Savills has been appointed by The Duchy of Lancaster, the owners of Tutbury Castle, to source a new tenant for this historic asset in Burton upon Trent, Staffordshire.
Tutbury Castle is a Scheduled Monument with a Grade I listed Great Hall and presents an exciting opportunity for an individual or organisation to develop and operate a business in the castle and grounds.
Occupied by its previous tenants since 1999, it has been a venue for hosting reenactments, weddings, and public and corporate events. The castle has been vacant since 2024, during which time it has undergone £1.2 million worth of repairs to the fabric of the castle, set to complete by the end of this year.
The castle covers approximately 3846 sq.ft, with the exterior grounds including a moat, a cabin currently used as a ticket office, a car park, garden store, and public washrooms. The interior of the castle spans across two floors, featuring a commercial kitchen, various function rooms, a café, office space and washrooms.
History
The original Norman castle dates back to 1071, when it was given to Norman baron Henry de Farrers. His family later came to prominence, as Robert de Farrers was created Earl of Derby and the castle was passed to his descendants. The civil war in 1263 led to the castle changing possession to the hands of the Earls and Dukes of Lancaster.
In 1646, during the English Civil War, Tutbury Castle fell to parliamentary forces. After a siege, the castle was destroyed and left with the ruins we see today.
Simon Foster, Head of Savills Tourism, Leisure and Events Consultancy, comments, “Tutbury Castle in Staffordshire is a fascinating heritage asset, much loved by the local community. The Duchy of Lancaster, who own the site, is keen to find an experienced operator who will breathe new life into the site for visitors of the future.”
Interested operators should contact Savills for further details on the opportunity, process and timelines.