The ‘rising’ Raby Castle project: stunning 2024 event spaces unveiled – Durham Magazine
The development of ‘Rising’ at Raby Castle has reached a significant milestone with bookings open for 2024 events within the fantastic new event spaces.
These iconic venues are designed to provide guests with the opportunity to savor exceptional events and experiences against a stunning historical backdrop.
The Rising project has seen the restoration and reuse of two heritage buildings, just behind the castle walls, known as the Dutch Barn and Riding School, as well as the redesign of the walled garden and the start of work on the newly created Vinery Café Restaurant.
The new spaces will be an ideal location to host events of all sizes, from product launches to fashion shows, exhibitions and market-style markets. Unlike a traditional hotel or conference venue, each individual venue offers an exclusive blend of heritage, character and energy, in the beautiful Raby Gardens setting.
Throughout the project, structural works have been completed on Raby’s best-kept secret, the Grade II* listed Dutch barn, an iconic piece of architecture, which had been hidden for decades and is now an unparalleled venue for all kinds of special occasions.
During the works, although the open barn structure was secure, masonry repairs were needed throughout the elegant farm building, as well as repairs to exposed beams and timbers.
As with the rest of the project, where possible, the original wood was saved and reused, with the new timber sympathetically mixed with the old, while maintaining structural integrity. The completed space offers an arched building, providing an elegant, covered setting for many different events.
Work is currently underway on a nearby riding school. The exceptional space was previously used to showcase Raby’s illustrious equine past and is located next to the Victorian Coach House.
Horses and their riders traditionally entered the 66-metre-long space via the eastern entrance through double-height doors. Although the original doors will remain in place, the expansive, unrestricted space, which will seat more than 400 people, will now benefit from two new entrances and the main entry point will be moved to the north and south pillars, creating a straight line for visitors to follow from the reconfigured walled garden. , past the Coach House, to the riding school and to the Dutch Barn.
These areas will be connected symmetrically with adjacent stairs and ramps crossing the newly installed Duchess Walk, a beautifully landscaped area for quiet contemplation in this busy destination.
Visitors will also benefit from a stylish new dining opportunity, the Vinery Café, a stylish and airy recreation of the historic glass house that once stood in the same space, serving seasonal and local food with stunning panoramic views of the castle on the horizon. The restaurant seats more than 200 guests and is ideal for breakfast, lunch, meetings and festive dinners.
“We are pleased to announce the opening of reservations for our exceptional new event spaces.” says Sophie Brown, Events Manager at Raby Estates. “The Dutch Barn, Riding School and Vinery Café Restaurant are three of the most iconic buildings on the Raby Estate, each with its own character, providing exceptional spaces for all types of special events, which cannot be found anywhere else.
“Guests will be able to enjoy Raby’s unique and unspoiled heritage, in our stunning new spaces, each with their own individual charm. Due to the size and scale of our offering, we are able to accommodate events of any size and nature.”
Sophie concludes: “We feel that these distinctive settings will reflect our distinct and simple ambition – to offer unexpected elegance, thoughtful design and fresh local food, in an unparalleled heritage setting, making the event experience unforgettable.”
To inquire about bookings at Raby Castle, please visit: https://www.raby.co.uk/raby-castle/corporate-events/
For more information about The Rising, please visit: www.raby.co.uk/about-us/development/raby-castle-development/
