As we approach the final few days before Sakura Spa opens, we sat down with Hotel Manager, Ruairidh Taylor, to ask him about the project and how it feels to see the spa come to life.

A spa at Gisborough Hall has been planned for some years now. How does it feel to see it finally come to life, and what does this moment mean to you and the team?   

Incredibly exciting, and I feel very proud to be managing a hotel that will soon have a beautiful spa. This has been a long-held ambition for Gisborough Hall, and to finally see it taking shape is genuinely moving. For the team, it represents something we’ve talked about and worked toward for a long time, and now it’s real. There’s a real buzz around the hotel. 

 Tell us a little about your journey with Gisborough Hall, when did you first join, and what has kept you here?   

I started as a waiter 24 years ago, and with a lot of hard work, and some luck along the way, I managed to climb the ladder through department head and operations manager, eventually becoming hotel manager eight years ago. What’s kept me here? Honestly, it’s the people, both guests and team. Gisborough Hall itself is such a special place, there’s a character to it that’s hard to find elsewhere. But the team are the real stars of the show. When you’re surrounded by people who genuinely care about what they do, it doesn’t feel like work in the traditional sense. 

 When you think back to your early days at the hotel, could you have imagined being part of a project of this scale and significance?   

I’m not sure I did! As a young waiter starting out, your focus is very much on the job in front of you, looking after guests, learning the trade. The idea that I’d one day be overseeing the opening of a brand-new spa would have seemed quite extraordinary. It’s a reminder of what’s possible when you love what you do and commit to it. 

 What was the original vision for the spa, and how has that evolved over time?   

There have been many different incarnations of the plans over the years, but the one constant has always been the connection to our natural surroundings. A woodland theme has always been central, the idea that guests should feel immersed in the landscape, not removed from it. As the project developed, that core vision only strengthened. The result feels very true to what Gisborough Hall is all about. 

Every major project has its twists and turns, what were some of the most memorable challenges or breakthroughs along the way?  

There were plenty! Build projects of this nature always throw up surprises, and this was no different. We had the usual challenges, design and specification changes as the project evolved, and a few unforeseen discoveries along the way that required us to adapt. But that’s the nature of bringing something ambitious to life in a historic setting. Every challenge taught us something, and the end result is all the better for it. 

 Is there a moment during the build that stands out as a turning point, where you thought, ‘Yes, this is really happening’?   

I think it was seeing the full strip out of the ground floor. Suddenly the scale of it became real. Up until that point it was conversations in meetings. But standing in that space once the bedrooms had been removed and walls knocked down and seeing the bones of what it was going to become, something shifted. From that moment, the whole team knew this was truly happening, there was no going back once the strip out had happened. 

 What part of the spa were you personally most excited to see completed?   

It’s hard to pinpoint because it all looks amazing. Every area has its own character and quality. But I think the outside pods and garden will be something really special. There’s something about that connection between the indoor spa experience and the landscape beyond that feels uniquely Gisborough. It’s where our setting really comes into its own. 

 How has the wider hotel team been involved in the journey toward opening the spa?   

The wider team has been superb throughout and genuinely excited. From the very beginning, we’ve tried to bring people along on the journey rather than simply presenting them with a finished product. A number of the new spa team is made up of existing hotel team members, which means there’s already a deep understanding of our values and the level of service our guests expect. That continuity is something we’re really proud of. 

 What has the project meant for staff development, recruitment, or the culture of the hotel?   

First and foremost, it sends a clear message: Gisborough Hall is here to stay, and it’s growing. The investment from our owners demonstrates real commitment to the future of the hotel, and that means a great deal to the team. It opens up new career pathways, new skills, and new opportunities that simply didn’t exist before. The culture here has always been one of looking after people and that applies to our team just as much as our guests. 

 How do you hope the spa will enhance the experience for both guests and the local community?   

We’re creating something that didn’t previously exist in this area. For hotel guests, it adds an entirely new dimension to their visit. For the local community, Gisborough Hall is already a place where birthdays and weddings are celebrated, anniversaries marked, and memories made. The spa feels like a natural extension of that relationship. For the local community, Sakura Spa will offer something genuinely new, a place to escape the everyday, to properly look after themselves, and to spend time with the people who matter to them. Not just for the big occasions, but for a Tuesday afternoon when you simply need to breathe. We want to be that place for people, somewhere that feels like a treat but also feels like yours. 

 What kind of experience do you hope guests will have when they walk through the spa doors for the first time?   

We want them to feel it immediately, that sense of having left the outside world behind. Warm, relaxed, and welcomed by a professional team genuinely committed to outstanding service, in surroundings that are beautiful without being intimidating. The design, the atmosphere, the people everything working together to say: you’re in the right place. 

 How do you see the spa shaping the future of Gisborough Hall over the next few years?   

It will form a vital part of our business, both now and in the years ahead. We’re not viewing the spa as an add-on, it’s very much a part of the hotel as every other department is. We’re keen to make sure our existing and very loyal guests feel well looked after as we grow, while also welcoming a new audience who may be discovering us for the first time. It’s an exciting next chapter. 

 What has this project taught you as a leader?   

Expect the unexpected! But more than that it’s reinforced the importance of staying calm, staying focused, and trusting the people around you. A project of this scale has moments of real pressure, and what gets you through is the strength of your team and your commitment to the end goal. I’ve also learned that patience pays off. The things worth doing rarely come easily. 

 When you finally stand in the completed spa on opening day, what do you think will be going through your mind?   

Is everything ready?! Probably a long checklist running through my head. Game faces on! But beneath all of that I suspect there’ll be a very quiet moment of real pride. For everyone who has worked to make this happen. 

 Is there a moment you’re most looking forward to once the spa opens, perhaps a guest reaction, a team milestone, or simply seeing the space in use?   

More than anything, I can’t wait to see those first guests’ reactions. That moment when someone steps in for the first time and you can see on their face that it’s exceeded their expectations that’s what it’s all about. That’s what makes every challenge along the way worthwhile. 

 

If you want to be one of the first to experience Sakura Spa plan your spa day now