Talk on 7th March 2018

On March 7th, Simon Mackaness, owner and creator of Rudding Park, gave us a wonderful talk about his family, starting with his father, John, a farmer entrepreneur who inculcated in his children the need to add value with every business opportunity.

They bought the 2500 acre Rudding Park estate in 1972, when it was somewhat neglected. The family have spent the next 45 years (so far) developing the Georgian House, its grounds and its farmland. They have diversified what the property does with projects that have included a caravan park, film location shooting, horse trials, RAC Rallies, a conference venue, a golf course, a gated community of Lodges and most recently a Spa that, appropriately for Harrogate, has won the Sunday Times award for the Best Spa in the UK.

An excellent talk about boundless ambition and energy that have created something unique on Harrogate’s doorstep.