We find out more about one of Yorkshire’s most celebrated hotels
What can a guest expect to enjoy at the Devonshire Arms Hotel & Spa?
The Devonshire Arms has a traditional country house feel with warm and genuine Yorkshire hospitality. In the winter a log fire blazes in the baronial entrance hall. Guests can choose to dine in the hotel’s award-winning Burlington restaurant or the convivial Brasserie, both of which serve delicious, beautifully prepared dishes with ingredients from the hotel’s own walled kitchen gardens and from local suppliers. Temple Spa treatments are best enjoyed after a day out in the Yorkshire Dales, exploring the rugged landscape.
What makes the hotel stand out from the crowd?
There is a special something about this hotel which has guests returning time and time again, and helps us to win numerous awards every year. Our hotel represents the crème de la crème of what Yorkshire has to offer as a county; its country house style and sumptuous interiors, its heritage, home-grown and locally farmed foods, awesome views from our unique and beautiful Dales location, where guests can walk straight out of the door, into the countryside. We ensure the hotel and grounds are in immaculate condition.
During the last year the comfort and style of both restaurants have been enhanced while maintaining their individual character, as have the spa and six bedrooms which now have brand new bathrooms. Our traditional, upmarket style, our friendly, switched-on and chatty team, make guests feel welcome and at ease. Even canine guests get the royal treatment, our dog concierge service is a winner and some pampered pooches even enjoy a four-poster bed, made especially for them.
Tell us about your team
Day-to-day running is directed by general manager James, who joined at the beginning of July 2018. James’ team includes front of house manager Richard Beech, who oversees committed staff on reception, concierge and in housekeeping. Richard works alongside maintenance manager Lukasz, and duty manager Kelly; each ensuring our 40 bedrooms are of the highest quality, and guests expectations are exceeded. In the Devonshire Spa, newly-appointed manager Kerry looks after her team of therapists, creating a calm and relaxing experience for residents and day spa guests alike. Two on-site restaurants require a large roster of chefs – the Burlington kitchen is run by head chef Paul Leonard, and sous chef Ian Matfin while restaurant manager Jack and sommelier Spencer oversee guests’ dining experience. In the Brasserie, head chef Sean perfects the dishes while restaurant manager Tom focuses on the front of house operations.
Tell us an interesting fact about the hotel
The hotel is owned by the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire, and has been under this line of ownership since to 1753. The Duchess of Devonshire plays her part in the creation of interior decorating schemes – her love of the fun and the quirky brings life and fresh vision to the classical schemes; no two bedrooms are alike, each expressing its own individual character.
What does the future hold?
We are always looking to improve the guests’ experience, and conserve our environment. With a rural setting like ours, it has to be a key consideration. We have been working hard to maximise the yield from the kitchen gardens. Our new head chef Paul Leonard is a passionate organic gardener and this has been his project over the past year. We are really reaping the rewards now, with fruit, vegetables, herbs and honey too, harvested from our own hives. Our head concierge, who recently became a member of the Golden Keys Society, cares for the bees while also aiming to reduce plastic use by half over the next year. We would like to have a larger spa facility for guests and increase our number of bedrooms. We are looking at various options to achieve this, whilst taking the broader landscape into account. We need to ensure our growth is sustainable and carefully considered.
Contact: The Devonshire Arms Hotel & Spa, Bolton Abbey, Bolton Bridge, Skipton, BD23 6AJ. 01756 718100 thedevonshirearms.co.uk
