Visitors to Sizergh can now enjoy new visitor facilities thanks to joint investment by the National Trust and a £130,000 grant from Rural Regeneration Cumbria.
The facilities offer modern amenities all under one roof, including a visitor reception, shop, café and car park. A veranda provides a fantastic external seating area adjoining the café where people can enjoy a refreshing summer drink or lunch. New landscaping has given way to a much improved picnic area with views over the stunning Sizergh estate.
The building designed by awarding winning architects Feilden Clegg Bradley is single storey with a monopitch roof constructed of simple, local materials to reflect the landscape setting of Sizergh.
  
The visitor building, car park and landscaping work was carried out by main contractor Colin Briscoe Construction Limited, a local company from Carnforth. The building incorporates many sustainable features including solar panels; larch cladding made from trees on the Trust’s Coniston Estate; under-floor heating and stone on-site being recycled and incorporated into new walls built by the Estate Team.
The café serves a delicious new menu. Debbie Robertson, Catering Manager said:
'We are very excited about the new café – as part of the Trust’s local food sourcing policy we will be using locally produced and sourced foods wherever possible. Our cakes are all made on the premises and the selection of dishes we have on offer will vary from day to day.'
© National Trust
'The existing tea-room in the castle will still be used at peak times and can be booked by coach parties. Car parking is now free at Sizergh so we hope that many additional visitors will come along to the café and drop in for coffee and cake.'
Fiona Clark, Property Manager for Sizergh adds:
'The staff and volunteers are delighted with the new building which now gives one focal point to welcome customers visiting the estate. We are very grateful to Rural Regeneration Cumbria for their support in enabling the NT to build these facilities.'
 
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