Security stepped up at Yorkshire Groucho Club mansion after intruder footage

Security has been increased at an 18th Century mansion earmarked to be converted into a Groucho Club after footage emerged which appears to show urban explorers inside the building.

Wakefield Council’s deputy leader confirmed round-the-clock protection was in place at Bretton Hall after an opposition councillor highlighted the alleged incident.

A clip posted online two weeks ago shows men entering the fenced off-site in the grounds of Yorkshire Sculpture Park before climbing onto the roof of the building and getting in through a window.

The footage, titled ‘sneaking inside the abandoned Bretton Hall mansion’, shows the men walking around the Grade II-listed property before leaving after being seen by a security worker.

Afterwards, one of the men says: “I’m glad they are restoring it. They are going to try and look after it. But if you can get anybody in it, and anybody can just walk in, I don’t know. It’s not great.”

The council last week stepped up security at Wakefield’s County Hall and contacted the police after online footage appeared to show intruders filming themselves inside the Grade-I listed building.

One clip shows men inside the council chamber, former meeting rooms and staff rooms, with one climbing a ladder to the bell tower.

A further investigation is also being carried out after Mid Yorkshire Teaching NHS Trust contacted police earlier this week over footage appearing to show an urban explorer entering tunnels underneath Pinderfields Hospital.

Nadeem Ahmed, Conservative councillor for Wakefield South, raised the issue during questions to Reform UK cabinet members at a full council meeting at County Hall on Wednesday.

He said: “You will be aware that there is a group that identifies itself as ‘left and abandoned’ entered the County Hall.

“I don’t know how they entered. It might be a legal process, you might not be able to comment.

“I believe that they have also entered Bretton Hall as well, which is also council-owned.”

Coun Ahmed asked what safeguards had been put in place to prevent further breaches occurring at local authority buildings.

Referring to the County Hall footage, John Thomas, the council’s deputy leader and portfolio holder for resources and property, said: “You are right, I have seen the videos. There was a group that entered this building and I have seen some of them sat in the mayor’s chair.

“They claim to have entered through an open window. However, this is part of an ongoing police investigation, so I can’t comment any more.

“There is now 24/7 security on this building amongst many other buildings as well.”

Coun Thomas confirmed the security upgrade covered buildings including Bretton Hall, as well as Woolley Hall, which is currently in the process of being auctioned after being earmarked for sale by the council.

Bretton Hall was a teacher training college specialising in arts, music and drama for an art college for almost 60 years.

Wakefield Council took over ownership of the building after the University of Leeds ceased running it in 2007.

The building, which was initially built in 1720 by the Wentworth family, who owned the estate, has been mothballed for the last 19 years.

In March 2024, it was revealed that the world famous Groucho private members’ club would branch out to new premises at the property.

The venue, scheduled to open in 2026, was set to be the first permanent location outside London in the club’s history

Statements issued at the time said the venture was being put together by Groucho owners ArtFarm and Yorkshire real estate investor Rushbond Group, following an agreement with the council to develop the site.

Plans included Groucho Bretton having 40 bedrooms and being open to non-members.

At a council meeting in March this year, Coun Ahmed asked the then Labour administration if the scheme was still happening or if the promise had been “empty words”.

A Rushbond spokesperson previously said: “Bretton Investment Partnership – a partnership project with ArtFarm as the hotel operator – submitted a planning application (approved in 2022) for the redevelopment of Bretton Hall covering a wide range of leisure uses including a hotel.

“The partnership continues to work on bringing the opportunity forward.”

Jane Brown, the council’s service director for property and facilities, previously said: “Bretton Hall has incredible potential, and we want to see Bretton Investment Partnership move this forward as soon as possible.”

Established on Soho’s Dean Street in 1985, The Groucho has boasted famous members including Noel Gallagher, Lord Melvyn Bragg, Rachel Weisz, Lily Allen and Stephen Fry.

It has long been popular with musicians, writers, media figures and artists, with Damien Hirst famously putting his £20,000 Turner Prize winnings behind the bar in 1992.

The club was also noted for its collection of about 150 works of art, by artists including Francis Bacon, Tracey Emin and Gavin Turk.