Seafront hotel on the market

Nov 14 2007 By Karen McLauchlan

A LANDMARK Teesside seafront hotel has been put up for sale.

The Staincliffe Hotel, in Seaton Carew, Hartlepool, is being marketed for £2.3m.

The 20-bedroom Victorian property was bought this year by Mark Jones from Academy Hotels in a deal worth £1.3m.

The former Tees Valley Chef of the Year is seeking investment partners to help place The Staincliffe as one of the region’s leading hotels.

He said: "The Staincliffe is a very attractive proposition especially with the on-going regeneration of Hartlepool and the interest that the Tall Ships Race is creating."

About 100 tall ships will make their way to Hartlepool in 2010.

"We want to enhance the reputation of the hotel and make it one of the best known in the North-east," he added.

"The Staincliffe needs to be the best it can be, and investment will help take it to the next level."

The Staincliffe, built in 1869, has been a popular visitor destination for more than a century with the eye-catching Victorian property commanding fine views across the Tees Bay.

The hotel has received Three Stars from Visit Britain for the past three years and is adjoined by the award-winning Ocean Restaurant which was ranked as one of the North’s top seafood restaurants in 2006.

Mr Jones, who first came to The Staincliffe in 2001 as catering manager, is seeking to develop his catering business which supplies corporate functions including the contract for Hartlepool United.

He is not looking to leave The Staincliffe but to seek investment into the property with a view to developing the existing bedrooms and provide additional accommodation and facilities.

The Staincliffe Hotel is being marketed with commercial property agent Christie and Co.