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Woodland Restaurant

Client

Galgorm Castle Education & Preservation Ltd

Project Value

£1M

Status

Pre-Planning

Sector

All Projects, Hotel & Hospitality, Conservation

As part of the Galgorm Castle Hotel redevelopment, the client envisioned a 120-seat restaurant that would provide an immersive dining experience in close proximity to a Scheduled Monument, Grade A-listed castle, and protected walled garden. Rejen Architects was engaged to find a solution that embraced the natural setting while navigating a complex heritage context. 

Our Approach

Our approach began with careful site research, heritage analysis, and early dialogue with HED’s architects and archaeologists. From this, we developed a narrative-led design: a restaurant that acts as a “secret gateway” from the walled garden into the ancient woodland beyond.

Where a boundary wall had collapsed, we inserted a perforated corten steel panel and concealed entrance — leading to an arrival lounge where the corten panels would slide open to frame a view back to the castle. A gently sloping ramp then guides guests to a glazed pavilion that appears to float on a reinstated 19th-century millpond. Crafted in estate-sourced beech and glulam timber, the pavilion features interwoven beams and a green roof, merging hospitality and heritage in a way that exemplifies contemporary architecture in historic landscapes.

The proposals have been warmly received by HED, the client, and stakeholders. Planning, listed building, and scheduled monument applications are targeted for Q4 2025.

How We Added Value:

Secured early support for a contemporary hospitality structure within a Scheduled Monument context.
Balanced modern guest experience with heritage protection and ecological stewardship. 
Developed a concept rooted in place, narrative, and sensitive material use.

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