A dilapidated building in Richmond town centre has been transformed into an upmarket place to eat, sleep and live. It even has a penthouse, says Jenny Needham

THE Victorians had a flair for creating grand buildings for all types of uses, employing great ingenuity to make them both palatial and practical. The Fleece Hotel Richmond is one the period’s late arrivals, created by renowned Darlington architect GS Hoskins in 1897, just four years before Queen Victoria’s demise.

The Grade II listed property began life as a hotel, but after a period of decline at the start of the 21st century, it was dilapidated. The upstairs rooms hadn’t been used for more than 20 years when Richmond-based Within Reach developments acquired the building in 2015. The new owners have carefully given the building a complete makeover to return it to life as a polished and sophisticated hotel that is reopening as a 14-bedroom luxury hotel, restaurant, and café-bar mid-May.

“Until the sale went through, I completely underestimated the local interest in this rather iconic building. There’s great excitement in the town,” says director of Within Reach Developments Peter Coulson. “When we purchased the building, it had probably reached the lowest point in its life, having fallen from grace as the grandest hotel between York and the Scottish borders at its peak to being used as a late licence nightclub which, whilst providing a service, wasn’t exactly in keeping with the building’s elegance.”

It was a challenging renovation, says Peter, but the finished product is stunning. There’s an upmarket feel to the place, focusing on an elegant café-cum-bar, a 35-cover restaurant and 14 boutique hotel rooms to the upper floors, each room subtly themed on the different aspect of Yorkshire. “We want people to relax and enjoy a stay or night out in an environment very different to those available elsewhere in the town,” says Peter. “I feel the commercial side will really add to what the area has to offer.”

There’s also a property side to The Fleece development, with five residential properties for sale that are being snapped up. The homes range from apartments, which exude the classical features of the main building to the crisp and contemporary Mews houses, set around the private courtyard, which offer a rare high-quality residential property a stone’s throw from the market square. All properties have secure gated parking and electrical car charging points. And as with all the company’s developments, buyers have the opportunity to work with the developers to select the interiors, making for a truly bespoke home.

Peter and business partner David Colley are thrilled with the development. “After falling for the building’s charms in 2015, it was clear that this development was an ideal fit for our company’s love of bringing life and quality back to historical properties,” says Peter. “We knew it would be an eventful journey and it hasn’t let us down. From discovering part of the town’s 13th century moat through to meticulously cleaning every piece of brick and terracotta, we are truly proud of what we are delivering, not only to the future home owners, but also to Richmond in renovating one of the town’s most architecturally important buildings.”

The project marks a return to the elegance and service of its Victorian heritage, but with a modern and stylish twist. There’s an exciting range of drinks on offer – cocktails, regional craft ales that give guests a true taste of Yorkshire, and an international wine list fit for the most discerning palate.

There are two very clear food offerings to enjoy, the café-bar and the restaurant, both based on the very best of seasonal produce from local suppliers. The all-day café-bar has several food offerings, encouraging smaller sharing plates and allowing guests to enjoy a range of food in a relaxed atmosphere. The restaurant has a range of menus, from a la carte to a carefully created tasting menu with the option of paired wines. “We wanted to offer some truly fantastic food, served in a relaxed and enjoyable environment – and we feel the handsome dining room delivers this,” says Peter.

The Fleece Hotel’s highly-trained ‘flock’ will shepherd guests throughout their visit, whether that be in the relaxed café-bar, or the restaurant, where familiar food is cooked in a modern British style.

  • The remaining properties are on the market with GSC Garys. Tel 01748-829206