A FORMERLY disused and derelict piece of historic Malton has picked up a prestigious award following its dramatic transformation into an artisan food production hub.

Talbot Yard Food Court, in the centre of the Ryedale market town, won the title for best refurbishment or extension of a Listed Building (regional award) at the recent 2016 LABC North and East Yorkshire Building Excellence Awards.

Based in the 18th-century former coaching yard for the nearby Talbot Hotel, the area is now home to a number of artisan food and drink producers.

Throughout the building process, Fitzwilliam (Malton) Estate worked closely with various organisations to ensure a most sympathetic and yet functional redevelopment.

Regular contact was maintained throughout the scheme with Ryedale District Council and English Heritage officers, and consistent contact with North Yorkshire Building Control Partnership ensured compliance with the Building Regulations was also undertaken.

Contractors Stephen Pickering Traditional Building Services Ltd and JG Masonry (Builders) used as much of the historic fabric, traditional building materials and traditional techniques as possible in the process of the refurbishment.

Les Chapman, head of the North Yorkshire Building Control Partnership, said the Talbot Yard Food Court was a deserved winner of the building excellence award. “Every care has been taken to ensure that the building has retained its original charm in its new life as a bespoke, artisan food court, with great attention to detail paid at every stage,” he said.

Tom Naylor Leyland, of Fitzwilliam (Malton) Estate, said “We are naturally delighted to have won this prestigious LABC award.

“The food and drink produced in Talbot Yard Food Court is delicious, but we do think it tastes even better being made in such pretty surroundings.”

The development also won the Tourism and Leisure title at the RICS Yorkshire and Humber Awards earlier this year.

RICS judges praised the project team for conserving many of the historical building’s original features and creating a valuable centrepiece for Malton’s culinary revival.

The area proved a hit with thousands of people who attended this year’s Malton Food Lovers Festival, which was staged in May.