Design concept: Grantley Hall, UK

We take a closer look at Grantley Hall, a grade II*-listed country-house hotel in the Yorkshire Dales whose fine-dining restaurant has just won a Michelin star, for our latest TOPHOTELDESIGN exclusive.

Located near Ripon in North Yorkshire, Grantley Hall is a shining example of how historic buildings can be successfully transformed into luxury retreats, all while maintaining and celebrating the original features that make them special.

Restoring one of Yorkshire’s finest stately homes

Dating back to 1680, and originally built as a private home for the Norton family, Grantley Hall was in need of extensive work by the time Yorkshire-born Valeria Sykes bought it in 2015. With help from an expert team that included architect Bowman Riley, interior designer JMDA, project manager Lucas Lee, engineering consultant GHD, and contractors RN Wooler and HACS, she oversaw a four-year restoration and modernisation programme that culminated in the five-star hotel’s launch in July 2019.

The newly revitalised property boasts 47 elegant rooms, each with Harrison Spinks beds and bathrooms clad in Italian marble. There are also four restaurants and three bars, among them Shaun Rankin at Grantley Hall, a fine-dining establishment celebrating the very best Yorkshire produce, awarded its first Michelin star on Monday, 25 January 2021; the chic Asian-inspired Restaurant EightyEight; the accessible all-day dining venue Fletchers; and the opulent late-night champagne and cocktail lounge Valeria’s.

An impressive wellness offering

Another key aspect of the revamp was the introduction of an impressive wellness offering. The Three Graces Spa delivers a range of soothing treatments and therapies, while guests can also make use of an 18-metre indoor swimming pool and take a dip in the indoor-to-outdoor vitality pool, or check out the onsite sauna, steam room and snow room. And the two-floor Elite Luxury Gym incorporates cutting-edge equipment like a cryotherapy chamber, 3D body scanners and altitude-training facilities.

The project makes extensive use of premium Havwoods flooring throughout. For example, The Italian Collection is employed indoors to provide a classical luxury feel with a hint of contemporary style, and composite decking has been installed outdoors to ensure resistance to rotting, splintering, warping and algae while tapping into the timeless visual appeal of natural wood.

For more info about this scheme, and to view an extensive gallery of hi-res images, check out the Grantley Hall project page on the TOPHOTELDESIGN website.

Many TOPHOTELNEWS articles draw on exclusive information from the TOPHOTELPROJECTS construction database. This subscription-based product includes details of thousands of hotel projects around the world, along with the key decision-makers behind them. Please note, our data may differ from records held by other organisations. Generally, the database focuses on four- and five-star schemes of significant scale; tracks projects in either the vision, pre-planning, planning, under-construction, pre-opening or newly opened phase; and covers newbuilds, extensions, refurbishments and conversions.

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