Valeria Sykes is a Yorkshire-based entrepreneur and visionary hospitality leader whose career has been shaped by a lifetime of creating, restoring, and delivering complex projects with precision and purpose. With experience spanning interior design ventures and large-scale commercial developments, she has developed a reputation for transforming ambitious ideas into enduring realities. Central to her approach is a belief in patience, craftsmanship, and the power of the right people working together.

In 2015, Valeria and her family acquired Grantley Hall, a historic estate that had lost its prominence. Where others saw decline, she saw opportunity. The property became a canvas for her passion for art, history, architecture, hospitality, and innovation, and a chance to celebrate the finest qualities of Yorkshire. Her vision was clear: to create the leading country house hotel and spa in the north of England, combining world-class wellness with exceptional hospitality and dining.

From the outset, Valeria’s ambition extended beyond the building itself. She was committed to investing in the local economy by working with Yorkshire-based companies, tradespeople, and artisans, while creating meaningful, long-term employment opportunities for the surrounding community. Sustainability was integral to the project, with Grantley Hall designed and delivered to high BREEAM standards, reflecting her belief that luxury and environmental responsibility can coexist.

The restoration became a multi-year, multi-generational endeavour involving three generations of the Sykes family and culminated in the opening of Grantley Hall as a five-star luxury hotel and wellness retreat in July 2019, with her son Richard Sykes as Managing Director. Today, Grantley Hall continues to thrive, earning close to one hundred awards and standing as a lasting reflection of Valeria Sykes’ vision, local pride, and commitment to excellence.