Duncan Bannatyne adds garden pavilion to Darlington hotel

The four-star, 60-bedroom Bannatyne Hotel in Darlington has expanded its private dining facilities by installing a wooden garden room in it grounds.

Costing £25,000 to erect, the Canadian cedar pavilion will provide a private al fresco option for diners eating at the hotel's Maxine's restaurant. It will also be used during weddings and other functions.

Duncan Bannatyne, the hotel's owner and star of BBC 2's Dragon's Den, said that the garden room would provide guests with something different.

"It's a stunning addition to the hotel, which will undoubtedly enhance the experience of our customers," he explained. "As well as being great for weddings, the pavilion can be booked for private dining, and would be perfect for a special meal or even a marriage proposal. It will also be great for anyone who'd like to dine al fresco during wetter months or if the British weather lets us down."

It is the second time that one of Bannatyne's hotels has installed a garden pavilion, commissioned from Crown Pavilions, following the introduction of an outside room at the Bannatyne Spa hotel in Hastings, six years ago.

He operates the hotels within The Bannatyne Group alongside the Bannatyne Fitness Group, which with 60 sites is the UK's largest independent health club operator.

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