West Park Hotel Courtyard Conversion – Harrogate

West Park Hotel approached Bowman Riley to convert an underused courtyard into a covered area for al fresco dining and drinking seven years after we originally designed the hotel refurbishment on the Stray in Harrogate’s Conservation Area.

Alfresco dining in the UK has soared in popularity over the past few years, with restaurants and bars opening outdoor spaces to meet demand. West Park decided to enhance their alfresco dining with an improved courtyard space that can be adapted if further Covid related restrictions are introduced.

We created an appealing courtyard garden using natural materials to create trellising that conceal the surrounding walls. Decorative accents like mirrors and lighting enhance the scheme and make the space feel larger. The lighting was designed to create a twinkly garden effect with backlit mirrors that light up the trailing greenery and planter lighting to uplight the topiary planting installed.

The courtyard features fresh teal shades, bespoke heated seating, and a living wall. A retractable roof allows guests to enjoy the sunshine and provides shelter in inclement weather.

We created an exterior space that is an extension of the interior and offers flexibility using a modular system with each unit on castors and weighted using sand to allow for different configurations without compromising on the look and feel of the space.

The courtyard opened in August 2021 with an official launch party.