Developer snaps up Grade II-listed building – wedding venue plans revealed

Property developer Staton Young has acquired Grade II-listed Allestree Hall and plans to transform it into a wedding venue.

Winter protection works will secure the building from further damage, including site hoarding, gutter clearing and shielding it from the elements.

Staton Young will now submit plans to convert the hall into a wedding venue.

A condition of the sale required the new owner to immediately address the hall’s deterioration and maintain public toilet access at Allestree Park.

Built in the early 1800s by architect James Wyatt for Bache Thornhill on land once owned by the Mundy family, the hall has historical significance.

The sale includes several outbuildings and Staton Young will collaborate with the council and Derbyshire Wildlife Trust to ensure the hall’s future use aligns with the ongoing rewilding efforts at Allestree Park.

Staton Young, known for restoring historic buildings like Northgate House in Derby, manages serviced offices and co-working spaces across the Midlands.

The move follows its recent acquisition of Horsley Lodge Golf Club, a Derbyshire complex which includes a golf course, country hotels and wedding venues.

Marc Brough, managing director at Staton Young, said: “Allestree Hall presents us with a great opportunity to restore a piece of Derby’s history. We’ve got some exciting plans and can’t wait to bring this beautiful building back to life and create a stunning wedding venue.”

Councillor Kathy Kozlowski, Cabinet Member for Governance and Finance, said: “After years of searching for the right buyer, we’re thrilled to have found a Derby-based preferred bidder with experience of revitalising historic properties. Allestree Hall, a building rich in history and potential, is poised for a new chapter.

“Disposing of the long-lease interest generates much-needed income for the Council and an opportunity for the new owner to breathe new life into the building. With careful restoration, this stunning country house can reclaim its former glory.”