Middleton Lodge is somewhere I’d wanted to visit for quite a while, and after we had a few reservations cancelled last year, we eventually got there at the very beginning of 2022. Initially we were only going for Sunday lunch in the Coach House restaurant, but a dog friendly room came up the week before so we booked it as a nice way to start the new year. Here’s my experience of Middleton Lodge to visit, stay and eat.

The Middleton Lodge Estate is 200 acres of land, with a number of accommodation options available to book across the Georgian country estate. The main house is the owners family residence, and can be booked for weddings, but across the grounds there are various other rooms and stay options to choose from.

Stay at Middleton Lodge

The Coach House is the main public building, with reception, a lovely little gift shop, and the restaurant, bar and snug area. Here you can also book to stay in either a Coach House cosy or a Coach House comfy room, with views across the estate. Our room was here, in a Coach House comfy room, with it’s own little outside area, beautiful wooden beam ceilings, and plenty of space for Arthur. It was ideal especially for taking the dog – spacious and private, so quiet but also near to the bar, restaurant and walks around the grounds.

Other options include two Potting Shed rooms and the Head Gardeners Cottage, all of which look gorgeous especially the Head Gardeners Cottage. It has direct access to the Kitchen Gardens, so I don’t think this one is dog friendly (so best check if you fancy it), and has a log burner.

The Dairy building rooms and suites look amazing, I’d love to stay here on a future visit – especially the Dairy Cottage which has an upstairs, a private garden and a hot tub. There are a variety of rooms, including a family room and linking room options.

Finally the Farm House, a big self catering option that sleeps 12, and a shepherds hut in the grounds for glampers. All accommodation options are beautifully decorated with a country style unique to their theme – botanical and dairy, free wifi, character features, roll top baths, tea and coffee facilities and a mini bar. An added luxury is the under floor heating which was so nice in the winter.

Based on my attempts at booking it certainly seems to be really popular, and as it’s also a wedding venue some of the rooms can get booked up. I found out the hard way it’s better to plan and book in advance to avoid disappointment, and it’s really worth it if you do.

Eat at Middleton Lodge

When it comes to food at Middleton Lodge, they say on their website that their approach is ‘estate to plate’, as so much of their produce and vegetable is grown in their own gardens. What isn’t is locally sourced, so you’re guaranteed fresh seasonal menus.

Like I said we were originally just booked in for Sunday lunch, so it was the first thing we did when we got there before we checked into our room. The Coach House restaurant is inside, as well as the bar and the ‘Snug’ area which is dog friendly as the main restaurant isn’t.

The whole place is gorgeous, and the service was excellent. For once we didn’t actually get starters as the Whitby scallops weren’t on the menu, and the deserts looked pretty good instead. We both had the roast beef, that comes with Yorkshire pudding and veg, we also ordered a cauliflower cheese on the side too. I loved that they brought extra gravy without asking too.

It was really good food, I’m a big fan of Sunday lunch but only if it’s good, and this was one of the best ones I’ve had recently. I had the berry crumble for desert that came with custard, and I have no regrets over choosing it over starters. Even if we weren’t staying I’d make the hour or so journey on a Sunday for a walk around the estate and lunch.

The courtyard is currently under a a big canopy, and has a giant fire pit in the middle, with plenty more tables outside. Dogs are welcome here too, and it was warm under shelter by the fire with blankets despite being January. Plenty people were still eating outside with their pooches, it is a gorgeous spot with plenty fairy lights.

I was too full for an evening meal, but we did go to the Snug bar for a few drinks and bar snacks, including padron peppers, and some bread and olives. The restaurant looked just as nice in the evening, but we stayed there with Arthur, and you can get the full menu including mains in there if you’re hungry.

Hotel breakfasts are one of the best bits of any stay for me, and a continental breakfast was included in the room. There was all the usual, fruit juices, cereals, toast and pastries, as well as a selection of yoghurts and fruits. Cooked breakfasts are available too and the menu was quite big with all sorts – french toast, pancakes, eggs all sorts of ways. We both went for the full English and it was lush, with a big pot of coffee.

Find all the menus and samples menus available at Middleton Lodge and the Coach House restaurant here.

Make More Of Your Visit To Middleton Lodge?

So aside from a relaxing stay and really good food, there’s plenty to enjoy on the estate. The gift shop can be found in the reception area, and it’s filled with gorgeous things – I could have bought a LOT. It had homeware similar to how the rooms are decorated, candles, greeting cards and a whole range of Noble Isle toiletries, soaps and potions that are in the rooms but available to buy too.

The walled garden and fig house were out of bounds when we were there as it was being used as a wedding venue, but you could peak in and it was gorgeous. I have to go back in the spring or summer when the flowers are all in bloom as I imagine it’s even prettier. Despite the time of year the grounds were still beautiful to walk around, with evergreens and sprawling meadows in every direction.

As the fire pit was constantly lit, there was an unmistakeable warm smell of burning everywhere you went, it was so nice in the cold weather. We didn’t go too far, but there are plenty walks around and beyond the estate. We did do the woodland trail that goes in a loop around the grounds that was a shorter, easy walk before we had lunch.

Although there isn’t a full spa here, you can book treatments like massages and facials in the on site treatment rooms. We were going to do this but couldn’t get times that fit with our plans so again book in advance if you want them. The full range of treatments available can be found on the Middleton Lodge website here. I don’t think it needs a full spa, I think it’s quite private and secluded, you almost feel like you’re there by yourself and a spa might alter that experience.

Finally, the North Yorkshire town of Richmond is nearby too, if you did want to venture off the estate and explore what’s nearby. I had all the intentions of doing this but once I got there and was so relaxed I wanted to spend all the time there.

I really can’t fault any of our stay, especially the room and the food I absolutely loved it. It’s always nice to find luxury spots that are dog friendly, without having to resort to a bog standard room that most places put you in with a dog, and I’m glad more places are accommodating this. Arthur really enjoyed his stay too!

It felt like we were away for longer than just one night, which is always a sign of a good switch of retreat. I’m 100% planning on going back in the summer, but don’t be put off in the winter months at all. It was so cosy, the fireplaces made it very relaxing and the seasonal food was spot on. I’d love to experience some of the other rooms, and maybe have breakfast outside in the courtyard.

If you’re interested in a stay or visit to Middleton Lodge you can book direct on their website here. We were fully paying customers for this trip, and although it wasn’t the cheapest, I wouldn’t have expected it to be and it was worth every penny.

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