About Us

A family-run business based in Walkington Village, The Barn House is a beautiful 5 star luxury guest house.

Originally a small farm, consisting of a farm house, barn, pigeon loft and cow shed, the Clappison’s have captured the full potential of this idyllic little place, transforming it into a stunning home-from-home luxury residence for all to enjoy.

The journey began in 1999, when Joyce (Mum) purchased the site and set about restoring the farm house as her own home now known as “The White House”.  Then in 2000, her daughter Niki (pictured right) with the help of her brother Anthony, a local builder, created her own home in the grounds called “The Cow Shed” (guess what this use to be?).

The next project for Joyce and her son Anthony was to renovate The Barn House into a four-bedroomed home which Joyce wanted to let.  Aspiring to keep everything original and sympathetic, the main timbers and wooden features in The Barn House roof have, wherever possible, been maintained from original barn, and the apple wood set into the walls is from an old apple tree in the garden. 

When designing the bedrooms, Joyce decided each one should have a theme which she based on the places she had visited over the years and so rooms called The Raj Experience, Chambre de Provence, Scottish Highlands and Out of Africa were created.

The wall paintings throughout The Barn House have been done by a local Beverley artist.  In the dining room, the picture of the Folly on the wall is a representation of the Folly at Risby Park, our old family home,   You will also see paintings of the lake and fishing ponds from Risby Park.  The Labrador painted near the entrance is our old chocolate Labrador “Cass”.

When The Barn House was completed in 2002, Joyce had become very attached to its calming presence where she thoroughly enjoyed entertaining her family and friends.  It was then that she decided to seek permission to convert it to a guest house.  With no previous experience of hospitality, she contacted all the necessary authorities, tourist boards etc in order to complete the process, and was very surprised and pleased that after being inspected by the tourist board, as it is was known then, The Barn House was awarded with the prestigious 5 star diamond rating - the only one in East Yorkshire!

Joyce became eager to expand the possibilities The Barn House had to offer, both to leisure customers and to local businesses, so in 2005, Joyce and Anthony went on to convert The Pigeon Loft (so named still) to another three-bedroomed property with a kitchen, dining room and living room.  In 2006 The Pigeon Loft was nominated for a prestigious Chairman’s award in the category of most improved small dwelling and was runner up amongst strong competition.

During 2005, they also converted The Barn House garage into a boardroom for conferences and meetings and built a one storey room to connect the garage to The Barn House, which is now a lovely breakfast room.  When these were completed in October 2005, Niki became involved with the luxury 5 star guest house and now runs it.

Niki spent 15 years working as a supermarket buyer before re-training as a holistic therapist in 1999.  Now fully qualified in many therapies such as nutrition, homeopathy, astrology, massage and too many more to mention, Niki classifies herself as a Health and Wellbeing Practitioner.  Her knowledge and philosophy is echoed throughout The Barn House with healthy lunch options, organic toiletries, care for the environment and the newly opened on-site therapy room, The Garden Retreat.

Always up for a challenge Joyce and Anthony continue with other building projects, and have just completed the conversion of a Methodist Church in the nearby village of Little Weighton.  The Chapel is a sumptuous two-bedroomed property now available for executive letting or luxury self-catering weekends.

As you can see, The Barn House a truly unique and “healthy” place to stay with much more to offer than just charming accommodation.  We look forward to welcoming you as our guest within our beautiful home.