The Old Brewery
The Old Brewery Renovation Project
Dating back to the 19th century, the Old Brewery is a beautiful Grade II listed Yorkshire stone property in the heart of the historic market town of Richmond. It’s been a big part of the community since it was built, as a pub first and then more recently a guest house for walkers and tourists alike.
Having become disused in recent years, new owners took over the building and, in January 2022, began work on restoring it to a prestigious holiday rental property, combining a nod to its historic past with some luxurious modern touches.
Wires & Water
Before the styling and decoration could take place, there were some fundamental elements to the building that needed addressing to not only make sure it was safe, but also that it had the kind of modern amenities that guests would expect.
The first major piece of work was to bring the electrics up to scratch. Rather than a painstaking job to open up the walls and chase new cables through the whole structure of the old building, a great solution was to use metal frames inside the existing walls. This not only preserved the integrity of the building behind, but also meant that wires, switches, sockets and all other hardware could be placed exactly where needed – rather than being limited to the old positions from its guest house days. This approach means all elements can remain accessible in the future if repairs are needed, and greatly reduced the time and cost of this stage of the project.
The next area to address was the property’s water supply. Inevitably the older pipes and heating systems meant low pressure upstairs. With the aim to make this a property suitable for large groups with multiple bathrooms, it simply wouldn’t be an option to have low pressure or limited hot water for guests with an outdated system. As a result, the water supply for the whole house was renovated inside and out to increase pressure and capacity, before separate systems were installed for each floor of the house. This work benefitted the hot water and central heating efficiency for the house, allowing guests and operate different temperatures on different floors and for the upstairs facilities to be independent from water and heating use downstairs.
Establishing the New Style
Inspired by the location and the property’s previous guises, a traditional and industrial-inspired theme was chosen that will give The Old Brewery a timeless style. Dark greens and greys were chosen as the foundation for the design, aimed at making a comfortable and luxurious setting for guests.
The existing country tiled floor for the hallway was retained and revamped, with a wood effect floor for the kitchen and dining room to give a traditional look but that’s also easy to maintain in a busy holiday rental property.
The plan was then to start complementing the style by adding some industrial ironmongery across the property, leaving in and revamping some of the house’s traditional features, like the decorative fireplaces, and re-using some of the old classic artwork. While this will be a modern property in many ways, the aim is to stay true to the traditions of the town and The Old Brewery itself.
Finishing Touches
The living areas combine an eclectic mix of individual furniture pieces, brought together in a warm and comforting style. This need to create a welcoming and relaxing space was essential for a holiday property such as this, where guests are here to get away from it all.
Having this theme of mixed complimentary styles also means that different replacement pieces can seamlessly fit in when wear and tear sets in, and the property is not dependent on one collection of pieces that won’t work without each other. This recognition of the durability required for a holiday property was also considered with the solid wooden table and industrial chairs for the dining area, as well as the flooring choices throughout.
The design was then topped off with some fantastic up-cycled art pieces from the history of the building, as well as some newer pieces to bring the interior style to life. There was also space for something a bit special too…
Your can now book The Old Brewery on our sister company website, Host & Stay.
The Old Brewery is the perfect spot for families and friends to come together. It’s also ideal for walking and cycling groups too, being at the gateway to the Yorkshire Dales and its beautiful scenic routes. And what better place to unwind after a long day’s exercise than one of Richmond’s newly refurbished gems.
