Rockliffe Hall scoops Pride of Britain Hotel of the Year 2017 title
The five-red-AA-star, 61-bedroom Rockliffe Hall in Hurworth, County Durham, has been named Pride of Britain Hotel of the Year 2017 for "delivering exceptional hospitality at every level".
Located within 375 acres of grounds alongside the River Tees, Rockliffe Hall opened in 2009 after the 18th century red-brick mansion at the heart of the hotel has stood empty for several years. Steve Gibson, chairman of Middlesbrough Football Club bought the property and transformed it into a luxury golf resort with spa at a cost of £50m.
Today the hotel is headed by chief executive Eammon Elliott, while executive chef Richard Allen oversees the hotel's flagship three-AA-rosette restaurant, the Orangery.
Key features of the hotel include an 18-hole golf course, 50,000 sq ft spa with eight treatments rooms and a spa garden.
Rockliffe Hall recently announced plans to transform one and half acres of parkland adjacent to the hotel into £750,000 multi-functional parkland for guests, with children's play zones, water fountains, gardens, a maze and two tennis courts. It is set to launch in summer 2017.
Peter Hancock, chief executive, Pride of Britain, said: "Every year our member hotels are visited by mystery guests appointed by the collection. Rockliffe Hall and its dedicated team was identified amongst a shortlist of hotels all found to offer exceptional hospitality."
Rockliffe Hall follows in the footsteps of last year's winner, Hambleton Hall in Oakham, Rutland, and the Grove of Narbeth in Pembrokeshire, which won in 2015.
Pride of Britain is a sales and marketing consortium, which currently numbers 48 hotels, with a maximum capacity of 50 members.
Whatley Manor joins Pride of Britain >>
The Grove, Narberth wins Pride of Britain Hotel of the Year 2015 >>
Rockliffe Hall spa to expand >>
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