North Yorkshire hall with '1000 years worth of history' unveils new tourist developments

A North Yorkshire manor house with 1000 years of history has unveiled its latest developments with the creation of an antiques shop and restaurant.

Seaton Hall at Staithes, near Whitby, has benefited over recent years from the addition of a number of stone cottages which are hired out to visitors to the area.

Owner William Kidd has now launched the next stage of this development, which has had millions of pounds invested over an eight-year period, with the addition of an antiques shop and a brand new restaurant.

The Barn Owl Bistro and Restaurant is now open from breakfast through to dinner for visitors and offers a range of private dining options for guests who are staying at the hall.

The small antiques area accessed through the bistro has been opened ahead of the next planned stage of the development, which is the conversion of a barn into an antiques mall with a second café.

Mr Kidd said:“We have just opened the bistro but it’s already proving extremely popular. We have a number of regulars who come in on a daily basis which is really pleasing, particularly as we have only been open for a very short time.”

Seaton Hall now offers a range of cottages sleeping between four and 11 people, with accommodation for 32 overall.

The cottages are set around a courtyard and are part of Seaton Hall’s Pendulum Garden, which also features Change, a pair art gates designed by art blacksmiths Adrian Wood and Kate Ventress.

Mr kidd added: “The wonderful thing about Seaton Hall is that it has so much to offer. It’s got 1000 years worth of history and is a beautiful spot and my plans are to have somewhere that has something to offer everyone.”