Plans to transform Judges, near Yarm, take step forward

Kirklevington: The Judges Country House Hotel, located near Yarm, shut its doors for good back in March 2023. It was a bit of a shocker since folks were still trying to book online when suddenly, it stopped taking reservations.

A few months later, Chris Musgrave, a well-known property developer from Teesside, bought the place. He’s got big plans to turn it into a fancy new hotel and spa.

Now, almost two years after the closure, there’s some exciting news! A public consultation is on the way for a proposed five-star boutique hotel to take the place of Judges.

According to documents from The Northern Echo, the new owner wants to create 18 uniquely designed suites. Each suite will offer a special experience for guests, along with top-notch facilities.

They’re also planning to expand the restaurant, add a spa, build some woodland lodges, and even set up an events pavilion. These facilities will be open to both hotel guests and visitors.

The developers promise to keep the hotel’s historic charm while enhancing it wherever they can. It sounds like they really want to respect the building’s past.

While the new hotel’s name hasn’t been revealed yet, a website linked to the public consultation is set to launch on January 20. It’ll be interesting to see what they come up with!

There’s also a plan for some executive housing to support this new development. It’s all coming together nicely.

Earlier this year, there was a lot of buzz about the hotel’s future when people started reporting canceled events and weddings. An email at the time hinted that Judges was being sold, which led to the cancellations.

Just a week later, Judges confirmed it was closing for good, and by May, Chris Musgrave was announced as the new owner. Since then, the signs have come down, and access to the estate has been blocked off.

To keep the community in the loop, there are two drop-in events planned where the design team will discuss the proposals. They’re happening later this month at Kirklevington Village Hall and St Mary’s and St Romuald’s Church Hall in Yarm.

If you can’t make it in person, don’t worry! The website will have all the details about the proposed development and a chance for you to share your thoughts.

Feedback will be accepted until February 7, right before they submit the official planning application. Exciting times ahead!