Plans have been announced to transform a former East Lancashire hospital into a £20million luxury spa and private members club.
For the past 35 years, the Grade I listed mansion on the Gisburne Park Estate has operated as the private BMI Gisburne Park Hospital.
But following its closure in March, estate owners Guy and Amber Hindley have taken back the keys with plans to invest more than £20million to transform the 400 year old mansion into a private members club, luxury hotel, garden spa resort and art centre.
Nestled within 1,000 acres of rolling Ribble Valley parkland, the estate was acquired by Lord Ribblesdale in 1614 and has since been owned by just two families, the Listers and, for the last 100 years, the Hindley family.
And when Guy inherited the estate in Gisburn in 2003 he set about transforming the tired but unspoilt shooting and hunting estate into a holiday destination complete with luxury lodges, historic houses, cosy cottages and a boutique glamping venue alongside one of the most stunning wedding destinations in the North. Most recently, it hosted Gisburne Park Pop Up — one of the most talked about festivals of 2020.
Guy said: "I always had ambitions to transform the hall into something great though never imagined I’d have the opportunity to own it; I always assumed it would be a project for my sons.
"Having acquired the keys, Amber and I are now setting out to transform hospitality in the North and create a destination like no other.
"We’re looking to create an exclusive environment that blends art and culture with like minded people in a setting that is unrivalled in the UK.
"We want our members and guests to treat this as a second home where guests can dine, stay, work and play and most importantly, escape.”
The estate has welcomed many remarkable visitors in its 400 year existence, from Oliver Cromwell, marching his troops across the land during the second civil war, to Winston Churchill, the Queen and most recently Prince Charles, who regularly joined Guy’s father Christopher Hindley to hunt and enjoy the hospitality of the Estate.
Having played host to such a stellar guestlist, Guy and his wife Amber now plan to open the doors once again and welcome guests from near and far.
Work will begin on the transformation of the hospital later this year.
For more information on the Gisburne Park Estate visit: gisburnepark.com or follow @gisburneparkestate on Instagram.
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