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04
Dec
A historic hotel in Pateley Bridge has gone on the market.
Harefield Hall, a four-star guest house which is rumoured to have once belonged to Henry VIII, is a family-owned property set in more than 20 acres of grounds and woodland.
It boasts 16 en-suite bedrooms and a detached two-bedroom cottage, as well as two bars; a restaurant; function spaces; a breakfast room; a reception; a disused leisure club; a gym and a swimming pool.
The Ripon Road hotel is listed with York agent Barry Crux and Co, and will set prospective buyers back £1.75 million.
The listing says:
Substantial stone built detached two-storey property under pitched roofs with a single-storey conservatory extension. Separate two-storey cottage with two bedrooms and a detached two-storey annex comprising four one-bedroom flats.
There are extensive grounds of over 20 acres on multiple levels including wooded area, car parking, outside seating, terraced spaces, former tennis court and paddock.
Inside Harefield Hall. Credit: Barry Crux and Co
Harefield Hall has been under the same ownership for more than 40 years. It was initially operated by the owners before being leased to a tenant.
The listing says the current tenant is set to leave, which is why the property is up for sale.
It adds trade has decreased as the tenant “reduced the business down” and the site is in need of investment to restore it to its former glory.
The brochure says:
It presents a fantastic opportunity for a new operator to develop this into one of the leading venues in the area.
With the right investment, there are extensive opportunities to make full use of the property and the land.
Alternative uses may include conversion to a private dwelling, outdoor activity centre, small care facility or multiple private dwellings. All would be subject to receiving the relevant planning permissions.
Harefield Hall. Credit: Barry Crux and Co
According to Companies House, a company called Harefield Hall Ltd was dissolved following liquidation on December 27, 2023. Liquidators were appointed on January 16 of the same year.
A statement of affairs shows Barclays Bank, which was among creditors, was owed £34,195 by Harefield Hall Ltd. A Warrington-based firm called One Energy was owed £19,036.
The hotel is listed as permanently closed on Google. However, its Facebook page has remained active this year, with posts encouraging people to dine.
The move comes three years after the Stray Ferret spoke to Elaine Little, director of Harefield Hall Ltd, after the pandemic.
Ms Little told us she was looking forward with optimism after the covid lockdowns and flooding damaged the business.
Harefield Hall declined to comment on the sale when approached by the Stray Ferret.
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