An exciting new luxury destination for food, drink and retail therapy will officially launch at Belvoir Castle on Friday 15th June, following a £2.4 million investment
The Engine Yard, a collection of historic buildings by the entrance to the Castle that have been developed into an engaging and contemporary social space, will host a number of local businesses, luxury retail brands and food producers, as well as a restaurant and spa.
The first phase of the development, the Idle Mole plant centre, will open to the public on Saturday 26th May. The centre will stock plants, homewares and gifts, and expert staff will be on hand to offer advice, both one-to-one, and in workshops throughout the year.
The Engine Yard will also play host to the Duchess’ Gallery, which will offer a fabulous range of clothing, accessories and gifts, curated by the Duchess of Rutland, CEO of Belvoir Castle and the inspiration and driving force behind the development.
Created from a cluster of 19th century buildings originally used to house maintenance workshops servicing the Castle and other properties on the 15,000 acre Belvoir Estate, the Engine Yard’s historic buildings have been sensitively converted into 12,000 square feet of retail space.
In addition to the Gallery, the Engine Yard will champion local businesses and great British brands to create a vibrant community hub.
Among the luxury retailers will be butcher come farm shop The Country Victuallers, chocolatier Cocoa Amore, speciality coffee provider Cherizena, craft and toy store Crafts4Kids, and homewares retailer Margo and Plum. After a day of feasting and shopping, visitors will be able to relax and unwind at the Belvoir Casa Spa.
The Duchess of Rutland explained that she hoped the venue would become a luxury destination for food and drink enthusiasts, to be enjoyed by the local community in the Vale of Belvoir and visitors from further afield.
Her Grace said:
“The Engine Yard was once used by skilled craftsmen to create furniture, doors and windows for the Castle and we wanted the new development to reflect the same ethos, with talented entrepreneurs showcasing their artisan products.
“We have created a true centre of excellence for food and drink, as well as hosting unique, luxury retail brands unlike anything else in the region. Our aim was always to turn these once-dilapidated buildings into an area to be enjoyed by the local community and showcase the very best the region has to offer to visitors. We have created yet another reason to spend a day at Belvoir Castle.”
The venue will host a number of events throughout the year, starting with BBQ evenings throughout the summer and also include cookery demonstrations and foodie talks, farmers’ markets, craft fairs and activity experiences for children.
Close to the A1, and just a 10-minute drive from the A52, the Engine Yard is 15 minutes from Grantham and Melton Mowbray and 40 minutes from Nottingham and Leicester.
