How to give 18th-century stables a reimagined future
The stables of Scottish estate Dalkeith Country Park have been transformed into a thriving fashion and lifestyle destination
“A venture capitalist investor looking to start a new retail project, probably wouldn’t decide to restore some 18th century buildings in the middle of a country park,” says Lord Damian Scott.
Yet Scott did exactly that, establishing a store, restaurant and wellbeing studio on his family estate in Dalkeith, on the outskirts of Edinburgh. Now the £8.9m project Restoration Yard has just turned three and it looks set to be a long-term success.
Restoration Yard grew out of the need to restore the category one-listed stables at Dalkeith Country Park. Over the years, the stables slowly deteriorated until Buccleuch, the organisation that looks after the family’s interests realised something had to be done. Scott says: “We had to come up with a business model that would fund the investment.”
The aim? To reconfigure Dalkeith as a visitor attraction of substance. Scott invited Amanda Pratt, formerly of Ireland’s Avoca, to visit. Scott explains that from the start, Pratt wanted to get under the skin of the family: “She interrogated us about the history, the art. Her reinterpretation would give the brand an authentic voice.”
It was Pratt who came up with the Restoration Yard’s concept: “The USP was the heritage. The word ‘restoration’ resonated because it reflected the stables and the Buccleuch history stretching back to Restoration King, Charles II.”
It also represents Pratt’s idea that Restoration Yard is somewhere to restore mind, body and soul, as Scott clarifies: “Every member of the family can come, nourish themselves whether it’s with seasonal food, shopping in a thoughtfully curated environment or attending a yoga class.”
Restoration Yard’s Tuscan-inspired courtyard opened its doors on 25 July 2016. Three years on and each part is going strong.
The store stocks fashion alongside homeware, beauty, gifts, books, stationery and toys. The restaurant – The Kitchen at Restoration Yard – is popular for breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea and private events. Diners enjoy the beautifully designed interiors while looking out over the estate’s 18th century Orangerie and River Esk. The Coffee Bar, with its home-baked cake selection, is a hub for families, friends and business meetings. The growing Foodhall sits alongside and is a favourite for foodies. The Wellbeing Lab offers a range of classes from yoga to baby sensory.
A venture capitalist may not have chosen to invest in this “unorthodox sequence”, as Scott calls it, but they would have missed out. As Scott says: “It’s unusual. We started with an asset that we had an imperative to do something with, and we’ve configured it the best way we can into a beautiful place that makes people feel better.”
Restoration Yard is open daily 9.30am – 6pm.
See www.restorationyard.com for more details and programme of events.