Historic manor unveils £25 million revamp

A historic North Yorkshire country house hotel has undergone a £25 million transformation, adding new accommodation, dining and leisure facilities as it becomes a luxury resort destination.

Aldwark Manor Estate, situated beside the River Ure near York and Harrogate, has benefited from extensive investment since its acquisition by local family business Depho Estates Ltd in 2019.

The redevelopment has combined the refurbishment of the Victorian Manor House with three new buildings, a redesigned golf course and expanded hospitality facilities.

Among the additions is Chartwell, a newly built Michelin Guide-listed restaurant incorporating Pinafore, a private dining room, and Clem’s, a dedicated wine tasting space.

Bunkers Sports Bar has also replaced the former golf clubhouse, with 11 guest bedrooms created above the venue.

The latest development is the three-storey Salus Wing, scheduled for completion this month, which will provide 17 additional bedrooms, seven treatment rooms and two meeting rooms.

Meanwhile, the estate’s spa has undergone a major overhaul, including the replacement of its former swimming pool with an infinity-style pool.

The new Salus Spa also features hydrotherapy facilities, an outdoor sauna, steam room, cryotherapy facilities, gym and fitness spaces.

Further improvements include the refurbishment of Elements, the estate’s two-AA-Rosette restaurant, which now features a retractable roof, alongside the introduction of a padel court and riverside meeting facilities.

A converted horse-box cocktail bar, refurbished Gatekeeper’s Cottage and a 1964 Routemaster bus available for private events have also been added.

General manager Richard Smith said: “When the estate was acquired in 2019, the potential was very clear. 

“You had the history, the Manor House, the golf course, the spa, the river and the setting, but the different parts weren’t necessarily working together as one destination. 

“Our owners’ vision has always been to bring those elements together and create something that feels distinctly Aldwark. 

“Seven years on, we’ve delivered a huge amount of that vision. 

“It has been a significant programme of investment, but importantly, it hasn’t just been about refurbishing what was already here – we’ve created entirely new spaces and experiences across the estate.”

The investment marks another chapter in the estate’s history, with the present Manor House dating back to 1865.

During the Second World War, the property was requisitioned for military use, with Wing Commander Guy Gibson spending time there while planning the Dambusters raid.

After later serving as a school, the estate was converted into a country house hotel in 1978.

Today, the expanded resort caters for leisure breaks, golf and spa visits, weddings, private celebrations and corporate retreats, with its owners continuing to build on the historic property’s appeal as a destination for visitors to North Yorkshire.

Richard added: “Our owners have always seen Aldwark as a passion project. 

“They wanted to bring the estate together as one destination without losing what makes it feel like Aldwark – its history, character, and the slightly unexpected things you find here. 

“‘Never Ordinary, Always Aldwark’ is a good way of describing it.

“When I joined Aldwark in 2025, I could see the vision the owners had for the estate and wanted to be part of taking that forward commercially. 

“The major transformation has happened, and now it’s about what comes next. 

“There will always be another chapter at Aldwark.”

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