Behind every great garden, lies an even greater gardener...
And this couldn't be closer to the truth for Middlethorpe Hall & Spa in York. At the Yorkshire in Bloom 2008 awards ceremony held 16th September in Barnsley, Middlethorpe Hall & Spa's Head Gardener, David Barker, was presented with the "Yorkshire Rose Gold Award – category winner", another astonishing accolade to add to this year's collection, for this glorious William & Mary Country House Hotel close to the historic City of York.
David Barker has been at the helm of the garden team for over 26 years, demonstrating a great passion and love for the horticultural life and consistently producing extremely high standards of work and expertise. David Barker’s work ethos has impressed the judges as well as by the many different aspects of his work. They specifically commanded the beautiful entrance that leads to an almost secret garden feel in the walled garden, a good impact and use of the Capability Brown styled area providing an impressive backdrop to the Hotel with suitable planting in the ha-ha channel. The judges were also impressed with the use of natural predators and companion planting to avoid the use of pesticides and chemicals and in addition the use of the gardens by the kitchen team.
The gardens include walled areas filled with flowers and plants surrounded by box hedging, verdant lawns, an 18th century ha-ha, a lake and a superb arboretum. Whatever the weather, it is always a pleasure to walk around and explore, and there is always something new to discover. Follow this with a delicious lunch, or scrumptious Yorkshire tea, and your every wish will be fulfilled.
Standing in 20 acres of its own gardens, Middlethorpe Hall is one of the gems of early 18th century English architecture, and is famed for the beauty of its gardens, as well as for its wonderful food and for the traditional elegance and comfort of its bedrooms.
We look forward to welcoming you very soon.
Middlethorpe Hall & Spa
Bishopthorpe Road, York YO23 2GB
Tel: 01904 641241 Fax: 01904 620176
www.middlethorpe.com
York Tourism Awards 2006 – 'Hotel of the Year'
Michelin Guide 2007 - 'Particularly Pleasant Hotel'
Hotel of the Year' at the Visit York Awards for Excellence
Yorkshire in Bloom 2008 – "Yorkshire Rose Gold Award – Category Winner"
Note to Editor: If you would like to sample the delights of Middlethorpe Hall and Spa with a lunch or dinner to review the Hotel and Spa, please contact Ian Scott on 020 7439 1950 or iscottptnr@dsl.pipex.com or Miriam Leigh on 0207 432 9741 or miriam@iscott.co.uk
