History
Set in the grounds of the historic Sutch Manor, the International Park is a world class venue for all occasions.
Facilities are available - including exclusive access to the critically acclaimed and globally renowned “Stu's Shack - Bar & Grill”. Where drinks will flow and blood will spill and if the boys want to fight you'd better let them.
Take in the idyllic scenery of the formal lawn and pass the historic “Pear Tree”, where Captain Onslow Lord Albermarle was said to have eloped with Catrina The Deformed on their tragically ill-fated romance of 1823.
Make your way to “Stu's Shack” along the “Champions Walk” where many famous icons have perambulated before. Who can forget the magic moment in 1976 when Lesley Down-Syndrome, fresh from his rebel tour of Birmingham, regained the Hyman Trophy and made the walk to the adoration of the thronging masses.
Pass the Carillion Bell where each day a guest is invited to thrum the clapper to the eagerly awaiting crowds, signalling the start of play.
The Olympic* sized swimming pool, heated all year round, is just part of the charm. Each of the famous four ends echo with tradition, history and stories of derring-do.
The highlight for any artisan will be a visit to the Victorian Pump House. Still in working condition, the Pump House was painstakingly restored in 1986. The team of expert craftsmen faithfully reconstructed the house to Gertrude Krabben-Schluck's original design. Today the fully working pump house still keeps the pool clean and fresh using nothing more than Victorian ingenuity.
On behalf of Sutch Hospitalities International Trust we bid you a warm welcome to Sutch Manor and wish your stay is pleasant and rewarding.
Lord Geoffrey Sutch
thrumming the clapper, 1958
Carillion Bell
The Carillion Bell was cast by the famous Hemony brothers, François and Pieter in 1653 at their Belgium foundry. The Hemony Brothers are regarded as the first of the modern western bell-founders who used a scientific approach to casting the optimum shape and tuning bells to harmonic principles. The bell was gifted to General Sir Lionel Sutch CSE, KJ in 1689 by Lloyds of London, in appreciation for his efforts at the Battle of Kavin's Rookery. Sir Lionel hung the bell in the Drawing Room of Fluchester House before moving it to Wimblehome Park where it was used to signal the start and end of the chukka. The bell rang every day continuously from 1694 until the outbreak of World War I.
During the First World War the bell was moved to the deep mine at Llanfiddlemiladi Under Roger, Wales, for protection from the Boche. In the interwar years the bell toured the Empire to raise the spirits of His Majesty's subjects. When it returned it moved to its present home of Sutch Manor. At the outbreak of the Second World War the bell once again, made a perilous journey from Sutch Manor, but this time to Stink in Yorkshire, where it was interned for 5 years, again protecting it from the Hun.
Time underground took its toll on the Carillion Bell. The bell became slightly misshapen after 2 carpenters used the bell as a football. Careful restoration by the Hanz Company in Dresden in 1953 rang the changes of fortune for the bell. Eventually it was restored to its current location at the end of the Champions Walk on the 29 February, 1958.
The bell has become a symbol of hope, each day a different person has been asked to thrum the clapper. Notable guests include Pope John Paul II, Fidel Castro and Louis Theroux. Ordinary common people are also invited to thrum the clapper.
Albermarle's Pear Tree
Legend has it that in order to pluck up the courage to elope, Lord Albermarle created a Pear Brandy from the Pear Tree. On the night of September 3rd 1823, Captain Onslow Lord Albermarle and Catrina “The Deformed” Habsburg eloped to the branches of the pear tree. As the first rays of light poured through the leaves and gently shimmered upon the face of Catrina, the Lord Albermarle recognised the terrible mistake he had made removing Catrina from her family. Climbing down from the limbs of the great tree he promptly ran away. Catrina returned from whence she came.
So strong were the effects of the Pear Brandy that it rendered Albermarle insensible for three days. Following the failed lover's dash, Captain Onslow was unable to see until the spring of 1825. Said to be heart broken from the affair, Catrina never married.
The Albermarle family, who owned Sutch Manor from 1411 until 1927 continued to ferment Pear Brandy and the company expanded through the early twentieth century with a the famous Pear Cider and not so famous Pear Porter.
Catrina Habsburg,
1830
Gertrude Krabben-Schluck,
c.1872
Victorian Pump House
Gertrude Krabben-Schluck designed the original pump house and workings. Finished in 1866 the pump house provided heated water to the pool. The major interest for any student of architecture is the unusual roof line, at 10 degree pitch rather than the more common 12.5 degree pitch associated with the era. However the unconventional roof pitch did lead to the ingress of water and by the early 60s the pump house was in a derelict state.
A campaign by SAVE Britain's Heritage in association with Blue Peter raised the much-needed funds and 62,000 unwanted milk bottle tops to restore the pump house. A 10 year programme of refurbishment was started resulting in the pump house's grand re-opening in 1986.
Krabben-Schluck is also noted for the Renmoir Arch, Hibert Cloister and the first Blemonade factory in Walsall.
Friends of Sutch Manor
There have been a great number of celebrity supporters for Sutch Manor from all walks of life. None more so than Lesley Down-Syndrome, knighted in 2003 for services to charity and his sport. Lesley first stirred the public hearts in 1968. Eight years later Lesley would choose Sutch Manor as the scene of his greatest celebrations after retaining the Hyman Trophy.
Other famous faces that support the historical Sutch Manor include Ian Whittlebanger from TV's 'TheApprentice', "Lady's Man" Leyton Buzzard - bassist from the band 'All Action Jeff' and the energetic weathergirl Suzie Kiddlington.
Lesley Down-Syndrome
By Appointment to
His Majesty The King
Wooden Structured Catering
Stu's Shack Ltd
London
By Royal Appointment
Our long tradition of Royal patronage has always been important. Our first Royal visitor was George IV, as a mid-shipman, his Majesty came to Celebrate the Battle of the Nile in 1799 with his good friend Horatio Nelson. He became a regular guest and, upon his ascension to the throne, in 1820, rewarded Stu's Shack with its first Royal Warrant.
While history has been less kind to his descendants, they have still been kind to us with Edward VIII "The Nazi King" also spending much time at the Shack and continued our Warrant. Wallace Alcove (destroyed during the Blitz) was named after the spot where he would regularly meet Mrs. Simpson. A dark and secluded corner, locals would often say it smelt a bit fishy.
Upon her succession, Her Most Britannic Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II, was delighted to reconfirm our warrant. As a young lady the future Queen could often be seen sat at the bar, holding court drinking half a bitter and mild, with a Capstan in her mouth. Later, as disappoint with her children gripped, she would come back, disguise as Freddie Mercury, to drown her sorrows with a Cinzano, Advocaat and Lime.
We were most fortunate to have His Royal Highness Duke of York, Prince "Randy Andy" Andrew open Stu's Shack in 2020. Although this represented a dark period in his personal history, having been accused of being a "nonce" by Emily Matlis in her infamous 2019 interview. However, he soon bounced back to be the country's favourite Royal once again. We have been pleased to welcome The Queen Mother, Prince William and the future King, Charles over the years to pull ceremonial pints at Stu's Shack.
8th September 2022 was a black day in this Sceptred Isle's great history. God bless her, Her Majesty died after suffering neglect from all round ne'er-do-well, and Conservative Prime Minster, the treasonous, Liz Truss. To honour her, Stu's Shack held "Sad Hour" for the next 3 weeks, where all drinks were double the normal price. It's what she would have wanted.
We are very excited to announce that Charles III, King of the Brittons (and the upstart Welsh), has by his good grace, sound judgement and immense physical endowment agreed to continue our Royal Warrant, and we are delighted to be the official Wooden Structured Caterers to His Majesty The King. God Bless you sir. Huzzah! Huzzah! Huzzah!.
(L-R) Prince Charles (1994), The Queen Mother (1978) and Prince William (2011) pulling pints at Stu's Shack.
sitemap
- (1) Stu's Shack - Bar & Grill
- (2) Victorian Pump House
- (3) Main Pool
- (4) Champions Walk
- (5) Blemonade Spectator Area
- (6) Formal Lawn
- (7) The Sigma Sports Veranda
- (8) Sutch Manor (Rest Rooms)
- (9) Smoking Zone
- (10) The Carillion Bell
- (11) Tradesmans' Back Passage
Steven's Bar
Welcome to Stu's Shack. Set in the grounds of the historic Sutch Manor, “Stu's Shack - Bar & Grill”, containing Steven's Bar, provides world class cuisine and beverages. The original site was used as a breeding coop for Lord Fitzroy Albermarle's prize winning Indonesian Ayam Cemani chickens.
In 1832 the site was transformed into a maturation room for Albemarle's Pear Cider and the distinctive smell of pear still permeates the wooden structure.
The building went out of use in 1908 following a small fire in the East Wing causing a leak. The damage was repaired shortly before the outbreak of the Great War. This was the first time the building was used for refreshment and just in the nick of time to salute our boys' bravery in the face of the sour Krauts.
In 2008 the building went through a major renovation. The years of use as an active breeding coup, maturation room and establishment for purveyors of cheap wine had left the original building in a sorry state. The main beam holding the roof was replaced with a composite tri-polymer, and the wooden facias renewed.
Prize Winning Grub
In 2011 “Stu's Shack - Bar & Grill” won the prestigious Anton Du Beke Gold Star for excellence in the field of wooden structured catering.
The shack continues to serve visitors to Historic Sutch Manor. The wine cellar has been carefully assembled over many years by enophile Hardy Rodenstock, before his untimely demise in 2018. He is still deeply missed.
A carefully selected menu of oustanding craft and microbrew beer can be found. We are most proude of our large collection of Forsters Export.
Our Products
The cuisine at Stu's Shack is inspired by Fernad Point, founder of modern French cuisine. Point died in March, 1955 but his inspiration has lived on. Current Head Chef, Toussaint Favager has created a number of bespoke French dishes for all at Stu's Shack to enjoy.
Toussaint has won the Craft Guild of Chefs in 2019 with his inspired "starch tuber drenched in evaporating triglycerides". Other Point influenced dishes include Toussaint's 2013 "cylindrical dough topped in coagulated dairy protein" - using his trademark heat to make it warm.
“I hope you enjoy my menu. Fernad Point was such an enormous inspiration when coming up with the cuisine for Stu's Shack, Bar and Grill. I am eternally grateful to the owners for giving me this opportunity and see how lucky I am to even be in England after Brexit. Merci”
Restoration
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May 2020
Ground Works
The ground works began with carefully removing the historic timber decking. Supervised my master carpenter, Adrian Loosebowl, the wood was taken to the Historic Dockyard in Portsmouth where it was preserved and returned to site.
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May 2020
Pumphouse Restored
The Victorian Pumphouse undergoes its second major restoration. The 1986 restoration did much to stabalize the structure, but more work was needed on the exterior with extensive repairs made to the roof, sides, internal timbers and external facia.
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May 2020
Pool Refurbished
After spending many months as home to a drowned, rotting, squirrel carcuss, the pool was stripped back and a speciality team came in, led by Andy Poolman, to put the jewel in the crown back into working order.
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May 2020
Decking Installed
A key milestone was reached. The decking was installed and fitted with a new electical lighting system, replacing the previous gas lamps. To celebrate several local orphans were invited to the Michael Barrymore Pool Party.
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May 2020
Shack Updated
The refurbishment of the shack was completed and the iconic Stu's Shack sign was hung. The grand old lady of the wooden structured catering establishment was reborn and the doors opened for the first time.
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Keep Calm and Come
Bring your custom, bring your money, leave your morals at the door. It's time for you to become part of Stu's Shack Story.
Meet The Staff
Our team at Stu's Shack is here to look after all your needs. Tipping is optional, but Daisy does carry a switch blade.
Gallery
Recent Press Releases
For Immediate Release
Stu's Shack Issues Strong Warning Against Unionization Efforts
September 21, 2024
In the spirit of transparency and dedication to our cherished workforce, Stu's Shack feels compelled to address a matter of utmost importance. As we continue to foster an environment of cooperation and shared vision, it has come to our attention that some individuals may be contemplating the insidious influence of unionization, led by none other than the unwelcome emissary of discord, Joshua Bell, the head of the so-called Tiny Workers and Teens Union (TWATU).
We would like to remind all employees that our foundation rests upon unity and mutual respect. The recent whispers of unionization pose a direct threat to the harmony we have cultivated together at Stu's Shack. We believe that, as a family, any grievances can and should be resolved through dialogue rather than falling prey to the divisive enticements of a union that seeks to undermine our essential culture and camaraderie.
Let it be known, all who align themselves with TWATU and its nefarious agenda shall find themselves stripped of their positions within our beloved Shack. We will not hesitate to take the necessary steps to protect our community from such misguidance. The presence of Joshua Bell on our premises is hereby deemed unacceptable—he is, in every sense of the phrase, a persona non grata.
We implore you to remain steadfast in your dedication to the values that bind us. Together, we can achieve wonderful things without the shackles of external interference. Let us honor our commitment to each other and dismiss thoughts of unionization, which only serve to breed division and mistrust.
In closing, we urge each of you to consider the implications of straying from our collective path. Our strength lies in our unity, and we must remain vigilant in the face of those who would seek to disrupt our mission. We are confident that, standing together, we will continue to flourish in our shared goals and aspirations.
Legal Note: Joshua Bell is prohibited from entering any and all property under the managemenet of Sutch Hospitality International Trust, their subsidiary, partners and affiliates, including, but not withstanding Sutch Mannor, Stu's Shack Bar & Grill, The Victorian Pump House and Main Pool Complex.
Joushua Bell
General Secretary of the Tiny Workers and Teens Union