Hotel of the Year accolade for North

Sep 4 2008 by Dan Warburton, The Journal

NORTH hotels were last night hailed as being among the best in the UK after Jesmond Dene House celebrated its third birthday by winning one of the industry’s most prestigious awards.

As The Journal reported yesterday the Grade-II listed building, which overlooks Jesmond Dene in Newcastle, was named AA Hotel of the Year 2008 at an exclusive awards ceremony in London.

Durham-based property developer Peter Candler, who co-owns Jesmond Dene House with chef Terry Laybourne, said the 40-bedroom hotel would not rest on its laurels, despite winning the AA’s ultimate hotel accolade.

“We were always ambitious,” Peter said. “But to be named AA Hotel of the Year in the first three years is a real achievement. This award is recognition we are going in the right direction, but we are determined to continue raising our standards.”

Jesmond Dene House’s achievement has also been praised by North East tourism bosses who last night said it had capped a few years of remarkable awards success for the region’s hotels.

Seaham Hall in County Durham, the region’s only five-star hotel, was recently named England’s Leading Hotel and Spa Resort in the World Travel Awards 2007 and also has a Michelin star for its White Room restaurant.

Northumberland’s Matfen Hall has also been among the winners with two AA rosettes, as well as Excellence in England awards for both Best Small Hotel and Best Large Hotel.

Greystreet Hotel in Newcastle was also named the Best Boutique Hotel in the UK outside London in the COOL Awards, while Orchard House in Rothbury, Northumberland, received the AA prize for Guest Accommodation of the Year.

Mr Candler added: “I think it’s representative that the whole region is making progress. Seaham Hall also won Hotel of the Year a few years ago, so for two hotels in the region to hold the award is very good news for the North East.”

Jesmond Dene House, which opened in September 2005 after an 18-month, £7m restoration, was also awarded four AA red stars. These have only been awarded to about 150 hotels in the UK.

One NorthEast director of communications and tourism Stacy Hall said: “Being named AA Hotel of the Year is great news not only for Jesmond Dene House Hotel, but also for the whole of the North East’s tourism industry.

“The hotel shows the region can offer high standards to visitors. It also reflects how far the tourism industry in the North East has come, offering real quality and competing with other worldwide destinations.”

NewcastleGateshead Initiative chief executive Andrew Dixon said: “This is fantastic news for the reputation of NewcastleGateshead as a world-class place to visit.”

Jesmond Dene House general manager Eric Kortenbach said: “To have achieved such an honour within such a short space of time was totally unexpected.

“Without a shadow of a doubt, it is down to our staff – their hard work, dedication and determination.”

Jesmond Dene House was named AA Hotel of the Year at a ceremony in London on Tuesday .

This reflects how far the tourism industry in the North East has come, offering real quality