Grantley Hall has been tucked in a valley on the banks of the River Skell, on the outskirts of the Yorkshire Dales National Park, for hundreds of years, but the classic Palladian-style Grade II listed mansion, built in 1680 as a private residence has now been lovingly restored by the Sykes family, transforming the once grand home into one of the UK’s most luxurious escapes.
Photo Gallery
Style & Character
A spacious Palladian classic hall, located in parkland and traditional gardens, Grantley Hall has all the modern grandeur one would expect from a hotel that has had a multi-million pound and four years of refurbishment work, turning it into a Relais & Châteaux hotel.
Bay trees in pots guard the entrance whilst panelled and columned parlour rooms – some in delicate creams and Wedgwood blues, others rich in oak panelling, complete with beautiful velvet furnishings can be found throughout the hotel. A unique collection of art adorns the walls, along with orchids and tropical foliage that can be found at every turn, while a new-build wing features a first-floor atrium, olive trees, and Greek-style marble sculptures.
Even if you arrive on a rainy or foggy day, the grounds of the Hall are worth exploring. Grab a map from the hotel lobby and follow the gravel walks along the river’s bank, admire the vegetable patch and explore the charming, tranquil Japanese garden hidden behind the Garden Pavilion, or hop across the stepping stones to Tree Island for a peaceful moment taking in the views.
Service
The five-star treatment starts the instant you arrive at Grantley Hall, with a well-dressed gatekeeper greeting you onto the estate before you make your way down the long, winding drive. The river flows alongside you, and on the horizon, the majestic façade of Grantley Hall appears. Outside the entrance to the hotel, a group of porters await guests, and valet drivers collect cars as guests are ushered inside into the comfortable lobby.
Location
Just 15 minutes from the A1(M), surrounded by wooded parkland, and midway between Ripon and the market town of Pateley Bridge (both five miles away), Grantley Hall is located on the eastern outskirts of the Yorkshire Dales.
Wharfedale, with its picturesque villages and walks, is about 30 minutes away, whilst the Brimham Rocks’ mysterious formations and the romantic ruins of Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal water gardens are also nearby. Harrogate is a 30-minute drive away for high end shopping and antiques.
You can also reach York station from London’s Kings Cross in under two hours thanks to a LNER service. York, which also serves Edinburgh, Newcastle, Leeds, and other UK cities, is just under an hour’s drive from Grantley Hall; for an additional fee, the hotel can also arrange transfers in advance.
Rooms & Suites
Each room and suite is decorated in luxurious neutral colours and comes standard with a king-size bed, super soft carpeting, and a marble ensuite. The Executive Rooms in the original 17th-century hall, which have period fireplaces and a romantic window seats, are a must visit and the Studley Suite, where we stayed is quite simply magical.
Our suite had an emperor-sized bed, a spacious dining area, and a large lounge with warm chairs arranged around a coffee table brimming with luxuries such as fresh fruit, Champagne, homemade sloe gin, and Lauden chocolates. The mini fridge was also generously stocked with complimentary water, soft drinks, and milk, as well as tea and coffee and nibbles.
The spectacular underfloor-heated Italian marble bathroom looks like a mini spa, complete with a large marble bath and a steam shower. With a large his and hers vanity, luxurious Bvlgari toiletries, and a smart toilet that heats the seat and even raises the lid for you, the Grantley Hall team has spared no expense. All of the rooms and suites have air conditioning as well as sophisticated technology such as adjustable lighting and TVs disguised behind real picture frames that reveal Sky systems allowing guests to enjoy live sports and movies at the push of a button.
Dining & Drinks
When it comes to dining and drinks, Grantley Hall offers an excellent selection. While you can treat your body like a temple in the gym and spa, all restraint will become lost when it comes to dining at Grantley Hall. Fletchers delivers sophisticated British gastronomy with a mild French accent – superb steaks, exquisite fish dishes, and locally sourced shellfish are on the menu. The vibrant and flashy EightyEight is located in a glass-ceilinged wing and offers a pan-Asian food as well as an extensive cocktails menu. Guests can also enjoy refreshments in the spa lounge, sweet delicacies at afternoon tea in the Georgian Drawing Room, or soak up the Alpine atmosphere at the brand new Après at The Orchard.
Meanwhile, Shaun Rankin at Grantley Hall (currently holding one Michelin star) is the fine-dining hotspot, where the famous chef is paying homage to his Yorkshire heritage in style.
When it comes to the hotel’s bar area, there’s the Norton Bar with its interiors reminiscent of the building’s rich heritage, with wood panelling, saffron-velvet armchairs, and leather-bound tomes. Choose from over 100 various kinds of cocktails, curl up by the fireplace in the winter, or take your beautifully concocted drink outside to the patio. Hearty appetisers, such as club sandwiches and local charcuterie, are also offered here.
Spa & Pool Facilities
The tranquil Three Graces spa is quickly becoming a destination in and of itself. Guests can easily spend an entire day here indulging in the Ila and Natura Bissé face and body treatments before moving onto the sauna, steam room, snow room, and hydrotherapy pool. Reiki, reflexology, crystal healing, and massages for expectant moms are also available on the unique therapy menu.
The pool at Grantley Hall is no ordinary pool. The marble-clad atrium, columns, and cloistered ceiling that surround the 18m heated indoor swimming pool lined with heated beds make it feel more like a tremendous Roman bathhouse. There is also a second pool which is for adults only and leads to an outdoor terrace, cleverly through a concealed sliding door.
The exquisite purpose-built spa is a haven of calm, which explains why Three Graces Spa is award-winning, guests can also relax in the cabanas or on the plush Rattan furniture and heated tiled beds.
https://www.grantleyhall.co.uk/
01765 620070
Grantley Hall,
Ripon,
HG4 3ET
KeiKei is a London-based award-winning journalist and videographer with a degree in Broadcast Media and Journalism from the University of the West of Scotland and an extensive reporting background in news, entertainment, travel, and lifestyle.
KeiKei has travelled the globe interviewing, reporting and reviewing. Her work has been published in worldwide media outlets including, The New York Post, The Guardian, The Mirror, The Daily Mail, National Geographic and Conde Nast publications.
