Fresh lease of life for hotel which shut following months of lockdown
The owners of a York hotel have announced their latest business venture after acquiring The Old Deanery Hotel, in Ripon.
Rebecca Hill and Chris Layton, hoteliers behind York’s Galtres Lodge Hotel and proprietors of Layton Hill Hotels Ltd, have revealed their plans for the historic Grade II listed building.
Formerly operating as an award-winning hotel and wedding venue, The Old Deanery was forced to close its doors for good earlier this year after months of lockdown.
The new owners hope to reinvigorate the hotel before re-opening it primarily as a wedding and events venue later in the year.
Lending their expertise to the redevelopment of The Old Deanery will be the experienced general manager David Macdonald and consultant chef Stephanie Moon, both of whom were heavily involved with the development of Galtres Lodge.
Located opposite Ripon cathedral, The Old Deanery Hotel features 11 bedrooms, gardens, and several public areas.
Rebecca Hill said: “We are beyond excited to take on The Old Deanery. It is such a beautiful property in the heart of a beautiful city, and we cannot wait to become a key part of the community.
“The welcome has already been incredible, and we are so grateful for the kind messages that we have received so far.
“As we are still in the wake of the Coronavirus pandemic, we plan on taking a cautious approach and start by opening primarily as a wedding and events venue.
“We plan to be available for winter weddings and Christmas parties this November/December and fully up-and-running as a wedding and events venue from spring 2022.”
“We also hope to organise smaller public events, such as open days and afternoon tea parties, to keep The Old Deanery as open to the public as possible.
“We believe this approach will strike the perfect balance of being open enough to ensure we become a vital part of the community.”
“Overall, we want The Old Deanery to be a jewel in Ripon’s crown and be ‘the place’ to celebrate weddings, birthdays and christenings.”
