I like to think I am a bit of an expert on the city of York. It’s my home town and a place that I only came to truly appreciate when I became an adult and moved away from it. Now I see York with fresh eyes; through the eyes of a traveller and a visitor; and its is truly amazing place for a city break. But until now, one place in York that remained undiscovered for me was Middletons hotel.
I was recently invested to spend the day at Middletons to have lunch and a tour and to find out how the hotel was gearing up to hosting part of the York Ice Trail.
This post has been sponsored by House of Daniel Thwaites
Middletons in a Nutshell
Middletons is a historical 4 star hotel on Skeldergate in the centre of York. Its 56 individual hotel rooms are spread across six different listed buildings, all with a different name and a fascinating history. The hotel grew over time as the owner acquired more surrounding property, giving it the quirky and eclectic layout it has today. Each room has its own individual design and layout, so you can expect to stay in a room that is totally unique.
In terms of on site facilities, there’s a stylish lobby complete with welcoming bar, a fantastic restaurant serving fresh seasonal produce and also an extensive gym. The property is full of hidden corners and outside areas that are definitely worth discovering. Keep an eye out for the cosy blankets and board games in the lobby and help yourself during your stay. The hotel is minutes from both the River Ouse and the York Walls and I would say that it’s in easy walking distance to all of York’s most popular city centre attractions and land marks. Don’t miss the York Minster, York’s Chocolate story, the Jorvik Centre and The Shambles.
Middletons hotel is part of the House of Daniel Thwaites Collective, a collection of individual hotels and inns across the UK.
Credit: Gareth Jones
The Chocolate and Orange Cottages
Middletons is extremely proud of its two newly renovated cottages which have been aptly named Chocolate and Orange. The two cottages are housed within a memorial building for Sir Joseph Terry; famous York confectioner and founder of the Terry’s Chocolate Orange (don’t miss the grand plaque within the brickwork). Both cottages have been beautifully designed and feature a cosy living space, two adult-sized bunk beds and a double bed. The sofa also converts to a double bed, so the cottages are an ideal place to stay for families and groups of up to 6 adults. They’d also make an extra-special place to stay for couples celebrating special occasions.
The cottages are Middletons’ most spacious and luxurious room type, and you can expect to receive a few surprises when you stay in one. Look out for a hand-written welcome note dropping on your doorstep and get ready for a Terry’s Chocolate Orange treasure hunt. I love how Middletons has added these thoughtful and welcoming touches for its guests.
Dining at Middletons
During my visit to Middletons I stayed for lunch to try out the food in the restaurant. It’s open to both residents and visitors and you can choose to eat in either the lobby or the main restaurant. We ate in the lobby which was very relaxing and the service was super attentive. I opted for the chargrilled chicken club with fries as I think it’s a hallmark dish for any hotel. There was a bit too much bread for me but the fillings were fresh, flavoursome and all together it was absolutely delicious. I’d love to return for an evening meal to try out the steak.
The York Ice Trail
For the past two years, Middletons has hosted part of the York Ice Trail, an incredibly popular event that is held every January or February. This year the York Ice Trail took place on the first weekend of February and Middletons put on an incredible wizard-inspired spectacle. The York Ice Trail route took participants through the grounds of Middletons which came alive with ice sculptures, fire pits, owls and children’s crafts. The hotel opened ‘The Leaky Teepee’ which was serving hot snacks, hot chocolate and Thwaites ale disguised as butter beer. The York Ice Trail is always a highlight of Middletons’ annual calendar and I can’t wait to see what they come up with next year.
I loved getting to explore Middletons during my visit and hope this post comes in useful to you if you are planning to book a stay or searching for hotels in York.
Want to read more of my posts about York? Check out;
This post has been sponsored by House of Daniel Thwaites. All views are my own.
Bar Stool image credit: Gareth Jones
I love York, the cottages sound wonderful!
I really enjoyed your tour and comment on the historic hotel. The idea of blankets and board games in the lobby area make it a friendly cozy family hotel. Love the ice sculptures and menu type board. Travelers can make the best of their time at hotel or around the area. It really does look to be an experience not to be missed! Thanks Jess!