The historic estate Aldwark Manor located near York and Harrogate has undergone a major transformation across its hotel, golf course, spa, restaurants and leisure facilities.
Aldwark Manor Estate in North Yorkshire is entering a new chapter following its £25 million refurbishment since its acquisition by a local family business called Depho Estates Ltd in 2019.
Set beside the River Ure around 10 miles from York and Harrogate, the estate has undergone a significant development, combining the refurbishment of its historic Manor House with three major new buildings, a completely redesigned golf course, a new spa, new dining destinations and a wider programme of leisure and guest experiences.
General manager, Richard Smith, said: “When the estate was acquired in 2019, the potential was very clear.
“You had the history, the Manor House, the golf course, the spa, the river and the setting, but the different parts weren't necessarily working together as one destination.
“Our owners’ vision has always been to bring those elements together and create something that feels distinctly Aldwark.
“Seven years on, we've delivered a huge amount of that vision. It has been a significant programme of investment, but importantly, it hasn't just been about refurbishing what was already here – we've created entirely new spaces and experiences across the estate.”
The transformation includes the creation of three new buildings. Charwell, the estate’s Michelin Guide-listed restaurant, was developed as an entirely new dining space, which also incorporates Pinafore, a private dining room, and Clem’s, a wine tasting room offering fine international wines by the glass.
Bunkers Sports Bar was also newly built, replacing the former golf clubhouse, with 11 bedrooms created above the new facility.
The latest major addition is the three-storey Salus Wing, due to be completed this month. It will add seven purpose-built treatment rooms, two meeting rooms, and 17 additional bedrooms to the estate.
Alongside the new developments, significant work has also transformed the existing estate. The Manor House has been refurbished while the golf course has been redesigned.
The spa has also gone through a major renovation; the former swimming pool was demolished and replaced with a new infinity-style pool, with the new Salus Spa adding a hydrotherapy pool, spa garden with an outdoor sauna, sauna and steam room, cryotherapy facilities, gym, and fitness spaces.
The Yorkshire Post’s business newsletter brings you the best news and analysis - subscribe here
Elements, the estate’s existing two-AA-Rosette restaurant, has been renovated with a retractable roof that allows the restaurant to open out to the surrounding estate, while other additions include a padel court, riverside meeting facilities, a converted horse-box cocktail bar, a 1964 Routemaster bus for private events, and the refurbished Gatekeeper’s Cottage.
The village of Aldwark is recorded in the Domesday Book, while the estate’s name is considered to originate from the Old Saxon ‘ald weorc’, meaning ‘old fort’, referencing a Roman fort believed to have once guarded the River Ure crossing.
The present Manor House dates back to 1865 and was later requisitioned during the Second World War, when wing commander Guy Gibson spent time there while planning the Dambusters raid.
The estate also has its own more unusual stories, including the Witching Stone, which has inspired its own book. The property later became a school before being converted into a country house hotel in 1978.
Depho Estates acquired Aldwark in 2019, beginning the current programme of investment.
Richard added: “Our owners have always seen Aldwark as a passion project.
“They wanted to bring the estate together as one destination without losing what makes it feel like Aldwark – its history, character, and the slightly unexpected things you find here. ‘Never Ordinary, Always Aldwark’ is a good way of describing it.
“When I joined Aldwark in 2025, I could see the vision the owners had for the estate and wanted to be part of taking that forward commercially.
“The major transformation has happened, and now it’s about what comes next. There will always be another chapter at Aldwark.”