Refurbishment and redevelopment projects totalling over £20million are to take place across York’s hotels and venues in 2015.

Hotel developments include a £3 million transformation of the Best Western Monkbar Hotel, which will upgrade this York city centre hotel status from three star to four star plus. The work includes a new function suite and conference space. Located on the ground floor, the conference space will accommodate up to 250 delegates and will subdivide into four individual rooms.

Middlethorpe Hall has refurbished its conference facilities, including the self-contained Barlow Room adjacent to the 17th century William and Mary country house. The meeting space is designed for small conferences and events.

Goddard’s (pictured)  is the Grade I-listed former home to Noel Goddard Terry (of chocolate making fame). It is now open for the corporate booker for the first time. The Arts and Crafts style house is set in four acres of gardens. It features meeting space for up to 40 delegates as well as private dining options.
Both Middlethorpe Hall and Goddards are National Trust properties.

An £8 million redevelopment of York Art Gallery will see the gallery space increase by 60%, with the addition of three new galleries. York Art Gallery reopens summer 2015 and will be available for corporate events.

York Racecourse is adding a sixth restaurant. The new Parade Ring Restaurant will open on 13 May 2015, the first day of the flat-racing season. The restaurant adjacent to the parade ring with views across the course includes a private balcony. It is available for corporate hospitality on race days and for hire as a meeting room on non-race days.

Finally, the National Railway Museum launched a new carriage last month; the Countess of York.  This is a refurbished railway carriage, located in the courtyard of the museum which is available for private hire for fine-dining.

Details:  www.visityork.org