Plans approved to convert Yorkshire stately home to hotel

Plans to turn the Denton Hall stately home near Ilkley into a hotel have been approved by North Yorkshire Council.

The Grade I-listed building dates back to 1778 and is set within 2,500-acre grounds that include a deer park, grouse enclosure, car park and a lake.

It was bought by engineering firm NG Bailey in 1976 and for almost 50 years was used as a company training centre and to host weddings and events.

However, the property was sold to brothers Cal and Nick Bailey, who are shareholders in the family engineering business, in 2022.

A planning application for the hotel said the hall’s listed buildings were a “financial liability” and would fall into “disrepair” if they could not be used to raise income.

Plans have been approved to convert the main hall into a 28-bedroom hotel with a dining room, bar, games room, gym and function space.

The Grade II-listed stables and coach house will be converted into four suites.

The new owners considered turning Denton Hall into apartments, offices or a care home, but said this would limit public access to the grounds.

The planning application said: “Also of particular public benefit is that changing the use to a hotel will allow the public access into Denton Hall for the first time, so that everyone has the opportunity to appreciate the significance of the heritage assets."

The hall closed and stopped hosting events at the end of 2022.

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