Opening Hours
Monday to Friday
12:30-2pm and 7-9.30pm
Saturday
7-9.30pm
Sunday
12:30-3pm and 7-9pm
Bank Holidays
12:30-2pm and 7-9pm
1856: Frederick Goodall bought 170 acres of the land on which Grim’s Dyke now stands
1870: Building work began, overseen by the famous architect Norman Shaw
1872: Grim’s Dyke was completed and the Goodall family took up residence.
1880: The Goodalls sold Grim’s Dyke to Robert Heriot of Hambros Bank who lived here for 10 years
1890: Grim’s Dyke was bought by Sir William and Lady Gilbert
1899: Work began on Gilbert’s boating lake, a 1.5 acre stretch of water where he used to bathe every day
1905 – The lake was extended to form a large rectangle roughly 170 yards long by 50 yards wide
1906: Gilbert helped found Grimsdyke Golf Club where he was President
1911: Gilbert died on May 29th trying to rescue a local girl, Ruby Preece, who had got into difficulties swimming
1929: On one of her rare public appearances, Lady Gilbert attends the re-opening of the Savoy Theatre
1936: Lady Gilbert died, having spent her final years doing local charity work
1937: A public auction of the house realised £4600
1937: Grim’s Dyke became a rehabilitation centre for women suffering from tuberculosis
1939-1945: Officially, whatever role Grim’s Dyke played in the war is classified and not due for release until the 2040s
1945: Re-opened as a rehabilitation centre for men suffering from tuberculosis
1963: The rehabilitation centre was closed down and Grim’s Dyke entered a period of decline, during which time it was used as a film and television set
1967: The Champions was filmed here, as were several episodes of Dr Who during his battles with the Daleks
1968: Boris Karloff starred in his last film, The Curse of the Crimson Altar
1969: Vincent Price made his 100th film, The Cry of the Banshee. Ronnie Barker also used the house and grounds to shoot one of his comedies, Futtocks End
1998: Grim’s Dyke was formally re-opened by the Rt. Hon. Kenneth Clarke, Chancellor of the Exchequer
Join Us For Cream Tea!
In response to the many requests from our customers, we have introduced a special Afternoon Cream Tea menu which is served in the Drawing Room.
A range of yummy sandwiches, cakes, petit fours and patisserie will be on offer, which is all home-made in the Grim’s Dyke kitchens by head chef Daren Mason and pastry chef William Girouard.
Daren and William make brioche, English breads and a variety of rolls in the hotel’s bread oven while elsewhere in the kitchens they prepare delicious petit fours and ice cream.
The hotel even smokes its own salmon to perfection ready for the sandwiches.
William is also expert at producing hand pulled and spun sugar creations and his delicate sugar baskets and flowers will be adorning the afternoon tea tables.
The teas are served from 2.00pm to 6.00pm, Monday to Friday. The full tea is available for £13.95 while a tea, homemade scones and cakes option is available for £9.95.
