Renovation revealed some hidden treasures. Best discoveries included three original bedroom fireplaces in working condition and a beautiful oak herringbone parquet floor in the entrance hall, which had been hidden under an old carpet. Getting the kitchen into shape was a formidable task. With walls which were two feet thick, renovating even the pipework was a challenge in itself. A stainless steel kitchen range was made to order, creating a kitchen befitting an ambitious young chef who seeks to be among the best in the industry.
Nobody wants to sit in a room with nothing to look at.
A lot of restaurants these days are very minimalist, but you don't get that here. Upstairs, one wing of the hall features the family rooms. The other wing has five bedrooms, three of which have been redecorated ready to receive guests - paying guests, that is. The Smiths prefer to think of Gateforth as a restaurant with rooms rather than a hotel. If you want to stay, it's a secondary thing.