Think global, act local. A simple phrase, but it resonates deeply with Cal and Nick Bailey and the visionary team behind the rethinking and re-wilding of the 2,500-acre Denton Reserve, near Ilkley, in Yorkshire, England.
From the moment they decided to acquire Denton Hall—the Grade 1-listed stately home where they grew up—from their family-run business, they sought to “address the climate and biodiversity crisis by regenerating the land and rebalancing nature,” committing at every step to working “with purpose, on purpose” in a bid to protect and preserve this piece of land. They joined with architecture and interior practice BOX 9 to reimagine the historic buildings on the Reserve with a mind towards preservation and sustainability.
We visited Denton Reserve this spring and took a guided tour of two properties in the Reserve, now available for stays. Join us for a look at the interiors and the thoughtful details that caught our eye.
Photography of Denton Hall by Sean Knott and Lucy Franks and of The Penny Bun by Jake Eastham, except where noted.
Above: Denton Reserve aims to leave a legacy of positive, far-reaching change. Nature lies at the heart of this ambitious project, with a focus on three key areas of regeneration: landscape renovation, food production, and sustainable luxury hospitality and wellness. The estate comprises five main properties in various stages of transformation: the Hall (10,000 square feet), The Coach House, Dunkirk Farm House, Dunkirk Barn, and The Penny Bun Inn, the first premises to open its doors in 2024. Photograph by Barnaby Aldrick Photography.
Denton Hall
Above: The main lobby is where the storytelling begins. Pushing open the door to Denton Hall is a delight for the senses: foraged greenery, organic shapes, earthy tones, and natural textures. This monumental table by Ted Wood Design was carved from a 269-year-old storm-fallen oak collected and cared for by Nick. Now, it rests peacefully on a cork sphere.
Above: The large-scale light—woven by Studio Amos from heather harvested by hand on Denton Moor—comes into its own as the centerpiece of this grand entrance.
Denton Hall dates back to the 1770s and was designed by British architect John Carr. The Palladian manor features a magnificent grand entrance lobby, reception rooms, a spacious, handcrafted modern kitchen, private dining room, and a spiral staircase leading up to 10 individually designed ensuite bedrooms. A further 16 bedrooms situated across the East and West wings will be available this year.
The Hall is open for exclusive bookings and can be hired in its entirety for weddings, corporate events, and celebrations.
Above: The team at BOX 9—Lou Davies, Caroline Hunter, and Lucy Franks—took care to keep the original features of the grand Georgian house whilst also paring down; using simple, natural, sustainable materials; championing craftsmanship; and promoting re-use and circularity. Both refined and relaxed, this new soulful narrative fosters calmness and harmony throughout. Here, a monumental Bilbao coffee table by Leleni Studio is made from reclaimed red fossil marble offcuts.
Above: The aesthetics of light. In this serene corner, bespoke nesting tables were made by Ted Wood Design exclusively for BOX 9 from recycled UK wool (@solidwool) and cork. The lighting is by Naomi Paul and Amande Haeghen, and pottery is by Samuel Sparrow.
Above: Never underestimate the effect of a bespoke lighting feature. French designer Céline Wright‘s bird light mobile, made from Japanese paper, takes pride of place in the Hall’s spiral staircase.
Above: A guest room with draped linen coverlet. The Yorkshire countryside is omnipresent from every window.
Above: BOX 9 worked to create a unique restorative harmony between indoors and out: Soft, natural palettes, textures, and materials—along with a deep understanding of volumes, forms, and light—act as a foil for views of the wild moors, ancient woodlands, private lake, and deer park at Denton.
Above: Nothing more is needed than a simple, elegant rain shower. The bespoke concrete tray from The Poured Project is made with more than 75 percent waste material; it’s paired with brass fittings from Studio Ore in a spacious, calming room bathed in natural light. And a splash of Chapter Organics’ toiletries.
The Penny Bun
Above: The Penny Bun, a Yorkshire-gritstone country inn tucked away in the quaint village of Askwith, was the first Reserve property to be reinvented by BOX 9. It’s a stone’s throw from Denton Moor and the former spa town of Ilkley (named the best place to live in the North and Northeast in 2025 by the Sunday Times).
Above: Central to village life at Askwith for some 150 years, The Penny Bun has been respectfully reimagined, transforming from a traditional country local in Wharfedale to a minimalist yet warm and earthy contemporary inn with sustainability, provenance and terroir at its heart. We love this display of old amber glass bottles, a nod to the pub’s past, which BOX 9 gradually put together. As with all aspects of this project, good things take time.
Above: The considered redesign of The Penny Bun offers a modern hospitality experience, whether you’re popping in for a quick pint, retreating to a snug, enjoying a three-course meal in the restaurant, or attending a live-music social on the terrace. As in the Hall, the soft glow of candles replaces open fires.
Above: The Penny Bun also offers accommodation with five restful, screen-free rooms. Calm and considered, they are simply but stylishly furnished with natural, ecological materials and textiles by independent craftspeople who share the Estate’s sustainable mindset. In this Large Room with vaulted ceilings and exposed beams, the king-size bed features a Hypnos natural wool mattress. Evidence of the attention to detail? A bespoke bath caddy in charred English oak handmade by Pacha Design.
The mere tip of the Denton Reserve iceberg. For more information on Denton Hall or The Penny Bun, or to book, head here.
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