Warwick's 2025 in 12 stories and photographs
By Nadia Sayed 28th Dec 2025
By Nadia Sayed 28th Dec 2025
Having published over 1,00 stories about Warwick last year, we have picked one story from each month to help summarise 2025.
The news locally this year has been dominated by local government news, community events and new businesses opening.
But we have tried to reduce each month to just one story and one photograph.
January
The year started with a number of stories about developments around the town, but the story we have chosen was a "critical incident" at Warwick Hospital due to the high number of people needing treatment.
A&E at the hospital experienced some of the highest numbers ever over a week in early January, "significantly impacting" waiting times.
South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust (SWFT) worked "exceptionally hard to care" for patients during the high levels of demand.
February
In February, changes were announced to a Warwick car park including the fact it would soon only be available to council workers during the day.
Cape Road car park was available to the public since the Covid-19 pandemic but from the end of March it was announced, the car park would revert to its original use.
It was revealed the car park would be reserved for Warwickshire County Council permit holders from 8am to 5pm from Monday to Friday, but still available to the public from 5pm on weekdays and on weekends and bank holidays.
March
In March, campaigners lost their battle to save a closed Warwick pub from being turned into a house.
But concerns were raised about how hard the owners had tried to reopen it.
Warwick District Council's (WDC) planning committee granted permission for the Punch Bowl to be turned into a house, bringing an end a long-running planning battle.
Secret Properties Ltd was at last given permission to repurpose the site at The Butts, having already seen a previous application refused.
April
April came with sad news as a man died in a collision on the M40.
On 11 April, at 8.50am, a tanker was reported to have broken down on the northbound stretch of the M40 between junction 13 (Bishop's Tachbrook) and junction 14 (Leamington/Warwick).
Around ten minutes later, the driver of a white Peugeot van collided with the stationary tanker.
Warwickshire Police attended along with West Midlands Ambulance Service but the driver of the van - a man in his 30s - was pronounced dead at the scene.
The tanker driver was uninjured.
May
May saw a developer start an appeal in a bid to force through plans for a controversial new care home in Hatton.
Belmont Healthcare was last year refused planning permission for the 75-bed facility on Birmingham Road after councillors voted against a report from planners that said the scheme should go ahead.
The company had already seen an application for the care home in the green belt refused by Warwick District Council in 2022, but said the fresh scheme "significantly improved" the plans.
Having been refused planning permission again last year, Belmont appealed the decision in May.
"We believe that the scheme would be best determined by a local hearing, and roundtable discussion," the appeal said.
June
In June, it was good news for Warwick, as it was named one of the UK's go-to staycation destination for food lovers.
Research, of 2,000 adults, revealed Cornwall claimed the top three spots on Brits' foodie destination wish list - with St Ives taking first place.
Padstow and Falmouth followed closely, with Warwick coming in at number 17 in the list.
The research was commissioned by Sykes Holiday Cottages, as part of its annual Staycation Index report.
July
July was dominated by local council news, including a huge shake up at Warwick County Council.
The interim leader of Warwickshire County Council, Cllr George Finch, aged 19, vowed to fight for the post on a permanent basis, having announced himself as Reform UK's new group leader.
On 22 July, he maintained power and four candidates across the political spectrum were put forward for the role with the vote triggered after Cllr Rob Howard announced he would be standing down as council leader – but not as a councillor – just 41 days after being elected as council leader.
The decision was incredibly close though with chairman Cllr Edward Harris having the casting vote and choosing his fellow Reform member Cllr Finch.
August
In the world of baking, a 29-year-old from Warwickshire was announced as one of the 12 new hopefuls looking to be crowned the Great British Bake Off series 16 champion, in August.
Having aired on Channel 4 this autumn, the new series saw a dozen amateur bakers go head to head to impress judges Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith.
Among them was Warwickshire's Toby Littlewood who works for a local fitness start-up.
Described as a "country boy" at heart, he grew up in the seaside town of Sidmouth with his three siblings and says he is now three years into a 'six month' home DIY renovation project in Shakespeare's county.
September
A new policy brought in by Warwickshire County Council caused a stir after it was challenged by opposition councillors in September.
Warwickshire County Council's new flag policy was passed despite representation from the authority's LGBTQ+ group.
The cabinet – the panel of Reform UK councillors in charge of major service areas – approved the policy that states the England, UK and county flags will be flown from the three flagpoles outside Shire Hall as a matter of course.
It followed a public storm in which leader Cllr George Finch asked for the Progress Pride flag – up for Pride month – to be taken down.
October
In October, a Warwick-based bakery and coffee shop closed its doors, after a year in the town's Old Square.
Spoon and Whisk closed in mid-October after the business became difficult to keep going in September.
In a statement on social media, its owners announce that the decision was made very quickly and came with a "whirlwind" of emotion and sadness.
"Its been lovely getting to know you all, and I am so proud of the little corner of Old Square we created and how much of a success it was — seeing you all enjoy our bakes and coffee meant the world" the statement read.
November
The month of November saw hundreds gather in the town for Warwick's annual Remembrance parade.
The annual Remembrance Sunday service and parade took place on Sunday (9 November).
The Parade started at the Court House at 9:50am, stopping at the War Memorial briefly before reaching St Marys Church for the service.
At 10:50am the procession left the church and gather at the memorial before the wreath laying and two minute silence at 11am.
December
And finally, in December, the local historic treasure, Warwick Castle featured in a new ITV documentary.
A Warwick Castle Christmas aired on ITV on Sunday (7 December).
The episode took a behind-the-scenes look at how Christmas comes to life at Warwick Castle, with scenes of staff preparing for its events, including the popular light trail.
The documentary, narrated by Mel Giedroyc, revised facts about the castle's history, including that it was built in 1068 by William the Conqueror, first opening its doors to the public in 1978.
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