There’s been a lot going on at the Kings Arms lately! In case you didn’t know, we’ve been busy upgrading and renovating the property’s popular restaurant. After weeks of hard work, we’re delighted to finally share the finished look with you!
For those of you who haven’t yet paid us a visit, The Kings Arms hotel can be found in Askrigg, Wensleydale, nestled in the heart of the beautiful Yorkshire Dales National Park. The property dates all the way back to 1760 and combines comfortable, modern en-suite holiday accommodation with a welcoming atmosphere and fantastic location, as well as a stylish bar and restaurant.
In 2018, the decision was made to renovate the restaurant to complement the recently refurbished bar, which received an update earlier in the year. “We wanted to create an upmarket dining experience for our guests,” says Diane Horner, Site Manager at the Kings Arms and Lodge Yard. “Somewhere they could gather and enjoy a delicious meal in complete comfort, especially after a tiring day exploring the Dales.”
Over the course of three weeks, the team at Conker Interiors completely refurbished the restaurant, from new flooring to upgraded furniture and soft-furnishings! “The scheme was inspired by the main pub,” explains Rosie Johnson, Interior Designer at Conker Interiors. “We felt this space didn’t communicate with the rest of the renovation. I chose a grey panelled wallpaper by Cole and Son as a feature, which picks up on the snug in the pub, and the rest of the design flowed from there.”
On top of updating the space, the other main goal was to create a private dining area containing a big seating area for larger parties. To achieve this, the team decided to knock through to the back office and open up the space for guests. The result was a spacious, yet intimate area for groups to convene, where the oil Portrait of John Pratt takes pride of place.
In addition, the cellar has also been completely refurbished, with targeted lighting to highlight the unusual architectural features and a long boxed in shelf – specifically designed to rest a pint during a game of pool! The flow from the cellar through to the pub and restaurant now has a more coherent and interesting feel, tying all three spaces together.
“The Kings Arms is a really important, historical building in the village,” says Rosie. “We hope we have retained all the elements of a traditional pub with all the more current requirements for a fun and exciting experience.”
The new-look restaurant opened for diners on Monday 28th of January, to resounding approval from visitors. “We’ve had some lovely comments on the new restaurant,” continues Diane Horner. “The space has a more contemporary feel and is less cluttered, which makes it a lovely spot to share a meal with family and friends. We’ve also just launched our new Spring menu, so we’re very excited to welcome everyone to our new restaurant in 2019.”
We’ve got even more plans for the Kings Arms during the year, so keep your eyes peeled! With so much in the pipeline, there’s plenty to look forward to.
To find out how you can stay at this beautiful property, tucked away in the heart of the fantastic Yorkshire Dales, just get in touch.
