— Rise Hall- what's happened since Sarah Beeny’s Renovation Nightmare? —

As we look forward to seeing the fourth series of Sarah Beeny’s New Life In The Country on Channel 4, we look back on 18 years of her involvement with Rise Hall, her house in Yorkshire

What happened to Rise Hall after Sarah Beeny’s renovation?

Can you believe it’s 15 years since Beeny’s Restoration Nightmare first hit our screens? The programme introduced the nation to Rise Hall, a sad, neglected Georgian mansion surrounded by spectacular Yorkshire countryside. TV property expert Sarah and her husband, artist Graham Swift were struggling to restore the building, saving it from seemingly inevitable decline. In the process, it needed to be given a new purpose. They decided to try and turn the 97-room house into a wedding venue.

The couple brought in a team of workers to deal with damp, wet rot, dry rot, crumbling plaster work, leaking roofs, and miles and miles of ancient electrics and plumbing. Sarah and Graham spent a lot of time installing modern boilers and eco-friendly wool insulation, as well as creating historic paint colours for the many rooms. When filming finished, the main rooms were completely restored and the wedding business was up and running at last.

After Sarah Beeny and Graham Swift completed the restoration featured on Beeny’s Restoration Nightmare, Rise Hall continued its journey as one of Yorkshire’s most distinctive private hire venues. Today, the hall has been further restored and developed by Dine, while carefully preserving the character and history that made the property so well known.

Is the restoration of Rise Hall complete?

Yes- well, mostly! There are some parts of the north wing that, whilst being water tight, haven’t been decorated and finished, and are currently used for storage. The rest of the rooms are fully restored.

The Hall retains lots of its original features, including the cantilevered staircase, regency library, original plasterwork ceilings, and servants bells.

We have 31 bedrooms, which are available for guests to use, as well as lots of rooms which can be used for all sorts of events.

Is Rise Hall still a wedding venue in Yorkshire?

Yes, Rise Hall became a wedding and events venue in 2013 and has seen many weddings, parties and other events over the years. It is also used for filming & photoshoots, corporate get-aways and private hire. Couples looking for a luxury Yorkshire wedding venue often choose Rise Hall for its stately home setting, exclusive use and guest accommodation.

You can find out more about weddings at Rise Hall here

Does Sarah Beeny still own Rise Hall?

No, Sarah & Graham sold Rise Hall in 2019 to Daniel & Helen Gill. Dan and Helen run a catering and events business, Dine, and have been working at Rise Hall since 2010 when they helped Sarah & Graham set Rise up as a wedding business. Dan and the Dine team can be spotted making a guest appearance in Series 2 of Restoration Nightmare!

What are the future plans for Rise Hall?

Dan & Helen and their team are working hard to ensure Rise Hall has a future as a successful wedding and events venue. During the Covid-19 crisis, Rise Hall has diversified by adding public ticketed events to its calendar, so more people can visit and take a look around! You can see future events and book tickets here.

They are also developing plans to bring the stables and outbuildings back into use.

Why is Rise Hall being demolished?

Rise Hall is not being demolished! In March 2023 a 1980s extension, which had housed the school refectory, was taken down. It was derelict and becoming dangerous. This opened up the North façade for the first time in 40 years. Eventually, new accessible bedrooms will be added in the north wing.

As with all houses of this age, the maintenance and upkeep is a major undertaking- so the list of things to be done never ends!

Can you visit or hire Rise Hall today?

Yes. Rise Hall is available for exclusive hire for weddings, corporate events, private celebrations and special occasions. As an exclusive-use venue, guests enjoy private access to the house and grounds for a completely personal experience.

We also have some pre-booked events such as afternoon teas and murder mystery evenings- see our what’s on page. 

It is not open to visitors outside these times.

Can you get married at the Rise Hall featured on TV?

Absolutely. The same Rise Hall featured in Sarah Beeny’s Restoration Nightmare is now an established wedding and events venue in Yorkshire. Couples can celebrate their wedding in the historic house while enjoying beautifully restored interiors and exclusive use of the venue.

Does Rise Hall have accommodation?

Yes. Rise Hall offers luxury on-site accommodation, making it ideal for weddings, private events and overnight stays. Having bedrooms within the house allows guests to relax and enjoy the full experience in one location. It is not open as hotel; bedrooms are only available to guests during events.

Is Rise Hall an exclusive-use venue?

Yes. Rise Hall is available on an exclusive-use basis, meaning the house and grounds are privately yours during your event. This makes it popular for couples looking for a private wedding venue in Yorkshire as well as businesses planning corporate retreats or exclusive events.

Is Rise Hall suitable for more than weddings?

Yes. While Rise Hall is well known as a Yorkshire wedding venue, it also hosts corporate events, private dining, celebrations, retreats and exclusive gatherings. Flexible event spaces and on-site accommodation make it suitable for a wide range of occasions.