5 STAR LUXURY AT Grantley Hall HOTEL

Norton Bar , Grantley Hall

Five Stars, Four Restaurants, Three Graces - One Fabulously Lavish Hotel

Grantley Hall, I thank you. Not just for your uber-kind room upgrade  ( more on that later) but for a hotel which is “extra” in every single way.  Grantley Hall is refreshingly mould breaking, unapologetically lavish and a welcome departure from stripped back Nordic interiors which currently seem to dominate upmarket UK hotels.

To be clear, it’s not that I dislike a less is more aesthetic, complete with wooden stool and intentionally placed sheepskin rug, I have just been craving something more, something less pallid and this hotel delivers experience at every turn. It’s revolutionary, whilst cherry picking the best of the bygone. 

Quiet Space: Grantley Hall

The story of Valeria Sykes, proprietor of the hotel, has been well documented in the broadsheets. The narrative outlines humble beginnings, a devoted wife, divorced and anecdotes of childhood holidays spent in Blackpool. And that’s how Grantley Hall feels for me.  A re-creation of excitement felt during childhood visits to the illuminations, with something to see, smell and taste at every turn, just delivered in a ultra sexy and sophisticated adult package. 

From the moment you arrive at the gatehouse, the welcome is warm. The approach to the hotel runs alongside a river with a colourful fountain marking the end of the driveway. The first impressions are everything you would expect from a Relais and Chateaux establishment, but the staff take care to appear friendly and never pretentious or stuffy. 

Clearly the hotel had no intention to subscribe to a particular vibe. Each space has individual personality, from the panelled Norton Bar ( reminiscent of the Library at Cliveden House), to country house palettes and city centre vibes in the modern annexe.  Any argument of style over substance does not need to be had, with Michelin star dining in the Shaun Rankin restaurant and Shane Zhao coming up with the goods over at Eighty Eight. 

Shaun Rankin Lounge

Having previously stayed at the hotel, I had opted for a superior suite located in the mesmerisingly beautiful Fountains Wing. Elegant, classic in design and with a clear focus on quality, I was happy with the room choice. Or at least that is what I thought……

During check-in, I was informed that the kindly reservations team had upgraded our stay to the Presidential Suite, a fabulous gesture. And whilst the suite retains the quality of the previous rooms, the styling is fabulously golden and gilded, complete with highly lacquered baby grand piano and in-room bar.  Is it over the top? Perhaps. Is it necessary? Most definitely not, but who wants sensible? It’s decadent, luxurious and a little bit silly, which is why it worked perfectly for me! 

In a recent discussion with much more acclaimed travel journalists than myself, I was informed that my work could never really have any “clout” it if simply focuses on the positives and that potentially I needed more edge. Yet any criticism of Grantley Hall, a hotel getting it so right,  seems nit picky. However in the interest of not appearing overly easy to please, perhaps there are a few small observations that can be made. 

 With so many facilities, a great choice of eateries and a very Gatsbyesque cocktail bar, Grantley Hall is very much a destination hotel. And during my visits to Grantley Hall there seemed to be a fairly northern crowd. Would that be fair to say? You can see that this hotel is someone’s vision of what luxury personally means to them ( and for me, I am completely won over). It has no intention to pay homage to what is considered to be on trend or cool. It brings much needed sparkle to hospitality up north but  I just hope the rest of the world comes to join the party, 

Reception Grantley Hall

The hotel delivers on everything you would expect from a five star establishment . Elements of the decor highlight the heritage of the building, with future proofed facilities ensuring the hotel is relevant today and beyond. Indeed I am not sure any other hotel in the UK offers altitude training facilities designed to recreate the atmosphere at an Everest base camp. 

The Three Graces Spa is simply stunning and the attention to detail across the entire site is impeccable, flawless. Grantley Hall has set a new standard, turning the hospitality spotlight onto Yorkshire and the wider North West.  Grim up North?  Not any more .

Final Tip: Visit in Spring and experience the Japanese Garden in bloom.