Kenwood Hall (Sheffield)

 hotel, house, park

Over the years the Kenwood Hall has experienced a number of name alterations and has changed ownership on several occasions. The oldest section of the building dates back to 1845, while the land on which the hotel is built can be traced back to the beginning of the 12th century. Its most recent transformation came in the year 2007 when it was bought by the Principal Hayley group, and it was at this time it took on its most recent name – the Kenwood Hall.

History

The hotel started out life as the home of George Wostenholm, a Sheffield cutlery manufacturer in 1845. He named the residence Kenwood, which then became Kenwood Park 15 years or so later in the 1860s. After Wostenholm’s death, his wife embarked on some expansion work on the house which was completed in 1883 and the house continued to be used as a home up until the year 1922.

The Kenwood was first used as a hotel in 1924 after Kenwood Ltd bought it for the sum of £5,500 two years previously. It experienced a period of prosperity in its new role and so Kenwood Ltd jumped at the opportunity to expand the hotel. Work continued until 1956 when the venue was rebranded as Kenwood Hall and from then on further success ensured future expansions and developments in the following years.

By 1975 more refurbishment and development led to the re-opening of the four-star venue as the Hotel St George. However, by 1982, Swallow Hotels Ltd bought out the hotel and it remained under Swallow control for the following 18 years. By this time it contained 115 rooms, with its attractive lake, lawns and trees in the open space outside. Initially, the hotel kept its existing name, but then it became known as the St George Swallow Hotel and then as the Swallow Hotel Sheffield.

Another twist to the story took place in 2000 when Whitbread PLC, owners of the UK’s Marriott hotels, acquired the Swallow Group. The hotel underwent a substantial £3.5 million investment and it was reopened in 2001 as the Sheffield Marriott Hotel.

Finally, in 2007, Principal Hayley bought a handful of the UK’s Marriott venues including the Marriott at Sheffield. It was at this time that it took on its current name – the Kenwood Hall. And so it is under this guise that it exists today with its 114 guest rooms and its 12 meeting facilities making it one of the top places to stay in the area.

www.principal-hayley.com/locations/kenwood-hall.aspx