Thanks to Dawn, Alex and their colleagues at Host Unusual’s ‘Host Writer’ blog for their in-depth feature, which explores what motivated us to combine heritage renovation, luxury interior design and uncompromising sustainability, to create the world’s first Passivhaus-certified church conversion.

Host Unusual is a pre-eminent and authoritative site listing exceptional places to stay, and their expert team really is top drawer. So it was a real pleasure for us to discuss with them how we operate Warksburn Old Church as a tourism business and, above all, how our guests experience and enjoy their stays at this one-of-a-kind property.

We are thrilled to report that our recently-awarded VisitEngland 5 Star rating has now gone live on the Rated Trips website, the authoritative ‘single source of truth’ registry of tourism accommodation which has been independently assessed against strict quality requirements by VisitEngland and AA inspectors.

In addition to the 5 Star rating, the Rated Trips listing also features our twin Gold Awards, from both VisitEngland and Green Tourism. The VisitEngland Gold Award is reserved for only the most exceptional properties, and the Green Tourism reserves its Gold Award only for businesses which have achieved the very highest levels of sustainability.

These awards complement our globally unique certification by the Passive House Institute: Warksburn Old Church is the first Passivhaus church-to-home conversion in the world. Click the logos to learn more about our awards and media coverage.

Thanks to Host Unusual for featuring us in their ‘Host Writer’ blog, in their selection of unusual places to stay in the run up to Christmas, which also offer guests the opportunity to purchase distinctive gifts. In our case that’s ceramics by Anne James, co-owner and interior designer of Warksburn Old Church, and a curated collection of work by North East artists whose work is on show in the gallery space and throughout the building. The article also highlights the Open Studio event at Warksburn Old Church on 26 November 2025, which offers a one-off opportunity to combine a look around the stunning interiors of our multi-award winning property with the chance to purchase great art.

Open Studio at Warksburn Old Church – Weds 26 November

We will be hosting a special Open Studio event showcasing ceramics by Anne James, who is also the owner and interior designer of Warksburn Old Church, alongside pieces by other North East artists whose works are on display at this unique property. This event is a one-off opportunity to see the stunning interiors of the world’s only Passivhaus-certified church conversion whilst also browsing a carefully curated collection of North East art.

Work on show will include linocuts by Kate Miller, watercolours by Charlotte Thompson, photography by Jim Kearney, stained glass art by Coral Blaimire, as well as ceramics by Anne James herself. All works on display in the first floor gallery area, and in a ‘one-day-only’ display in the spectacular main living area, will be available for purchase.

Multi award winning Warksburn Old Church offers a unique backdrop for this artistic showcase. As the world’s only Passivhaus-certified church-to-home conversion, it provides a truly exceptional venue. Our accolades include the VisitEngland Gold Award, Green Tourism Gold Award, and Airbnb Luxe designation.  The property has also featured extensively on TV and in the press.

A big thank you to our excellent local paper, The Hexham Courant for featuring this event and also reporting our VisitEngland 5 Star Rating and Gold Award for outstanding quality. The article is here.

We are absolutely thrilled to announce that we have been shortlisted in two prestigious categories at the North East England Tourism Awards.

This double recognition is a powerful testament to our core mission: offering holiday accommodation that provides guests with exceptional quality and luxury whilst generating absolutely zero carbon emissions from its operation. Since launching in November 2024, we have aimed to prove that a new tourism venture could be a global leader in both luxury and sustainability.

An Exceptional Guest Experience

First and foremost, Warksburn Old Church is about providing guests the absolute assurance that they will enjoy an inspiring and relaxing stay in accommodation of the very highest quality. It is not for us to assert that we are succeeding in this respect; it is our guests who confirm it with their wonderful reviews, a couple of which we quote below:

“This beautifully designed home is a testament to how luxury and sustainability can go hand in hand, offering an unforgettable experience for those who appreciate both comfort and eco-conscious living.”

“Absolutely exceptional. The level of care we received from the minute we booked to the minute we left was brilliant. Host and venue are second to none. Anne met us on arrival and showed us how the absolutely phenomenal renovated church works, from clever energy systems to lighting of your choice in the whole of the church. The detail and robust quality of furniture and the process of thinking that has gone into the whole renovation is clear to see, you can feel this whilst living in it.”

You can read more of our reviews on our website, or on our Airbnb listing. To book a stay at Warksburn Old Church, click here.

Where Style and Sustainability Meet

Warksburn Old Church combines the very best in sustainability and the very highest levels of luxury and interior design to create an inspiring and deeply relaxing ambience for guests. This is attested by two of our accolades:

• Achieving the exceptionally rare Airbnb ‘Luxe’ status involves a rigorous 300 point in-person inspection in order to qualify amongst this super-premium selection of “Extraordinary homes; vetted for quality.”
• Achieving the extremely demanding Green Tourism Gold Award is ‘gold standard’ independently-assessed verification that Warksburn Old Church achieves the very highest standards in sustainability.

A Global First

Contemporary excellence meets an extraordinary history

Innovative engineering and exquisite craftsmanship have transformed a Victorian structure, originally built in 1875 into a cutting-edge building that is between 50 and 75 times more energy efficient than typical UK homes. Precisely 150 years after it was originally opened , Warksburn Old Church now successfully integrates 21st Century technology with a uniquely relevant 19th Century history.

The 1875 church was originally gifted by the eminent Victorian engineer, Sir George Barclay Bruce. Remarkably, when Sir George became President of the Institution of Civil Engineers in 1887, his Presidential Address included the world’s first ever documented reference to the renewable generation and storage of electricity. In 2025, Warksburn Old Church now brings his vision to life, integrating the very technologies he envisaged, well over a century before they became available.

Looking forward to the competition

We are now looking forward to the next stages of the competition. “Organised in association with the national VisitEngland Awards for Excellence, the finalists on the shortlist will now be subject to a rigorous second round of judging by independent experts, who will either make pre-arranged or secret ‘mystery shopper’ visits to the businesses between now and December.”

As a proud standard-bearer of truly sustainable tourism in the North East, we are, of course looking forward to finding out how he’ve fared at the North East awards ceremony, which will be held in March 2026. “Winners in the core categories will then have the chance to compete nationally at the VisitEngland Awards in June 2026.”

We welcome and wholeheartedly support the emphasis on the economic value of tourism stressed in the 15 October 2025 announcement of the North East England Tourism Awards shortlist, in particular the following:

“It is so important to celebrate this industry and the people in it. Tourism is vital for our regional economy, and that’s why I’m investing in building capacity in the cultural sectors so they have the skills and resources to thrive. We want to double the size of our visitor industry, and by getting this right, and shining a light on the organisations that amplify our rich heritage, we can boost our local economy.”
North East Mayor, Kim McGuinness

“The diverse array of businesses shortlisted in this year’s Tourism Awards is a testament to the incredible visitor offer we have in the region. Our awards champion and celebrate the hard-working people and places in all corners of North East England that deliver truly magical experiences for our visitors. As we look to double the value of our visitor economy over the next 10 years, it is these amazing places to visit, stay and experience that will be at the forefront of this transformation.”
Chair of Destination North East England John Marshall

Thanks to the wonderful team at Host Unusual for featuring Warksburn Old Church on their home page for October 2025. It brings the Style & Sustainability of our globally unique Passivhaus church conversion to the attention of their discerning audience, and it also showcases our great Autumn Offers.