Middlethorpe Hall in York Celebrates 40 Years as a Historic House Hotel

• Built in 1699, Middlethorpe Hall boasts a rich history
• The hotel is home to an award-winning restaurant and Spa
• In 2024 Middlethorpe Hall celebrates its 40th Anniversary as a hotel
• 20th anniversary year of Lionel Chatard as Director & General Manager
• This Historic House Hotel is part of the National Trust  

Middlethorpe Hall is an historic three hundred year old red brick and limestone house, influenced by Sir Christopher Wren, set in 20 acres of gardens and parkland. In 2024 Middlethorpe Hall celebrates its 40th anniversary since opening as a hotel. One of three Historic House Hotels of the National Trust, Middlethorpe Hall offers 29 individually decorated bedrooms, an award-winning two AA Rosette restaurant and a boutique spa with its own indoor pool.  

The hotel has the ambiance of a well-kept private country house, actually within the City of York and guests are invited to explore the elegant public rooms and also the 20 acres of gardens and parkland. 

The elegant Drawing Room and the Library are two public rooms in which to enjoy afternoon tea and pre-dinner drinks. Entering through the North porch into a spacious hall, which leads through to the black and white tiled stairwell hall and out to the sunny South terrace. To the right of the stairwell is the Library, then on further to the elegant Drawing Room. These rooms have magnificent views through large sash windows to manicured lawns leading to the ha-ha and park beyond, where wild deer can often be spotted.

Middlethorpe Hall is set in over 20 acres of parkland with an intriguing series of interconnecting walled gardens including a kitchen garden. The gardens have been extensively restored and replanted since the property was acquired in 1980. There are many specimen trees, including a magnificent Deodar Cedar on the main lawn, a mature Red Oak in the Spring Garden, and a Turkey Oak, all of great age. The original walled kitchen garden produces not only a beautiful display of flowering shrubs, magnificent herbaceous borders but also herbs and fruits: apples, pears, plums, peaches and greengages, all of which are used by Chef to create wonderful puddings. The main feature of the walled kitchen garden is a brick Dovecote, built in 1681, rescued from dereliction in 1980 and now used as a wine cellar. To the west of the kitchen garden is the Rose Garden, its wide stone path lined with lavender.  

After exploring the gardens or the City of York, return to Middlethorpe Hall and enjoy traditional afternoon tea and fine dining. The panelled dining rooms overlooking the gardens, and the imaginative food, awarded two AA Rosettes, follows the hotel’s theme of traditional excellence. With a tranquil vista over lawns, the dining rooms provide the perfect, elegant setting for breakfast, Saturday and Sunday luncheons and fine-dining candlelit dinner; they feature an extensive wine list reflecting quality and variety. The combined experience of Head Chef Ashley Binder and Pastry Chef Paul Harrison produce imaginative menus that have won many accolades over the years including winning twice ‘Restaurant of the Year’ in the Visit York awards.   

Not only do guests feel the benefits of the country here, but they are also within 10 minutes drive of the centre of the City of York. Take a trip into York and visit the many attractions, gaining free admission to local National Trust properties during a stay at the hotel (subject to opening times) or browse the artisan shops in and around The Shambles. Visit York Minster, a ‘must-see’ for any visitor to York and one of the world’s most magnificent cathedrals. 

The hotel is also home to a boutique Spa. Built behind the façade of two listed Edwardian cottages, Middlethorpe Spa offers three treatment rooms, an indoor swimming pool, spa bath, steam room, sauna and club room.

Guests will learn about the Hall’s famous former residents including Lady Mary Wortley Montagu, the 18th century diarist who lived at Middlethorpe Hall from August 1713, famous for introducing her knowledge of the Ottoman practice of inoculation against smallpox to the UK. In later life she was praised for introducing the practice here. A large portrait of Lady Mary greets guests as they climb the staircase to their suites including the Lady Mary suite.

Fanny Rollo Wilkinson, the first female landscape gardener in the UK, also lived at Middlethorpe Hall. This pioneer gardener was the eldest child of Dr Matthew Wilkinson, a leading Manchester physician and the second husband of Frances Barlow, from whom he inherited Middlethorpe Hall. As Fanny explained, ‘When my father died (in 1878) we went to live at our own place, near York (Middlethorpe Hall), and there I began to devote myself to gardening in a practical way’. A York Civic Trust blue plaque was unveiled in the walled garden in 2022.

It is now 15 years since the donation of the three Historic House Hotels (including Middlethorpe Hall) to the National Trust for the benefit of the charity and the nation. 

Lionel Chatard, Director and General Manager is also celebrating his own anniversary in 2024, that of 20 years at Middlethorpe Hall. Throughout that time York has grown in popularity as a tourist destination as Middlethorpe Hall under Lionel’s directions has flourished as the leading hotel, a country house actually in the City of York. 

Middlethorpe Hall offers the perfect setting to enjoy the best of the country and city with special breaks in the hotel’s 40th anniversary in 2024. 

www.middlethorpe.com Middlethorpe Hall, York, Yorkshire, YO23 2GB
B&B priced from £270 per room per night 

Special Anniversary Break: Enjoy a 40% discount on selected room rack rates throughout the winter.  

An exclusive 40% discount on room rack rates and breakfast, available during the Winter Months between 3rd January and 27th March 2024. The 40% discount will be applicable to the rack rates of Middlethorpe Hall’s superior and deluxe bedrooms, four-poster bedrooms and suites*. A celebratory bottle of sparkling wine will also be offered in the room, and a 15% discount on pre-booked spa treatments will be offered.

(*offer available Sunday to Thursday inclusive, from 3rd January to 27th March 2024 and for a limited number of accommodations. It is not applicable to standard and single rooms. It is subject to availability and is not valid in conjunction with any other offer or discount. It is not valid on St Valentine’s Day.)