The rough-and-ready buildings underwent a major makeover to become two fabulously glamorous suites, complete with sleigh beds, fur throws, indulgently luxurious bathrooms, and the highest of high-tech facilities.
James and Kate named them Sage and Thyme, after two of their favourite culinary herbs.
The welcoming suites, each with its own private patio, proved hugely popular, and it didn’t take long before demand was massively outstripping supply – both suites were booked up months in advance, especially at weekends.
So, as part of a major revamp of the gardens at the rear of the Pipe and Glass over the last couple of years, three more complementary suites were designed. Planning permission was granted in 2014, and last year saw the opening of the three additional herb-inspired havens: Rosemary, Lovage and Mint. Each of the five suites has its own small garden, featuring the herb after which it is named.
“A big part of the charm of the Pipe and Glass is its setting and history, so it was really important to us that the new rooms were designed and built really sympathetically,” says James.
“I think it’s a great tribute to the skills of the team involved, including architect David Hall from Skerne, our builder Pat Turner from North Frodingham, near Driffleld, and our interior designer, David Bird of Carol Bird Interiors in Beverley, that less than a year since they were built, newcomers to the garden struggle to tell which are the older rooms, and which the new ones.”