LEADING ROLE
Amber Mead-Hindley has enjoyed considerable success as an actress in the US. Now she is playing an important part in the regeneration of an impressive family estate here in the Ribble Valley, writes Jan Woolley
Last year California-born actress Amber Mead-Hindley relocated permanently from Los Angeles to Lancashire in order to play a major role in evolving the 1,000-acre country estate inherited by her husband Guy Hindley.
The couple have divided their time between the US and UK for many years – over that time Gisburne Park, which is one of Lancashire’s finest private estates, has flourished and diversified. It now hosts hugely successful pop-up music festivals, is a much sought-after wedding venue and also on site is the original luxury lodge park and boutique café.
But the pair, who have two sons, have ambitious plans to further improve the estate.
“With two young boys we thought the lifestyle in LA would be so nice, sunshine every day and the beaches. But as they got older, I wanted them to learn all about their English heritage and the estate. It is such a beautiful place with so much land and so much potential,” says Amber who, as an actress, has worked alongside Jennifer Lopez, Ben Stiller and Jack Nicholson.
She met her husband by chance when she was invited to London by a friend: “I flew over from New York and we went to a party at the Voodoo Lounge. I saw this man across the room, and I told my friend, ‘That’s the man I am going to marry!’. It turned out it was Guy’s party and we got chatting and he knew a lot of the people I knew at the time, as he was then working in the art world in New York.”
They went on to share a home in Manhattan, he as an artist whose career was burgeoning and Amber working as an actress, landing roles in movies such as Monster-in-Law starring Jane Fonda and appearing in a remake of Starsky and Hutch.
However, in 2003 tragedy struck when Guy’s father Christopher died. Guy, whose great-grandfather Harold Hindley founded the BHS empire, made the decision to abandon his career as an artist in New York and return to Lancashire to manage the country estate he had inherited.
Over the years Guy set about diversifying and created Ribblesdale Park a thriving tourist destination featuring luxury lodges, Hindelinis café and more recently, the estate has become an events venue. Since her return from Los Angeles last March, Amber has been working closely with Robyn Isherwood, who has 10 years’ experience as an events organiser, working all over the world.
“We arrived back from LA and just days later we were in lockdown, so it was the ideal time to take a look at how we could take the business forward. I was really keen to get involved as it’s been a big dream for both Guy and myself over the years to see how we can diversify. It’s been our brainchild and lockdown provided the perfect opportunity.
“We looked at it from every angle in terms of re-branding and pushing everything up to a really high standard in terms of the luxury lodges. We have looked at Hindelinis and I think it would be good to go down an organic route,” says Amber, who has helped propel the estate into one of the most successful wedding venues, offering luxury lodges, a party house, holiday cottages and land on which to site tepees – all in a stunning rural location.
Robyn who spearheaded the re-brand of the estate along with Amber, is also at the forefront of organising events at Gisburne Park, as Amber explains: “Robyn works on the creative side of the business and one day last year we were all sitting by the pool brainstorming ideas as to what could be next for the estate.
“We were thinking about hosting an event with musicians and how we could socially distance. We discussed putting groups of guests in allocated squares, then we came up with hexagons and bookable bubbles, and it went from there,” recalls Amber, who was pivotal in helping organise Gisburne Park’s first pop-up festival last summer, which saw 150 events attended by 40,000 people, all socially distanced.
“It was amazing! It was so well received that we extended it for an extra month. We were so thankful that it was so well supported.”
This year, Gisburne Park will be the first festival of the summer in the UK – there will be a long weekend of eclectic daytime and evening entertainment that kicks off from Thursday 27th May and runs until Monday 31st. Set against the stunning backdrop of the estate, this year’s festival will see a jam-packed weekend of live entertainment, from an Ibiza Orchestra to Mamma Mia Live, food and drink and the option to enjoy a weekend of boutique glamping.
The socially distanced pitches give guests a designated plot of their own, complete with deckchairs and table service for a VIP festival experience.
Guests have the option of booking day tickets or boutique glamping tickets which come with a stay in one of the site’s luxury bell tents. The exclusive glamping village is set in a six-acre field within the estate and is made up of 20 widely spaced bell tents, each with double bed, electric, outside decked area, a fire pit and, of course, stunning views over the Ribble Valley countryside.
Other accommodation includes the luxury lodges complete with private hot tub and holiday cottages that can accommodate up to 16 guests.
With a history that dates back to 1614, the estate is rich in history – from Oliver Cromwell, who marched his troops onto Gisburne Park and stayed at the Great Hall to present-day royalty: “Prince Charles used to come here regularly when Guy’s dad ran the shoot,” says Amber, who adores walking her Pyredoodle on the estate – often followed by two reindeers she acquired for a Christmas event last year.
As for the future, with Amber’s input and enthusiasm there looks to be even more opportunities for the Gisburne Park Estate: “We are both really interested in bringing the estate back to its former glory – I really like to strategise and think things through. For example, it would be lovely to give children, who are growing up in towns and cities, an experience of rural life.
“But for the time being we will be looking to grow the business – and grow it beautifully.”
GISBURNE PARK POP-UP FESTIVAL
Thursday 27th May: Symphonic Ibiza
Friday 28th May: Sam Divine, Monki & Jess Bays
Saturday 29th May (daytime): The Family Show
Saturday 29th May (evening): Solardo and Maur
Sunday 30th May (daytime): Fleetwood Bac
Sunday 30th (evening): Eats Everything & Mele
Monday 31st May (daytime): Mamma Mia Live
Day tickets start from £35 (child) and £55 (adult)
