Weston’s Spring Developments
New Exciting Chapter for Weston Park
This Spring we will be embarking upon a brand new development – focusing on the 1767 Granary building – with the conversion of the East Wing into boutique short stay accommodation which will complete the final phase of the restoration of the Granary, formerly the Great Barn.
The project’s working title is the East Wing, with work commencing this month that will see the creation of 13 bedrooms, including four apart-hotel style rooms, over three floors. The design will make the most of the historic building’s past, its quirky features and interesting views. It will be an exciting addition to the range of bespoke holiday lets now featured across the estate, which include follies and cottages, and a complementary option for those organising exclusive use events in the House.
Colin Sweeney, CEO of the Weston Park Foundation, says, “We’ve been working hard as guardian’s of this beautiful country estate to ensure that Weston Park continues to evolve as a place that people can enjoy in lots of different ways. We have very ambitious plans for 2020 and I’m delighted that these see us returning our focus to the Granary building, with the first part of its restoration having been completed with the support of the National Heritage Lottery Fund.”
Breaking Ground
Work starts on the East Wing on Monday 16 March 2020, and is expected to last into the middle of autumn. The result will be short stay accommodation that offers both character and individuality, perfectly situated to experience all that the Weston estate has to enjoy, and to explore Shropshire and Staffordshire.
Granary Brasserie Open Daily
The initial work will have some impact on the adjoining Granary Bakery, a destination for light lunches, coffees and cakes, which will be closed whilst this takes place. However, the Granary Brasserie will be open seven days a week serving breakfast, lunch and homemade cakes throughout the day.
2020 will also mark the return of all food and drink provision to Weston’s in-house team, which includes the future creative direction of the Granary Brasserie.
As part of our approach moving forward we have taken the decision that having worked with nationally recognised contract caterers over the last few years, the creative development and execution of this core component of our business is best led by our in-house team.
As an estate that is predominantly about hospitality, the culinary experiences we offer are of the utmost importance. We want to make the most of our wonderful location and heritage and to celebrate local produce, which is what we will be concentrating upon.
The Granary Bakery will close on Monday 16 March whilst work starts on the East Wing. This will give Weston’s team the opportunity to re-imagine the space and its product offering in-line with customer feedback received since its initial launch in June 2019. A brand new concept will be launched later in the summer.
The Granary Brasserie will be open from 9.30am – 5pm daily for breakfast, lunch and afternoon coffee and cake with dinner being served on Friday and Saturday evenings.
Ten Years of Restoration, Renovation and Innovation by the Weston Park Foundation
The Weston Park Foundation is committed to restoring and renovating its built heritage to deliver outstanding experiences to its visitors and guests. The development of the Granary’s East Wing marks the latest chapter in the last ten years of innovative use of the estate to generate income to fund the charity.
2009 – the first part of the restoration of the 1767 Granary began when the Farm Shop and Art Gallery were opened
2010 – The Granary Bar & Grill opened in the West Wing of the Granary
2011 – marked the 25th anniversary of the creation of the Foundation and the Entrance Hall of the House was redecorated
2012 – Following a generous bequest from the Cowdray family, Lady Anne’s Memorial Garden was created by Head Gardener Martin Gee and opened by HRH the Duke of Gloucester in 2014
2013 – The glazed roof of the Victorian Orangery was replaced in a £250,000 project
2014 – The former Victorian hunting lodge, the Knoll Tower was opened as the first of the estates unique holiday cottages
2015 – The Temple of Diana, Sir Henry Bridgeman’s garden building was transformed into a luxurious holiday let sleeping six
2016 – 20 years of work in returning the Parkland to Capability Brown’s original vision was realised to coincide with the 300th anniversary of his birth. The Foundation celebrated 30 years and two former gardener’s bothies were converted to add to the holiday cottage portfolio
2017 – The top two floors of the West Wing of the Granary building were converted into commercial office space
2018 – The Pink Cottage in Temple Wood was restored into a romantic hideaway, sleeping two, bringing the collection of holiday cottages to five
2019 – The Rose Garden in the formal gardens were restored using generous Gift Aid donations from visitors
2020 – The magnificent Dining Room is re-decorated for the first time since the 1960s. The East Wing will be restored and converted into 13 boutique bedrooms for the short stay market.
