Wentworth Woodhouse: Historic stately home to shut for entire month due to filming

Six years after being taken over by a trust, there are already 100 people on the payroll.

But CEO of Wentworth Wood Preservation Trust Sarah McLeod believes it is just the beginning and it can be a "game changer” for South Yorkshire, eventually employing up to 500 people. Hospitality and catering will be a big employer in the future at the house, she said.

Government Levelling Up Funds of £4.6m will see part of the long-derelict stable block - the grandest in the land when built in the late 1700s - redeveloped to house fully kitted-out production kitchens, a training facility for new hospitality staff, plus a café.

Another project is the restoration of the camellia house, which is due to reopen in the autumn, as a tea house serving tea from all round the world. That alone will create up to 22 jobs.

"We have 60 full time equivalent staff - about 100 staff on the payroll - and eventually we will need to go up to 250 - and then maybe up to 500 in high season," said Ms McLeod.

The stables plan involves a big events space and overnight accommodation - and that will need large numbers of staff. As there's a skills shortage, they will be training up their own staff.

"I'd like to think people can sign up to a job for life," she said. The production kitchen alone will cost around £5.5m - while the stables in their entirety will be around £50m.

"These kitchens will serve all the activity that goes on in the stables. We need accommodation, break out rooms, corporate hospitality, things like weddings and conferences. We want to make our own food, we don't want to buy it in."

Filming at the ouse brings in an increasing revenue, on a par with income from hospitality.

It has been used as a location for the Oscar-winning film Darkest Hour and hit TV series including ITV’s Victoria and BBC’s Gentleman Jack. Next April it will shut for the entire month for filming - but Ms McLeod says there is a careful balance to be had as a recipient of public funds.

"(Closing) goes against public access which is what we are here for."

Again filming can provide opportunities for locals, with young people aged 18 to 25 trained in production skills over six months with a company from Salford Quays and then getting their work experience with the film crews who film at Wentworth Woodhouse. A new 10-strong cohort starts in January. Although they have turnover of £2m, that "doesn't come close" to making a profit, she says. Gas and electric costs £11,000 a month. "We try desperately every month, every year to balance the books, but it's not easy.

"At the moment it is particularly hard because costs are rising and spend per head is shrinking - people are feeling the pinch. People are still coming but not spending as much as they used to," Sarah added.