What The Lakes by Yoo does

The Lakes by Yoo is a privately-held luxury resort and residential estate operated from an 850-acre property near Lechlade in the Cotswolds, England, approximately 90 minutes from London. The estate combines short- and long-term accommodation (40+ rental units ranging from classic rooms to 6-bedroom lakeside houses), a wellness destination branded The Spa by Yoo (featuring partnerships with Dr. Barbara Sturm and Wildsmith Skin), an on-site restaurant called The Lakes Bar & Kitchen, and approximately twenty paid outdoor activities including watersports, archery, shooting, climbing, zip-wire and bushcraft. It also operates a property sales vertical enabling affluent buyers to purchase YOO Studio-designed second homes on the estate with optional professional rental management, plus a corporate events and private celebrations business across multiple event venues. The estate is managed by Resort Estate Management Ltd (England, registered company 06273431) and Coln Park LLP, and operates within the broader YOO Hotels & Resorts portfolio.

The company's product is essentially a destination-resort platform with multiple revenue streams: nightly and long-term stay bookings via thelakesbyyoo.onejourney.travel; one-off property sales (off-plan and completed homes); subscription/recurring spa, food and beverage services; transaction-fee activity bookings; and professional corporate event services. It targets four core customer segments: affluent families and groups for weekend/holiday retreats, property investors seeking design-led second homes, corporate clients for away-days and events within 90 minutes of London, and couples/active lifestyle guests seeking romance or adventure. Design is the unifying differentiator — properties are individually curated by YOO Studio, co-founded by Philippe Starck and John Hitchcox (the founder), with bespoke furnishings and vintage finds, and the estate is positioned as a private, gated, sustainable destination with rewilding, eco-ponds, and a mini farm with rescued animals. Distribution is direct: a self-serve booking website plus mobile apps, inside-sales phone reservations, and dedicated sales teams for property and corporate event enquiries. Marketing is anchored on the YOO brand, earned media in luxury publications, Instagram (@lakes_byyoo), and curated experiences such as the Event Organisers Day.

Name

The Lakes by Yoo

Legal name

Resort Estate Management Ltd

Website

https://thelakesbyyoo.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2002

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Lakes by Yoo operates an 850-acre luxury Cotswolds resort estate offering design-led accommodation, a spa, restaurant, and outdoor activities, alongside a property sales vertical for affluent families, couples, corporate clients, and real estate investors in the UK.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Luxury Hospitality & Resort Services

NAICS

Hotels (except Casino Hotels) and Motels (72111), Traveler Accommodation (7211), Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation, Water (48721)

SIC

Hotels & Motels (7011), Hotels, Rooming Houses, Camps & Other Lodging Places (7000), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Marina & Waterfront Full-Service Hotels (THAGAAAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Resort-Area Full-Service Hotels (Non–All-Inclusive) (THAGAAAD), Beachfront & Lakefront Homes (THAMAAAF), Luxury Beachfront & Waterfront Villas (THAMAEAE), Resort/Hotel-Integrated Parks (On-Property Theme/Water Parks) (THAJAEAF), Aqua Adventure Parks (Water-Based Adventure Courses, Climbing/Zip Over Water) (THAAABAG)

Keywords

• Luxury resort accommodation
• Spa wellness retreats
• Countryside event venues
• Design-led property investment
• Vacation rental hospitality

Headquarters

HQ city

Lechlade

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Holiday Rentals: Short-term and long-term rental of luxury cabins, apartments, and homes to guests seeking Cotswolds retreats. Properties range from classic rooms (sleeps 2) to 6-bedroom houses (sleeps 14). Rental revenue managed professionally by estate team.
2. Property Sales: Sale of design-led lakeside homes, cabins, and residences on the 850-acre estate to private buyers seeking second homes or investment properties. Includes both ready-to-move-in and off-plan options. YOO Studio designed interiors.
3. Spa and Wellness Services: On-site spa offering treatments, day retreats, and wellness programs including Dr. Barbara Sturm rituals and Wildsmith Skin treatments. Also includes use of 17-metre indoor pool, sauna, steam room, and gym.
4. Food and Beverage: The Lakes Bar & Kitchen restaurant serving seasonal menus, private dining experiences, Elsa's cafe, and private chef services for accommodation guests.
5. Corporate Events and Celebrations: Venue hire for corporate away days, team-building events, celebrations, and weddings. Event spaces include The Manor House, The Spa, Lakeside Tipi, The Reserve, and The Lakeside Apartments.
6. Activities and Experiences: Charged activities including zip-wire (£30), archery (£45), air rifle (£50), climbing, tree top adventure, bushcraft, and water sports. Also includes boat rentals and equipment use.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Lakes by Yoo is a luxury lifestyle resort estate spanning 850 acres in the Cotswolds, England, offering lakeside cabins, apartments, suites, and private houses designed by YOO Studio (with Philippe Starck collaboration). The estate operates as an integrated hospitality destination providing short-term accommodation stays, an on-site spa and wellness centre, restaurant and dining, 20+ outdoor activities, corporate event hosting, and design-led property ownership opportunities. Property owners benefit from professional rental management services that integrate their homes into the resort's accommodation pool.

Product overview

The Lakes by Yoo is a luxury lifestyle resort estate located on 850 acres in the Cotswolds, England. The offering is structured as a unified resort destination rather than a software platform, comprising luxury accommodation (rooms, apartments, cabins, and private houses), The Spa by Yoo wellness centre, The Lakes Bar & Kitchen restaurant, and diverse outdoor activities. The portfolio includes individual properties ranging from 1-bedroom suites to 6-bedroom houses, all designed by YOO Studio with design collaboration from Philippe Starck. Additional services include corporate event venues, private celebrations, and property ownership/investment opportunities. The resort is positioned as a family-friendly, sustainable luxury destination approximately 90 minutes from London.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• The Spa by Yoo: Wellness destination offering longevity-based programmes, science-backed therapies, and treatments from Dr. Barbara Sturm and Wildsmith Skin.
• The Lakes Bar & Kitchen
• YOO Studio

Products and services

• Luxury Accommodation Stays Short-term and long-term stays across lakeside cabins, apartments, suites, and houses ranging from 1 to 6 bedrooms, all designed by YOO Studio and available to affluent guests seeking Cotswolds retreats.
• Spa by Yoo Wellness destination offering longevity-based programmes with science-backed therapies, Dr. Barbara Sturm rituals, Wildsmith Skin treatments, and a 17-metre indoor pool, sauna, steam room, and gym for paying guests and property owners.
• The Lakes Bar & Kitchen On-site restaurant serving seasonal British cuisine, private dining experiences, supper club series, Elsa's café, and private chef services for accommodation guests and event attendees.
• Activities for Yoo Charged outdoor and adventure activities including zip-wire, archery, air rifle shooting, learn-to-climb, tree top adventure, bushcraft, and watersports such as paddleboarding, kayaking, and sailing.
• Corporate Events & Private Celebrations Event hosting services including corporate away days, team-building retreats, product launches, weddings, and private celebrations across venues such as The Reserve, The Manor House, The Lakeside Tipi, and The Spa.
• Property Ownership at The Lakes by Yoo Sale of design-led lakeside homes, cabins, and residences on the 850-acre estate to private buyers seeking second homes or lifestyle investments, with ready-to-move-in and off-plan options. YOO Studio designed interiors and professional rental management services included.
• Long-Term Stays Extended-stay accommodation option for guests seeking longer retreats at lakeside apartments and cabins within the estate.

Quantifiable outcome

• Double-digit capital growth year-on-year on property values

Named customers1 record

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.

• YOO StudiocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerYOO Studio, co-founded by legendary designer Philippe Starck and property entrepreneur John Hitchcox, provides the award-winning interior design for all properties at The Lakes. Each accommodation is uniquely curated with bespoke furnishings, eclectic artwork, and vintage finds, creating the distinctive YOO aesthetic that defines the estate.
• Dr. Barbara SturmflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerRenowned for her scientifically-backed skincare and longevity treatments, Dr. Barbara Sturm provides signature spa rituals and day retreats at The Spa by Yoo. Her treatments focus on reducing inflammation and strengthening the immune system through innovative molecular formulations.
• Wildsmith SkinflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerWildsmith Skin provides rejuvenating spa treatments at The Lakes. Their products and treatments are featured in the Spa and incorporated into the Yoo Sleep and Retreat package offerings.
• YOO Hotels & ResortscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Lakes by Yoo operates as part of the Yoo Hotels & Resorts portfolio (yoohotels.com), leveraging the YOO brand for cross-promotion and brand positioning in the luxury hospitality market.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• The Newt in Somerset: A 1,000-acre Somerset estate combining a luxury hotel, residences, gardens, farm-to-table F&B, and activities; directly comparable to The Lakes as an integrated estate with stays, ownership opportunities, and lifestyle experiences on a large private footprint.
• Belmond Le Manoir aux Quat'Saisons: Raymond Blanc's Oxfordshire country house hotel renowned for Michelin-level dining, gardens, and luxury rooms; comparable as a high-end Cotswolds-adjacent estate with premium F&B, gardens, and HNW leisure demand.
• Soho Farmhouse: Soho House's 100-acre Oxfordshire countryside estate offering rooms, cabins, and a members' club with F&B and activities; the closest direct competitor to The Lakes by Yoo in the Cotswolds-adjacent luxury countryside retreat category with a comparable design-led, HNW-skewed proposition.
• Lime Wood Hotel: New Forest country house hotel with a focus on wellness (Herb House Spa), design-led interiors, and seasonal dining; competes for the same affluent couples, families, and corporate retreat demand as The Lakes by Yoo.
• Babington House (Soho House): Soho House's Somerset countryside house hotel with rooms, event spaces, and a members' club ethos; comparable to The Lakes in HNW positioning, countryside estate setting, and corporate/private event hosting.
• Heckfield Place: Hampshire estate hotel set in 400+ acres of parkland, offering rooms and suites, a wellness-focused spa, farm-to-table dining, and event spaces; matches The Lakes' blend of countryside seclusion, design-led interiors, and a flagship wellness/spa proposition.
• Cliveden House: National Trust-managed luxury country house hotel on a 376-acre estate, offering high-end rooms, fine dining, and corporate/private events; comparable in the heritage estate, HNW leisure, and corporate event segments.
• Beaverbrook: Surrey estate hotel with luxury rooms, restaurant, spa, and event spaces housed in a heritage country estate; directly comparable as a design-forward countryside estate targeting affluent families, couples, and corporate clients.
• The Pig Hotels: Collection of small luxury countryside hotels in heritage buildings across the South of England with a strong kitchen-garden-to-restaurant concept; a direct peer in UK luxury countryside hospitality with comparable HNW family and couples demand.
• Calcot & Co: Gloucestershire countryside hotel with rooms, spa, restaurant, and event facilities in the Cotswolds; directly competes with The Lakes for Cotswolds-based luxury family, couples, and corporate retreat demand.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/lakes_byyoo
• Xx.com/thelakesbyyoo
• Facebookfacebook.com/thelakesbyyoo
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-lakes-by-yoo

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Lakes by Yoo