A family-run leisure group in North Yorkshire is celebrating its 60th anniversary this summer – and marking the milestone with plans for a new £1 million investment across its parks and attractions.
York House Leisure (YHL), based near Thirsk, operates three award-winning holiday parks, two residential parks and the popular Monk Park Farm visitor attraction.
The business was founded in the 1960s by Neil and Patricia Brierley. Neil, a dentist by profession, and Patricia first bought a plot of land on the Causeway Coast in Northern Ireland before returning to England to focus on new park ventures. Their first acquisition was York House Holiday Park in the village of Balk, near Thirsk, which set the foundations for the company’s growth.
Today, YHL is run by their sons Phil and Tim Brierley, with support from their sister Heather.
The group employs around 50 full and part-time staff, mostly recruited locally, and welcomes more than 80,000 holiday visitors each year.
Around 200 residents also live in the company’s retirement parks, with numbers set to increase following a new development at Gateforth Park in Selby.
Phil Brierley said the new investment will be spread across the portfolio, including Monk Park Farm – the 84-acre family attraction rescued from closure by YHL four years ago. The farm now boasts new facilities, including an animal barn, and continues to attract over 80,000 visitors annually.
He said: “The determination to maintain the highest quality standards is a hallmark of the YHL portfolio.
“We are immensely proud of the business our parents pioneered, and work hard to keep alive their philosophy of always putting customers first and foremost.
“York House Leisure is really all about making people happy – whether that’s children and families on holiday or those enjoying retirement in one of our communities. Our aim is to continue raising the quality bar through constant reinvestment and by providing the best experience possible with the help of our amazing teams.”
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