Middleton Hotel, York: One of York's most historic and quirky hotels has had a fabulous makeover

Middletons Hotel in central York is one of those places that has you at “hello” and regularly has guests from foreign climes in raptures thanks to its five listed buildings, each named after famous and feted figures.

Middletons was named after Dame Anne Middleton, benefactor and wife of Peter Middleton, a 17th century Sheriff of York, and she gets the double honour of having Lady Anne House named after her. It began life as a hospital for the poor and is now guest rooms set over two floors, along with a glass-roofed communal lounge with original Roman masonry.

Then there are the Sir Joseph Terry cottages, named after the confectionery magnate and philanthropist.

Chaplin House with its roots in the 17th century was once the home of Hans Hess, a former director of York City Art Gallery. Charlie Chaplin stayed there as one of his guests.

As for No.56 Skeldergate, the late 1700s property was owned by Ralph Dodsworth, a Sheriff of York. Its latest incarnation is a suite of six deluxe rooms, three executive suites and a lounge that overlooks a garden.

The 16 bedroom Cromwell House, a former sawmill, dates to the industrial revolution while the Sawmill restaurant was part of an old city jail.

The complex also includes the Organ Factory, an event and weddings space, which was previously used by the renowned organ builder Walter Hopkins until he retired in 1921.

Needless to say, keeping up with the repairs and refurbishment of 56 bedrooms and the various communal areas is a substantial task and one that the property’s latest owner, Daniel Thwaites, wasn’t afraid of. Thwaites began with a programme of repairs and sensitive updates on Cromwell House and two Sir Joseph Terry alms cottages, along with The Sawmill restaurant, bar and lounge areas.

The latest “refurb” was concentrated on the Grade II* listed, Georgian Lady Anne building, which dates from 1829 and has 18 bedrooms, bathrooms plus public spaces. The infrastructure has been carefully upgraded by building contractor Murray and Willis, who have added insulation and air-conditioning while refurbishing or replacing windows.

The difficult job of redesigning and fitting out the rooms to suit modern needs while reflecting the building’s heritage was left to interior designer Rachel Wootton.

The brief was to get away from dull, corporate, identikit decor in the bedrooms and to give them character, colour, home comforts and a more eclectic look and feel that gives guests inspiration for their own home decor. Items that could stand the test of time and promote relaxation were also a must.

Rachel has succeeded and some with a mix of bespoke key pieces, use of colour that doesn’t overwhelm the space and artwork. She was also aware that anything too overtly contemporary would diminish the Georgian property and so her inspiration came from the building’s history and includes references to medicinal plants such as fennel and rosehips to reflect its former use as a hospital.

She says: “As the customer journey starts in the communal area and moves up the floating staircase, we threw down more colour there and added powerful artwork while the bedrooms have a softer look and feel.”

Farrow & Ball and Zoffany paint in muted heritage colours were used on the walls and also on the panelling, which was added to bring a 3D element and more character to the walls, while masking imperfections and hiding wiring.

The use of wallpaper was a no-no for practical reasons. “I tend not to use it because it can get bashed and damaged, particularly when people bring luggage in. If that happens to a painted wall it can easily be touched up whereas repapering is a bigger job,” says Rachel.

The rooms with the least square footage, labelled “snug and cosy”, have been very carefully planned to make best use of a small space without crowding it out.

“I wanted to include a desk in the smaller rooms, which I managed to do by using space-saving, fold-up counter tops that can be used to put a laptop on,” says Rachel.

Outside in the Lady Anne House courtyard garden, bird boxes in heritage colours have been added to encourage more wildlife to the hotel’s garden and this has been a pleasing success. Pictures came from art consultants and suppliers Studio 2c.

“We gave them a brief and they came back with pictures that included plants and birds,” says Rachel, who enjoyed sourcing other items to add character.

Industrial lights over the beds reference the practicality of a hospital and they can be wiped down, which helps housekeeping. Cushions and throws are from British firms Clarke and Clarke, Zoffany and Sanderson.

“All rooms have a 1970s style Trimphone and a Roberts Radio.” They are slightly mad and retro but they work surprisingly well,” says Rachel who also added objets d’art including quirky pieces from Rockett St George and a pair of vintage binoculars.

The bathrooms have traditional Burlington basins teamed with metro tiled walls plus shelving for artwork and bric-a-brac, again to add interest. “It’s the latter that often makes a space,” says Rachel. “That last 10 per cent creates 90 per cent of the look and feel of the room.”

The work and the expenditure that Thwaites has put in has paid off in more ways than one. The interiors are an important marketing tool as guests take pictures of them and post on Instagram.

They also helped Middletons win the “Large Hotel of the Year” accolade at York Tourism Awards 2023. “It’s all about having a strong concept and a story before you start,” says Rachel.

*Find more on Middletons at www.middletonsyork.co.uk