Harrogate Arms, RHS Harlow Carr

Bringing a Heritage Asset Back to Life

Allan Joyce Architects were appointed by the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) to restore the historic Harrogate Arms and transform the long-vacant building into a vibrant destination café for visitors to RHS Garden Harlow Carr.

Originally built in 1844 as a hotel serving visitors to Harrogate's spa gardens, the building had undergone decades of unsympathetic alterations and stood vacant for many years. Our challenge was to conserve its historic character while creating a commercially successful café that would reconnect the building with the gardens it was originally built to serve.

Sensitive Heritage Regeneration

Working closely with the RHS and specialist heritage consultants, we carried out detailed investigations into the building's history and condition to inform a sensitive restoration strategy.

The design removed later additions that detracted from the building's significance, repaired the historic stonework, roof and original timber windows, and introduced carefully considered contemporary interventions to meet the needs of a busy visitor attraction. The project also re-established historic pathways and views, physically reconnecting the building with the surrounding gardens for the first time in decades.

Scope of Works

Our conservation-led approach included:

• Removal of unsympathetic extensions and later alterations.
• Conservation and repair of the historic stonework, roof and original timber windows.
• A contemporary extension to provide a commercial kitchen and back-of-house facilities.
• Internal remodelling to improve visitor flow, with new café seating, toilets, baby changing and staff facilities.
• Improved accessibility, including level access throughout the building.
• Restoration of historic pathways and key views to reconnect the building with RHS Garden Harlow Carr.
• Careful removal of modern interventions to reveal and celebrate the building's original historic fabric.

A Heritage Building with a New Purpose

The completed café has transformed a redundant historic building into a thriving visitor destination that enhances the experience of RHS Garden Harlow Carr.

The new facilities improve visitor flow, provide a high-quality hospitality space and create an important income stream that supports the RHS's ongoing conservation, education and horticultural work.

The project demonstrates how carefully considered heritage architecture can protect historic significance while ensuring historic buildings remain commercially viable and relevant for future generations.

Our Role

Allan Joyce Architects specialise in the conservation, adaptation and regeneration of historic buildings. We work with charities, estates, heritage organisations and commercial clients to unlock the potential of existing buildings, creating sustainable new uses that respect the past while supporting long-term success.