holiday atmosphere.
“It can be a pain dealing with the traffic congestion when there are events on,” he admits.
“But the noise doesn’t really bother me. It’s nice when you’ve retired to be able to walk through the town and see so many people – it’s what you’d expect living next to a tourist attraction.”
Liam says communication is the most important part of ensuring local people have a voice.
“I’m a born and bred Warwick boy so people know if they’re not happy with something that happens at the castle, they can come and tell me about it,” he says.
“We have a residents forum that meets regularly so people can let us know what they think, and we give out thousands of free passes and offer discounts to residents as a way of saying thanks for supporting us.
“I just want the town to be vibrant and to ensure that we strike a balance in the kind of events we put on.
I’m a born and bred Warwick boy so people know if they’re not happy with something that happens at the castle, they can come and tell me about it
Liam Bartlett
“I appreciate that residents don’t want people making a noise as they leave an event, but people do get excited after watching a show, so we make sure we have enough stewards to monitor visitors’ behaviour and, if necessary, change our exit routes around.
“And we let businesses know the kind of visitor numbers to expect in advance, and when, so hotels, for example, can check their room rates and availability.”
West Street resident Hannah Rintoul-Hoad, 39, says she and her GP husband Oliver moved into their 14th century home five years ago because they liked the town’s busy vibe.
Hannah, a marketing executive, tells us: “You can just about hear the concerts and the fireworks and everything that goes with castle life, but it’s actually quite cheerful and muffled because there are other gardens and grounds in between us and the castle.
“They’re very good at keeping residents informed about when big events are planned and we get reduced cost tickets to the shows.
“We have our own parking area and residents have permits.
“We didn’t have children when we moved here but now have two boys, three and eight months old, so the only reason we might think about moving would be for a bigger place and maybe to a village.”
Psychologist Luise Buckberry, who has lived in West Street for 18 years, adds: “I love living in historic Warwick and feel it’s a privilege to live near a castle.
“It’s such a huge part of our national heritage.
“I’m a member of the residents forum which means that you can take any issues to the castle general manager face-to-face.
“I think he’s one of the reasons why the relationship between the castle and the community is so strong.
“People wouldn’t move here if they didn’t expect a bit of disruption. Warwick’s brilliant.”