Saltmoore – PLACE

Saltmoore: Award-Winning Recognition in just 18 months of trading

Saltmoore: Award-Winning Recognition in just 18 months of trading

Since opening its doors in November 2024, Saltmoore has rapidly established itself as one of the UK’s most exciting luxury hospitality destinations. In less than a year, the coastal wellness retreat in Sandsend, North Yorkshire, has earned some of the industry’s most respected accolades and being acknowledged by some of the most respected names in travel, dining and wellbeing. — a remarkable achievement for a newly reimagined hotel estate. boutiquehotelier.com

Saltmoore Continues Its Award‑Winning Momentum Into 2026

Condé Nast Traveller: Nominated in the Readers’ Choice Awards 2026.

In 2026, Saltmoore was nominated for the Condé Nast Traveller Readers’ Choice Awards, placing the retreat among the most admired hotels in the world as voted for by global travellers.

This nomination is particularly significant as it reflects direct guest sentiment, recognising destinations that deliver memorable experiences, distinctive design and a strong sense of place. Being shortlisted by one of the most influential luxury travel publications underscores Saltmoore’s growing international profile and appeal.

Top 50 – The Times & The Sunday Times: Best Places to Stay Awards – 2026

Saltmoore was also named in the Top 50 Best Places to Stay in The Times & The Sunday Times Best Places to Stay Awards 2026. This highly respected list celebrates hotels that demonstrate excellence across hospitality, design, food and overall experience.

Earning a place in the Top 50 further cements Saltmoore’s reputation as a standout destination not just regionally, but nationally, and highlights the consistency of quality delivered since opening.

Number One – The Times: Best Seaside Hotels in the UK – 2026

Capping off an outstanding year, Saltmoore was ranked Number One in The Times’ Best Seaside Hotels in the UK for 2026 — the publication’s highest possible accolade within the category.

This recognition acknowledges Saltmoore’s unique blend of coastal location, wellness‑led offering and contemporary luxury, setting it apart from established and long‑standing seaside destinations across the country. Achieving the top position reflects both the ambition of the original vision and the excellence of its execution.

Awards & Accolades in 2025:

Best Beach Hotel – The Times & Sunday Times 100 Best Places to Stay 2025

Named Best Beach Hotel, The Times & The Sunday Times: Best Places to Stay Awards – 2025

Just months after welcoming its first guests, Saltmoore was named Best Beach Hotel in The Times & The Sunday Times 100 Best Places to Stay 2025. The award recognised the retreat’s unique coastal setting, refined interiors and emphasis on restorative experiences rooted in nature — an exceptional endorsement for a hotel still in its first season of operation.
Securing a place on this influential national list within four months of opening highlights both the strength of Saltmoore’s concept and the quality of its execution.

Two MICHELIN Keys – A Global Mark of Excellence

Michelin Guide: Awarded Two Michelin Keys in the 2025 ceremony, placing it among the most outstanding hotels in the UK and Ireland.

In 2025, Saltmoore was awarded Two MICHELIN Keys, placing it among the UK’s most outstanding places to stay. Introduced by the MICHELIN Guide as the hotel equivalent of MICHELIN Stars, Keys recognise properties that deliver exceptional hospitality, design and sense of place.
Two Keys are awarded only to hotels offering an exceptional experience, positioning Saltmoore alongside some of the most celebrated boutique and luxury destinations in the world — an extraordinary milestone less than a year after opening.

National Geographic Hotel Awards 2025 – Wellness Haven Recognition

National Geographic: Runner-up “Wellness Haven” at the Hotel Awards 2025.

Saltmoore’s wellness‑led approach also gained international recognition when it was named Runner‑Up for “Wellness Haven” at the National Geographic Hotel Awards 2025. The accolade celebrated Saltmoore’s “very British spin on wellness”, drawing on the dramatic landscape where the North York Moors meet the North Sea. thenorthernecho.co.uk
Judges highlighted the retreat’s integration of outdoor swimming, nature‑led exploration and carefully considered spa experiences — all designed to encourage guests to slow down, reset and reconnect with their surroundings.

MICHELIN Guide Recommended: The Brasserie at Saltmoore – 2025

The Sanctuary at Saltmoore was Awarded 5 Bubbles in The Good Spa Guide – 2025

A Landmark First Year for a New Coastal Retreat

These accolades build on what has already been an exceptional first year for Saltmoore, following its reopening in November 2024 as a 72‑room luxury wellness retreat comprising Saltmoore House and The Beach House. The estate’s transformation has played a central role in repositioning Sandsend and the wider Whitby area as a destination for high‑quality, design‑led hospitality. boutiquehotelier.com

At PLACE Group, we are proud to have supported the delivery of Saltmoore alongside an outstanding project team, helping to bring this ambitious vision to life. The recognition received to date is a testament to the collaboration, creativity and technical excellence involved at every stage of development.

Looking Ahead

With the holiday homes of Saltmoore Collection due to complete shortly, and continued investment across the estate, Saltmoore’s early success marks only the beginning of its journey. Its first year has firmly established the retreat as one of the UK’s most celebrated new hotel openings — setting a strong foundation for future growth and long‑term success.

Saltmoore Collection

01/04/2026

Saltmoore has been named Best Beach Hotel in The Times & Sunday Times 100 Best Places to Stay 2025.

By Tom ShipleySaltmoore

A truly incredible honour, especially after less than four months of welcoming guests.

Created as a sanctuary of calm, luxury and well-being, this recognition is a testament to our dedicated team and the wonderful guests who have embraced the Saltmoore experience. Thank you for being part of our journey.

01/04/2025

OakNorth backs joint venture between O’Shea and Galliard, with £22.8m loan to fund holiday lodges at Saltmoore, the new coastal luxury wellness retreat on the North Yorkshire Coast.

By Tom ShipleySaltmoore

OakNorth, the digital bank for entrepreneurs, by entrepreneurs, has provided a £22.8m loan to support a joint venture between two existing OakNorth customers, O’Shea and Galliard.

Founded in 1966, O’Shea Group has grown into one of the largest privately-owned construction and property development companies in London and the South East. Galliard Homes founded in 1992 and led by Executive Chairman and CEO, Stephen Conway, is a leading authority in construction and the development of large-scale mixed-use, residential, hotel and commercial projects. Together, their JV projects have delivered over 13,500 houses across the South East, including 475 apartments at Wickside, Hackney Wick and a further 450 apartments within Baltimore Tower, Canary Wharf.

The £22.8m loan from OakNorth will be used to fund the next stage in converting the historic 19^th century, Raithwaite Sandsend Estate. Located between the heather-clad North York Moors National Park, and unspoilt Sandsend beach on the outskirts historic seaside town of Whitby, Yorkshire, the 85-acre site will see the development of 179 luxury villas, lodges and cottages (the Saltmoore Collection). This next phase follows the reimagining and reopening of the estate’s two hotels, Saltmoore House and The Beach House, in November 2024, totalling 78 rooms and suites.

The heart of the hotel is the historic hall known as Saltmoore House, where the hotel’s extensive wellness offering state of the art gym and spa, treatment journeys by Wildsmith, cryotherapy chamber, Himalayan salt sauna, and wellness café. Saltmoore House is also home to several eateries including the hotel’s three restaurant offerings led by Head Chef Adam Maddock and Michelin Star Executive Chef, Tommy Banks. The Beach House is the more relaxed coastal themed offering closer to Sandsend Beach which features outdoor tubs overlooking the woodlands. The first phase of the holiday lodges known as the Saltmoore Collection have recently been released by local estate agent, Henderson’s.

Stephen Conway, Executive Chairman & Co-Founder of Galliard, said: “We look forward to welcoming guests to our new wellness-led sanctuary, located along the picturesque North East coastline. The Raithwaite Sandsend estate has a unique and extensive history, so it is our privilege to be breathing new life into the site, whilst preserving its historical significance to the region. OakNorth once again proved themselves to be a fantastic funding partner – we have worked with the team for years and keep going back as their flexibility, transparency, and entrepreneurial approach is second to none.”

Mark O’Connor, Investment Director at O’Shea commented: “Over the past six decades, we’ve become a respected name in the property industry, with our long-standing relationships with developers, housing associations, and local authorities leading to many successful joint venture partnerships. We were delighted to once again work closely with Stephen and the team at Galliard, with OakNorth being the clear funder of choice given their expertise in the sector and reputation for backing independent property developers such as ourselves.”

Damien Hughes, Senior Director of Property Finance at OakNorth, added: “This deal presented an exciting opportunity for OakNorth to support two of our long-standing customers with their latest JV project. The combination of the development expertise from both O’Shea and Galliard, alongside the well-renowned hotel management team that have been brought in, will no doubt be core reasons behind the project’s success. The location of the site and abundance of luxury offerings will also be a draw for not just UK staycationers, but international tourists too.”

23/03/2025