The Dining Room was originally the parlour of the sixteenth-century house and has long been used for eating and entertaining. In the 1760s, it was extensively remodelled under William Constable, who commissioned designs from leading architects including Robert Adam and Thomas Atkinson, before selecting Timothy Lightoler to carry out the work. 

Lightoler’s design centred on the figure of Bacchus, the classical god of wine and hospitality, reflecting the purpose of the room. The decorative scheme drew on contemporary interest in ancient Rome, with plasterwork, sculpture and ornament inspired by discoveries at Pompeii and Herculaneum. 

Craftsmen from across the region contributed to the interior, including Italian stuccoist Giuseppe Cortese and Hull-based carver Jeremiah Hargrave. Later alterations in the nineteenth century introduced the green wall colour, textiles and lighting.