Mark Bowness steps through the grand front doors of the newly renovated and reimagined Hall at Denton Reserve and discovers a beautiful and lovingly designed stately home which guests can now enjoy exclusively for weddings, private celebrations and corporate events.

It seems to have been a long-time coming, but as these eagerly awaited pictures of the newly opened Hall at Denton Reserve show, some things in life are well worth the wait.

Welcome to this reinvented and reimagined sprawling Grade 1 Listed Georgian country hall with 10 luxurious bedrooms and 15 more bedrooms in the wings – which guests can take over exclusively as their own home.

Located on the outskirts of Ilkley, amidst 2,500 acres of breathtaking rolling Yorkshire countryside, the hall dates back to 1778 and its history has been respected and honoured with a beautifully crafted, sustainable redesign that pays homage to its past whilst giving a nod to the future and an exciting new chapter.

Denton Hall and the wider Denton Park Estate, which was home to engineering firm NG Bailey for almost 50 years was sold to brothers Cal and Nick Bailey in 2022 and in the space of two years they have successfully overseen the launch of the beautiful Penny Bun Inn in neighbouring Askwith before completing the transformation of the hall into the stunning space you see today.

And seeing really is believing as you step through the doors of this most luxurious, elegant and unique Yorkshire retreat that can now be booked exclusively for weddings, private parties or corporate events.

Following an extensive re-imagination that saw local craftsmen and businesses working alongside Box 9 Design Ltd – the architectural team behind the whole creation – the finished hall has been designed to restore the balance between luxury accommodation and the beautiful land it sits upon.

Taking inspiration from nature and the surrounding moorland, woodland and dramatic landscape, the team have spent two years lovingly repurposing and restoring the bedrooms, bathrooms, kitchen, dining rooms and reception areas.

The use of a natural paired back palette and sustainable materials to enhance the features of the buildings, soften the edges and bring nature back in, creates a sense of calming rural serenity as you wander from one impressive room to another.

And following its opening in April, the doors are open for guests to become the Lord or Lady of the manor for the weekend and have the whole hall, the 25 rooms and the generous grounds, all to themselves.

Enjoy exploring the sprawling estate and wander through wildflower meadows, your own lake and deer park before returning to the hall for an unforgettable stay in the lap of luxury.

Sink into a super king-sized bed; lose yourself in a gorgeous rain shower or roll top bath; rustle up a storm in the incredible hand-crafted state-of-the-art kitchen, settle down in front of the 85-inch television or pull up a seat at the private bar, knowing it’s all yours to do as you please.

Alongside the sumptuous accommodation there is also an incredible food offering, much of which is sourced directly from the estate and a huge focus of what the Reserve is all about in their quest to deliver homegrown field to fork produce.

Guests will be able to book their own private chef, partake in foraging programmes and enjoy delicious dishes lovingly created by the estate head chef.

Talking about the launch, General Manger Andrew Creese said: “After working incredibly hard to sympathetically redesign the hall and reimagine it as a luxury retreat for the next generation, we are proud to finally open the doors of this beautiful building once again.

“It is an exciting new chapter and will provide guests with a truly unique experience in one of Yorkshire’s most historic and atmospheric settings with the ultimate backdrop for any exclusive wedding or private celebration.”

Meanwhile the team are busy planning the next stage of their exciting journey with plans to shortly open an invigorating Wellness Trail where guests can truly feel at one with nature amidst the beautiful Yorkshire Dales.

Wood-fired saunas, a jetty and cold-water swimming in the lake, which lies in front of the hall, will shortly arrive, providing the ultimate holistic recharge for even the weariest of souls. Alongside this, there will be the chance to book private PT classes, yoga sessions and a bank of nature-inspired wellness experiences to further enhance the guest experience.

And guests who don’t want to book the hall exclusively can also enjoy the magic of the reserve with the option of a short stay in a range of on-site self-catering accommodation that will open this summer.

The team have lovingly restored the Coach House which will be home to four two-bedroom and two one-bedroom apartments with plans to open up the Dunkirk Farm and Dunkirk Barn situated by the wellness trail later in the year.

At the centre of their expansion plans though, remains an ethos that is built on sustainability and they are proud of their pledge to protect and preserve the estate with a focus on regeneration and recovery whilst holding nature at the heart of everything they do.

Andrew added: “The focus of Denton Reserve and the whole business is about repurposing and sustainability so that we can help address the climate crisis, increase biodiversity and grow local, sustainable food.”

“Our vision is to combine those missions with the creation of a unique hospitality and wellness experience where people can reconnect with the outside world and themselves with the least possible negative impact on the environment.”

If you would like to host your next special occasion at the hall and have all your favourite people under one exquisite roof, please visit dentonreserve.co.uk for more information.

For general enquiries please email
hello@dentonreserve.co.uk or for wedding enquiries please email weddings@dentonreserve.co.uk

WEDDINGS
Spend your most special day at Denton Reserve and you’ll have the run of your own stately home with complete exclusivity and privacy for you and your wedding guests.

The hall and its grounds provide a spectacular natural backdrop to your day and can accommodate up to 90 guests in the elegant dining room or 120 if using an outdoor marquee. Within the main hall there are 10 luxury super king bedrooms, perfect for accommodating the main wedding party; 15 further bedrooms across the east and west wings and six more in the nearby Coach House, making it the ideal location to have everybody under one spectacular roof.

Food can be provided by the Estate Head Chef who will personally oversee the menu using locally sourced food and seasonal ingredients to create a bespoke offering.

CELEBRATIONS
When you book Denton Reserve, you will literally have it all to yourselves. From the grand entrance lobby to the three sumptuous reception rooms, and from the 10 individually designed ensuite bedrooms upstairs to the spacious modern kitchen, it’s all yours to enjoy.

With all spaces on the estate carefully curated and crafted to suit your individual needs, whatever your event, gathering or party, the only guests you’ll see are the ones you invite.

CORPORATE RETREATS
If you’re looking for a truly inspiring location for your next corporate retreat or away day, then Denton Reserve has a choice of spaces, catering options and nature-based activities and experiences to suit any business requirement.

The new design of the hall allows people to connect with nature, themselves and each other and is the perfect venue to recharge, revitalise and reinspire your whole team.

Denton Reserve, Ilkley, West Yorkshire LS29 0HH
T: 01943 818800 / W: dentonreserve.co.uk