spring 23 in focus Middleton Lodge Estate

Brought back to life by the Allison family, Middleton Lodge is a 200-acre privately owned estate located near Richmond, North Yorkshire. Elegant and enchanting, it’s the perfect place to unwind at the weekend, or to slow down and enjoy a week in the country. It’s recently been featured in British Vogue and Tatler, so we drove into the Yorkshire countryside to find out what all the hype is about… and we weren’t disappointed.

Over the past 16 years, the Allison family have made it their labour of love to bring 18th century Middleton Lodge Estate back to life, restoring and modernising the original walled gardens, houses and farm buildings without losing their essential Georgian character.

But Middleton Lodge has been in owner and managing director James Allison’s life for far longer than 16 years; his family bought the estate in 1980 and he was raised in the main house. His devotion to this place is evident in the thought and detail that has gone, and continues to go, into each restoration and new development.

At present the estate is home to two noted restaurants and a 30-bedroom hotel with treatment rooms, two self-catered cottages and two award-winning spaces for hosting private events and dream weddings. The characterful buildings are dotted about in cosy little hamlets amongst the parkland; it feels as though you have taken a step back in time and landed in an idyllic country village. When you arrive, you’re greeted at the Gatehouse and directed to where you need to be. You’re instantly made to feel at home, put at ease by the warm and inviting team, many of whom have worked on the estate for a long time and live nearby. Here, you’ll find the peace and privacy you need to pause.

We fell in love with the estate, its beauty, feeling of community and strong sense of place. Everything is rooted in heritage and the environment. You catch glimpses of the traditional practices that would have been in place when the estate was originally built; the gardening teams work together to grow produce for the ‘estate-to-plate’ menus, liaising with the chefs to pick produce straight from the walled garden. Traditional cooking and preserving methods are also adopted.

You can sense straightaway that this once neglected Georgian giant has been lovingly brought back to life with great diligence. No corners have been cut in the restoration of the estate – the aim is to ensure its longevity. James has used his engineering background to transform the estate whilst ensuring that the restoration has minimal impact on the environment. Sustainable measures put in place include biomass boilers, electric kitchens and car charging units, an anaerobic digester, low food mile menus, and a recycle and reuse ethos across all teams. Solar panels, additional planting beds and hydroponic systems are being installed in the near future. James worked alongside Creative Director, Rebecca Tappin, to transform the interiors across the estate. Rebecca has used the walled two-acre garden, which was redesigned by the Chelsea award-winning landscape architect Tom Stuart-Smith in 2014, as her inspiration. She has created rooms that bring the outdoors in. Colour schemes are muted, with earthy hues; some walls are stripped back, others are finished with carefully chosen hand-painted wallpaper. Each room, restaurant and social space feels calm and timeless. While it’s easy just to kick back and relax here, there are other options. Residents can take an early morning meander through the gardens and grounds, or loosen off any tension with a massage or head-to-toe scrub at the Treatment Rooms. Or you could plan a road trip, heading into the rolling landscape of the nearby Yorkshire Dales to hike or visit the historic market towns with their cobbled streets. Whatever the weather, peace of mind comes from knowing your cosy bedroom or cottage – some with hot tubs and log burning stoves – will be there to welcome you on your return.

We had heard a lot about the food here, too. There’s been recognition from the Michelin Guide for the estate’s efforts towards sustainable gastronomy. We feasted, for

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breakfast, lunch and dinner at the Coach House, and while you may think that’s repetitive, the chefs change the menu daily to reflect what has been picked or foraged from the estate that morning, so it’s quite the opposite. If you’re up just before sunrise – hard to leave those comfy beds though! - you might spot chefs and gardeners filling baskets with freshly picked produce. With plates from the land, garden or sea, each dish is flavoursome, fresh, a veritable taste of the Yorkshire landscape.

This year will see Forge, the second restaurant on the estate, bring a new tasting experience to Middleton Lodge on Thursday to Sunday evenings. The Forest Spa is also set to open soon. As its name suggests, it’s strongly connected to nature, and it will be a place to nurture mind and body. Whether you're close by or making the journey from afar, be sure to book a stay at this marvel of a countryside hangout, which is as homely as James intended. With the A1 nearby, and Darlington railway station and Teesside International Airport under half an hour away, Middleton Lodge Estate is the perfect location for those travelling both locally and from afar.

Bed and breakfast room rates start from £235 per night. Find out more at middletonlodge.co.uk, call 01325 377-977 or email stay@middletonlodge.co.uk

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spring 23