White Swan in Middleham to relaunch as the Wensleydale hotel
The 17-bedroom White Swan hotel in Middleham on the edge of the Yorkshire Dales National Park is to be transformed into a boutique property with a new restaurant.
Charles Merchie, former general manager of the Feversham Arms hotel in Helmsley, North Yorkshire, and his wife Fiona have bought the property off a guide price of £695,000 and are relaunching it as the Wensleydale hotel.
Initial renovations will see the modernisation of the public areas and addition of two suites and a family room, with a second round of improvements later this year including the addition of a thermal spa suite and a duplex of junior suites.
A new restaurant called the Tack Room will serve traditional European and British cuisine, with "artisan charcuterie and bread specialities". Its design will provide a nod to the horse trainers in the area.
Merchie, who spent six months last year as interim general manager and managing director at Swinton Estate, near Ripon, said: "When my wife, Fiona, and I first started looking for a hotel, we went back to Fiona's roots and explored the beautiful Moors and the Dales, which is where we stumbled upon the White Swan up for sale. It matched our criteria perfectly; a medium-sized hotel with a restaurant in a great location with loads of potential."
Charles and Fiona Merchie will be supported in running the hotel by their two sons, who will work in the bar and Tack Room during university holidays. Rui Barradas, a former colleague, has been appointed resident manager.
NatWest provided the funding for the project.
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