Meet the couple on a mission to help revive the high street

In the latest edition of Marketing Derby’s Innovate Magazine we meet Chris and Andi Harvey – the couple behind the stunningly beautiful Hopton Hall.

Hopton Hall is a Grade II listed manor house and collection of holiday cottages in the Derbyshire Dales.

It was bought as a family home by husband and wife Chris and Andi in 2023 with two goals in mind: to restore the 16th-century manor house and its grounds; and to continue providing the best and friendliest of welcomes for day visitors and overnight cottage guests.

But as Innovate discovers, beyond its historic corridors, with flagstones worn smooth by centuries of footsteps, beyond the stunning Walled Garden and celebrated Snowdrop Walk, lies a wider mission: to back local artists, revive old buildings and, in a quietly determined way, help bring life back to the High Street.

After making his money in the US, Chris came back to the UK to retire – but as someone with an entrepreneurial itch, that didn’t last long.

Chris, who fell in love with the Derbyshire Dales from an early age, told Innovate: “I was desperate for something to do. I suppose it’s the usual thing when you’ve been an entrepreneur.

“You work hard – and we worked really hard – and then, all of a sudden, you stop. And you miss it.

“And it doesn’t matter how much money you’ve got, if you don’t have any problems to solve, then you’ve got a real big problem.”

The couple began buying historic properties in Ashbourne town centre, restoring them and offering them, at affordable rents, to businesses they felt would help bring vibrancy back to the area.

Their portfolio includes a number of local pubs. The couple buy them, restore them and let them on terms that give those running them a chance of success.

Andi told Innovate: “As an American who moved here, I can really see how unique and special pubs are.

“Everyone tries to copy it, but I’ve never been anywhere else in the world where they manage it successfully. It’s such a shame that they’re closing left, right and centre.”

The couple are also big supporters of the local creative community.

They own an 18th-century Grade II-listed building in 12 St John Street, Ashbourne, which in April became home to the new Hopton Hall Gallery.

Chris told Innovate: “The project really has been a labour of love. It’s such a characterful building and we’ve worked hard to preserve as many features as we can whilst renovating it to meet the needs of a 21st Century art gallery.

“It’s been so exciting to see the gallery come to life and we know that it is in safe hands with our gallery director, Ruth Matthews, who has been instrumental in helping to build the success of our annual Month of Art celebration.

“Ruth’s vision in selecting the most talented artists for the gallery means we now have a calendar of exhibitions running until the end of May 2027.”

To read a digital version of the latest Innovate Magazine – as well as previous editions – click here.