Looking for the perfect place to take your next luxurious winter staycation? Set amidst fifteen acres of stunning grounds and reached via a long and winding driveway, the grand Crathone Hall Hotel in Yarm, North Yorkshire is a lavish countryside retreat that enjoys a truly wonderful location, just six miles north-east of the North York Moors and five minutes from the A19 dual carriageway, mid-way between Middlesborough and Thirsk, and is the ideal place for a last-minute off-season escape.
Set in picturesque surroundings, it’s also just a ten minute drive from the affluent village of Yarm, with its great selection of luxury boutiques, fine dining restaurants and pubs, and a 45-minute drive from the area’s best coastal spots such as Whitby and Staithes, making it a great base from which to explore the North East whilst enjoying a quiet rural escape.
Hotel
Crathorne House Hotel has a rather interesting back story. Built in 1906, the property was the largest country house constructed during Edward VII’s reign, designed by architect Sir Ernest George and built by George Trollope & Sons. Originally, it featured a classical facade and an original courtyard with bell towers, with 115 rooms, including 41 bedrooms, and was run by a large staff of 26.
Wealthy from the cotton trade, the Dugdale family moved in after the 1906 Epsom Derby, in which their horse, Picton, placed second, with the hall playing host to politicians, royalty and socialites as well as entertainers. Events such as village fêtes and wartime services were held here, with the space serving as a hospital and potential military office space during WWII.
Sir Thomas Dugdale, who later became Lord Crathorne, was a key political figure, and after his death in 1977, the family moved out and the property was sold, with Crathorne Hall later transformed into a hotel and going on to continue its legacy as a grand venue.
Since then the hotel, which offers captivating views of the Leven Valley on the edge of the Yorkshire Moors, has been welcoming guests through its doors constantly, and, under the ownership and direction of the esteemed Hand Picked Hotels, has built a reputation as one of the finest luxury hotels in the North East.
The building is a very grand and stately affair, but with only thirty seven recently refurbished bedrooms, it also feels rather intimate and cosy, offering a warm welcome from the moment you arrive..
Hand Picked Hotels has successfully retained many of the building’s original features, from the stunning fireplaces to the vaulted hallway with black and white stone floor. The style can be best described as baronial, with striking paintings of Dugdale ancestors on display throughout the building, along with antique mirrors, chandeliers, and the most incredible carved wooden banisters – which come together to ensure a very authentic-feeling stay.
Service is where the hotel really excels. It knows what it does best, and it sticks with it, which means friendly and attentive staff and the kind of traditional hotel service we know and love. It’s old school, but done exceedingly well, making every element of a stay here a pleasure, with all staff eager to please and nothing too much trouble. Many have worked at the hotel for over a decade, which is testament to how well they are treated, respected, and how much they enjoy working at Crathorne Hall hotel.
Their chattiness and humour is quite the tonic, and the smartly dressed and approachable doorman was a real asset, which certainly made a nice change from the awkwardly attentive doormen often present at other luxury hotels.
Waiting staff at dinner are a little more formal, but this works well considering the grander setting.
Rooms and suites
The 37 recently refurbished bedrooms are spread over two storeys and locations, with 20 situated in the main building and 17 in the East Wing. Each has its own unique character and all are named after notable places in the local area.
I stayed in one of the two feature rooms, which was located in the main house. Named Maltby, it was a spacious open plan space which featured double doors that opened out onto a large balcony, which offered the most gorgeous views of the rolling countryside beyond.
The room was tastefully decorated, with a clever use of browns, greens and creams that was very much in keeping with the rural, countryside location of the hotel. Overall, it was very traditional in style, and certainly on brand with the rest of the hotel.
The brown floral wallpaper on the back feature wall was a nice, elegant touch and provided added some contrast with the other simpler white walls, creating a focal point that helped to give the room some added dimension and intrigue.
There was an inviting living area with a deep-seated sofa and a small coffee table and two stylish chairs.
The bed itself was a very comfortable super king, with a Hypnos Lansdowne cashmere mattress, natural feather and down duvet and goose feather and down pillows, which all together really upped the luxury factor and of course, ensured a good night’s sleep too.
The drape curtain and soft, plush carpet both added an extra sense of opulence and created a warm and cosy feel, which the lighting also contributed to. There was a good amount of storage and wardrobe space, too, with room to fully unpack if you’re checking in for a slightly longer stay.
Entertainment-wise, all bases were covered, with a huge 42 inch flat screen bluetooth TV with Freeview channels and complimentary WiFi available in-room, and DVD players available on request.
The bathroom, whilst very practical, lacked the wow factor I was expecting from such a beautiful hotel and it was certainly more substance over style. Although a decent size, the décor was very muted and was slightly underwhelming in terms of aesthetic appeal – but the bath/shower, wood flooring, large heated towel rail and separate toilet area ensure that guests have all they need when it comes to functionality.
There was a rather lovely and tasty welcome goodies box waiting for me in my room on arrival, featuring an array of delightful locally sourced snacks including Yorkshire crisps, oatmeal and raisin biscuits and some rhubarb and custard and soft jelly sweets. I thought this was a really nice touch, and a departure from the same generic goods offered by most hotels. It gave me an instant taste of the local area instead, as well as supporting businesses from the region – so all in all, a win-win.
To wash it all down with, there was also a hospitality tray packed with a selection of fairtrade teas, coffees and hot chocolates, and a capsule coffee machine so that you can always get that morning caffeine hit before heading downstairs instead of having to wait until breakfast. And of course, there was plenty of complimentary water still water on hand too, which never goes unappreciated.
I’m always pleased when a room comes complete with an iron and ironing board, as there’s nothing more frustrating than having to ring down for one. Other handy amenities included a hair dryer and clothes brush, plus a plush bathrobe and slippers. And for keeping your valuables safely under lock and key – or code, in this case – there was also a digital safe.
‘Maltby’ comes highly recommended by me, but if you want to stay in the best room in the house then treat yourself to the super luxurious Crathorne Suite, which features Lord Crathorne’s original dressing room and bathroom and comes complete with decadent aquamarine stone tiling and a show-stopping roll top bath.
Food and drink
The hotel offers two delightful lounges where guests can enjoy a pre-dinner glass of fizz or an indulgent after-dinner Irish coffee; The Edwardian Room and The Nancy Tennant Bar.
When it comes to dining, the Leven Restaurant, which holds a coveted AA Rosette, is a very grown up and formal affair. Here, head chef Darren Curson showcases his modern British approach to fine dining, offering the very best of the season with plenty of local influences and serving up dishes that are simply presented using the finest local ingredients.
Darren is a Michelin trained chef, a Springboard Future Chef judge and finalist mentor and was recently appointed a committee member of the British Culinary Federation. He has enjoyed his full-time roles assisting in training the future generation of young chefs in nationwide competitions and working for charity gala dinners to help raise money for Keech Hospice and The Children’s Liver Disease organisation, as well as working in some of the UK and Europe’s finest five-star hotel groups such as Exclusive, Relais and Chateaux, Elite and now Hand Picked. Not only that, but he has also enjoyed stints in Michelin Star and four rosette restaurants, high-volume multi-outlet estates, and worked as a private chef for high-end clients and A-list celebrities in Canada and Hawaii – which is quite the CV, if I may say so.
The expansive yet cosy dining room is quite stunning; it retains a wealth of period charm and English elegance, including its high gold gilt ceilings and gorgeous original sash windows, which offer views over the grounds and countryside beyond.
Other stand-out features include a striking and large fireplace that creates an instant sense of cosiness, along with mesmerising art adorning the walls and traditional wood panelling, all finished off with draped curtains, simple white table cloths and tall, grand-looking chairs
The atmosphere is calm and quiet, but exudes an air of sophistication that makes every dining experience feel like it’s a special occasion.
Head chef Darren’s food philosophy is to use the finest British ingredients, making the most of all that Yorkshire and in particular the bounty of produce the hotel’s grounds have to offer – from apples from Crathorne Hall’s orchid and fruit and vegetables grown on the hote’s allotment, to milk from the cow’s that graze on the surrounding fields.
Dishes change regularly with the seasons, but diners can expect to find the likes of decadent wood pigeon from the Yorkshire Dales, succulent pork from Bishop Auckland, mouth-watering Yorkshire ham and indulgent cheeses from Harrogate. All dishes are simply presented with a strong focus on the key ingredients, flavour balance and textures, and never fail to make an impact.
The Highland venison was a great way to start the meal. The venison loin bresaola was lean and dry-cured to perfection. Beautifully seasoned, it worked well with the mouthwatering Caesar salad and black garlic, which was fresh, tasty, creamy, very cheesy and arguably the star of the show – in fact, it was a real shame it was so small. The dish was perfectly paired with a glass of Chateau St Michelle, a velvety smooth 2020 Cabernet Sauvignon from Washington in the USA – an inspired recommendation that went down a treat.
For fish lovers, the roast loin of cod will be sure to delight for mains. Served with a rather moreish lobster mousse, peas, broad beans and lobster bisque, the latter really packed a punch; it was creamy, silky-smooth and well-seasoned. The side dish of tenderstem broccoli added some crunch and texture to the dish – which this time, was paired with a glass of 2023 Cormons Friulano Friuli from northern Italy. It was floral and fruity but the overall freshness worked well with the delicate cod – once again, a match made in heaven.
The Makins strawberries were a very enjoyable way to end the meal and were served with the most scrumptious Devon clotted cream and a very refreshing strawberry sorbet. A simple dish, but sometimes that’s all you need – and the strawberries were the sweetest I had tasted all year. The wine of choice to wash them down with? A glass of 2001 Château Lafaurie-Peyraguey from Bordeaux – a dessert wine that was dense and concentrated but at the same time was wonderfully harmonious and rich, and worked very well with the strawberries, something I can confidently affirm despite not usually being a fan of sweet wines.
To round off the evening, I opted for an indulgent Irish coffee, which was extra creamy and made for the perfect nightcap.
Overall, it was a very pleasing three-course meal that was certainly worthy of at least two AA Rosettes. Personally, I would have loved to have seen the addition of an amuse–bouche and a pre-dessert, as I feel this would have elevated the meal and added an extra layer of sophistication to the entire dining experience.
Roasts are served at the Leven on Sundays and are apparently some of the best in the North East – so if you’re staying over a weekend then you’re in for a treat. The afternoon tea, meanwhile, is available daily and comes highly recommended..
Breakfast is also served here and is a real feast, comprising buttery croissants, delicious pastries, ripe fruit, creamy yoghurt, and an array of cooked options which included the classic full English, Scottish oak smoked salmon, smoked mackerel and scrambled egg on toasted seeded bread. For those with a sweet tooth, there’s also the gluttonous French cinnamon brioche toast and a caramelised maple syrup banana waffle – so all in all, you can expect to be spoilt for choice, whatever you’re in the mood for.
To do
If you find yourself at a loose end during your stay at Crathorne Hall Hotel, then there are plenty of scenic walking and running trails around the grounds to enjoy. Maps are available from reception on request. Or, for a taste of a quintessentially British pastime, you can play croquet on the lawn.
There is no fitness centre or spa on site, but there’s plenty to do nearby. Attractions within easy reach include Rosebery Topping (Yorkshire’s “Matterhorn”), Mount Grace Priory, Barnard Castle and Durham Cathedral, so if you fancy a day out immersing yourself in nature or acquainting yourself with the region’s rich history, then you’ll have no trouble finding somewhere to scratch the itch.
Weddings and events
The hotel also hosts weddings and events, providing an idyllic setting for any special occasion. The Edwardian Room, with its intricately carved ceiling, ornate chandelier and stunning original marble fireplace inside exudes an appealing sense of grandeur, and with capacity for ceremonies and wedding meals of up to 120, and parties of up to 200, it’s the perfect choice for a wedding day you’ll never forget.
Spouses-to-be can create a bespoke wedding menu alongside head chef Darren, and staff will endeavour to bring every element of couples’ dreams for their special day to life – whether they envisage a gin bar, street food stand or something entirely unique.
The hotel is also popular for corporate events, and is home to six meeting spaces that can be hired to suit a range of different needs.
Christmas at Crathorne
From intimate gatherings to grand celebrations, Crathorne Hall offers a range of festive experiences this Christmas.
The Christmas Eve two-night package (£1,465) includes Christmas Eve mulled wine, a sparkling afternoon tea and evening buffet, while on Christmas Day, guests can celebrate in style with a mimosa breakfast, Champagne and canapés, five-course lunch and mince pies, with gifts for children and an evening buffet.
There’s also a three-night package (£2,015) if you’re keen to stretch out the festivities a little longer, which comes complete with a sophisticated Boxing Day soiree comprising Champagne, a three-course meal and music.
In a nutshell
An ideal retreat for couples looking for a traditional countryside escape with a little added luxury thrown into the mix, the hotel will certainly appeal to those who can’t get enough of old-school grandeur.
Hand Picked Hotels
The hotel is part of the Hand Picked Hotels portfolio. Established by Julia and Guy Hands with a vision of offering luxurious and magical guest experiences delivered with warmth, passion and creativity, today, Hand Picked Hotels is a stunning collection of 21 family-owned, very individual and architecturally stunning country house hotels and coastal resorts across the UK.
Each property boasts a noble British heritage and is steeped in rich history, and the group has become known for its unwavering commitment to delivering exceptional hospitality.
Factbox
Double rooms from £203 in low season; and from £185 in high. Breakfast included.
Address: Crathorne, Yarm TS15 0AR
Phone: 01642 700398
Website: handpickedhotels.co.uk/crathornehall
All imagery unless stated otherwise credit: Hand Picked Hotels
