Middlethorpe Hall in York partners with St Leonard’s Hospice in York as they launch a new range of GAIA Skincare Spa treatments
This May, Middlethorpe Hall is welcoming GAIA Skincare as a new range of spa treatments, that will sit alongside Carol Joy collagen boosting facial treatments. The Spa at Middlethorpe Hall in York is a firm favourite with both hotel guests and local York residents. The Spa Membership Club is designed for locals, allowing them to have daily access to the facilities which include a large indoor swimming pool, steam room, spa bath, sauna, gym and club room. Everyone can book a range of spa treatments. Members have free access to the services of a Fitness Instructor and Aqua-fit sessions. Middlethorpe Spa is easily accessible by bike, bus (routes 11 and 15), or by car, both from York and surrounding villages and it offers free parking. Everyone is welcome to reserve a selection of spa treatments and/or full or half-day spa experiences.
As a proud local business, Middlethorpe Hall is giving something back to their local community by partnering with St Leonard’s Hospice.
Throughout the month of May, the hotel will offer spa treatments at St Leonard’s Hospice in York. Middlethorpe Hall will also make a contribution to the hospice for all GAIA treatments experienced at the hotel’s spa throughout the month of May.
Middlethorpe Spa therapists, already trained to offer specialist health and beauty treatments, will offer complimentary spa treatments on Thursday mornings at the hospice’s Wellbeing Hub between 10am and 12:30pm. These treatments will be offered to residents, out-patients, carers and those recently bereaved. The Wellbeing drop-in sessions provide a safe and relaxed environment where guests can get advice from the experienced team, meet people who are going through similar experiences and learn about local support groups specific to their needs and support is free. Middlethorpe Hall’s kitchen will also prepare homemade biscuits for the mornings at St Leonard’s Hospice.
Furthermore, throughout the month of May, Middlethorpe Hall will make a donation of up to £15 when selected GAIA Skincare treatments are booked at Middlethorpe Spa.
This means a month-long partnership with St Leonard’s Hospice in York. The hospice offers a wide range of services tailored to the specific needs of terminally ill people, people with life limiting illnesses, and their loved ones.
The roots of GAIA Skincare go back to Greek mythology and their natural approach to medicine. The skincare range is made from natural ingredients, with certified organic plant extracts, many of which are fair trade and sourced from small farms and producers. The formulations have been created using traditional artisan methods, blending the finest ingredients, plant actives, and essential oils, to produce a range of products with intention and integrity. Middlethorpe Hall will offer a wide selection of body and facial spa treatments by GAIA Skincare.
Middlethorpe Hall is a historic 300-year old red brick and limestone house, influenced by Sir Christopher Wren. The hotel is set in 20 acres of gardens and parkland which come alive in spring.
Middlethorpe Hall offers 29 individually decorated bedrooms and suites, a two AA Rosette restaurant which is open to all for lunch on weekends and daily for dinner. The hotel also offers afternoon tea daily and these become even more popular in the spring and summer with the option to enjoy afternoon tea and drinks alfresco. The hotel’s spa is also open to both hotel guests and locals who book treatments or join the club. All hotel resident guests have free access to the spa facilities. All this within under 10 minutes drive of the centre of York, or with the number 11 and 15 buses which operate from the city centre to Bishopthorpe Road.
The award-winning gardens at Middlethorpe Hall have been extensively restored and replanted since the property was acquired in 1980. There are many specimen trees, including a Cedar al Lebanon on the main lawn, a mature Red Oak in the Spring Garden, and a Turkey Oak all of which remain from the original garden. The enchanting walled kitchen garden produces not only a beautiful display of flowering shrubs, magnificent herbaceous borders but holds herb beds and has been planted for fruit: apples, pears, plums, peaches and greengages, all of which are used by the hotel’s chef to create wonderful puddings. The main feature of the walled kitchen garden is a mellow brick Dovecote, dating back to 1681 and rescued from dereliction in 1980, now used as a wine cellar.
The restaurant at Middlethorpe Hall offers a true Yorkshire dining experience. With a tranquil vista over award-winning gardens, the dining rooms provide the perfect setting for candlelit dinners. Several menus are available in the evening. The extensive ‘Wine List’ has been awarded “AA Notable Wine List” since 2015 and features a wide variety of wines from both the old and new worlds.
Ashley Binder has been Head Chef at Middlethorpe Hall since 2016. He started at the hotel in 2008 as Chef de Partie and was rapidly promoted to Sous Chef. Ashley is a passionate and talented Yorkshireman being part of the hotel’s restaurant team that secured two rosettes by the AA. Ashley works with local farmers, fishmongers and butchers to secure the freshest, seasonal and local produce throughout the year. Ashley also works with the hotel’s gardening team to make full use of the fresh herbs, fruits and vegetables organically grown in the walled garden’s ‘Potager’.
Middlethorpe Hall is exceptionally proud of its links with suffragist garden designer Fanny Wilkinson (1855–1951). She lived in the house with her family, and it was where she became passionate about gardening. In 2024, the hotel unveiled a York Civic Trust Blue Plaque in the walled garden to celebrate her achievements. Fanny’s inspiration is still going strong.
Lady Mary Wortley-Montagu occupies a very special place in the hearts of everyone at Middlethorpe Hall. Back in the 18th-century, the Grade II-listed house was the private residence of Georgian aristocrat, Lady Mary, with her politician husband and young son. Today the Lady Mary suite is named after her. A large painting of Lady Mary greets guests as they ascend the magnificent staircase of the house.
Locals who enjoy afternoon tea, lunch or dinner and spa treatments can explore the house and gardens and learn about these two important women who helped shape the history of this Yorkshire house. There are many experiences at Middlethorpe Hall for locals, which continues to be a proud local employer, supporter of the local economy and a part of the wider York community.
www.middlethorpe.com Middlethorpe Hall, York, Yorkshire, YO23 2GB
B&B is priced from £289 per room, per night based on two guests sharing
Traditional afternoon tea is priced from £39.50 per person
Seasonal dinner menu is priced £66 for two courses and £85 for three courses
GAIA Spa treatments are priced from £60 for 20 minute treatments – £125 for 80 minute treatments
