BOOK YOUR STAY
A Brief History
A Stately Home
Before becoming a staple business in the community, it was once a home. Originally built in the early 1900s with acres of land, it has been developed over the years and welcomed the expansion of Wrose & Idle Villages.
Moorland Country Club - 1950s
The home was sold in the early 50s and soon became a private club, providing entertainment and functions.
The Baron - 1960s
In the early 60s, the business was taken over and became the Baron. A well-known public bar.
The Country House Hotel - The 1960s
In the late 60s, the Baron quickly expanded, adding the Country House Hotel and Function Suite. Welcoming guests across the country and providing a well-loved function space for many years.
The Baron of Beef - 1970s
In the 70s, the Hotel section of the complex was expanded further, adding the Leisure Centre with a pool & jacuzzi. Providing famous poolside parties, still talked about today! – With this expansion, the name of the business changed to the Baron of Beef and remained as such until the late 80s.
The Idler - 1980s
In the late 80s, the pub was sold on and became the Idler. Continuing serving the public.
The Balloon & Basket - 1990s
Coming to the late 90s, the pub became The Balloon & Basket.
Sporting Lodge Inns - 2000s
In the early 2000s, the Hotel was taken over by the Sporting Lodge Inns company, a small chain of hotels based in Yorkshire.
Closure - 2000s
In the late 2000s, the whole complex was left abandoned and in a state of disrepair. Which led to …
Becoming The Highfield
Local residents Paul and Deirdre Jennings (owners of Jennings Computer Engineering Ltd) bought the derelict Highfield pub in late 2009. After extensive renovations starting in January 2010, the pub reopened on Friday, May 28, 2010—just in time for the Bank Holiday and the World Cup. Despite a chaotic start (and England’s loss to Germany), the family-run pub has enjoyed busy afternoons, diverse crowds, and warm community support ever since.
Public Bar
The Highfield continues to enjoy serving the local community with food, drink & entertainment.
Leisure Centre
Now with the addition of a Gym & Sauna, the Highfield continues to enjoy the patronage of the hotel guests, members and the general public.
Hotel & Function Suite
Today, The Highfield welcomes guests from across the UK and around the world—whether visiting for leisure, work, or local family and friends. We’re even proud to host returning regulars whose visits date all the way back to the Baron of Beef days!
View & book our Hotel here!
Check out our function page for future hire!
Famous Vistitors
Over the History of the Highfield and its myriad of incarnations in the past, we have had a few famous visitors!
F.C. Barcelona team were here!
FC Barcelona once stayed right here at The Baron of Beef (now The Highfield)! Ahead of their 1974/75 European Cup semi-final against Leeds United, Barça needed a place to train after being turned away from Bradford City due to a mix-up. Bradford City redirected them to Thackley AFC—bringing manager Rinus Michels and global superstar Johan Cruyff (the Lionel Messi of his day) to our local pitch!
Elvis Costello
According to local and regional walking and historical archives, musician Elvis Costello reportedly stayed at the hotel on the night of a local concert in St George’s Hall in 1983.
If you would like to share your historic photos from the Highfield building, weddings etc, drop us an email at reception@thehighfield.com
Some comments from past owners and guests…
The Highfield Pub back in the day (black & White picture featured) when it was the family house that my dad grew up in. I think about 1945 his family moved up here from London when the war started and to escape the bombings. it was called Moorlands when my dad lived there he grew up there with his 7 siblings and left when he got married. His surname was Stevenson. My grandparents sold the house around 1962/3 to someone called Baines who had a cycle shop in Undercliffe Rd and a factory in Thackley. He opened it as Moorlands Country Club for gambling but it was soon sold and the extension added and run then for business.
Surprised at the age of this house it was built between 1906 and 1915 so only around 30 odd years old when your parents moved in, attached is a 1915 ,25″ OS map with the dwelling highlighted in red
When Leeds United played Barcelona in the 1975 European Cup semi final, the rumour going round was that the Barcelona team (including the legendary Johan Cruyff) were staying there. We all piled over in the hope of an sighting or maybe autograph. I still don’t know if it was true but one of the older lads said so, so we believed it. This was when it was called The Baron of Beef. Ian Dobson they trained at Thackley FC too. There was a mass exodus from Boys Brigade at Thackley Methodist to go and watch…
I had my wedding reception there in 1981 – I also remember when they had the Sunlink club and you could dance on a dance floor over the pool Judy Marshall Gosh the pool & sunlink, they did, that’s just brought back those memories, it was the place to be at the time, there used to be stories of people falling in the pool in drink! Dino Mason Sunlink was where I learnt to DJ in 1986, did many weddings and party’s and most people ended up in the pool even though it was changed off, got me in to DJing now done all over the place Brighton, Manchester, Europe all thanks to Sunlink and the Baronette where we also did mobile disco’s in the 80s.. Judy Marshall Juurg Maron the owner of the baron was a real cool guy, posh motors like Porsche (rare in those days) with his personal number plates 0007 or similar. I often wonder what became of him Dino Mason He was Mr Maron, Swiss Millionaire. Owned the big house at the back of the hotel, and used to come in to the Idler every day. Colin was my boss who also worked for him, I heard he sold the hotel and Idler before then being reborn as Balloon and Basket..