New jobs to be created as seaside hotel is sold
Feb 29 2008 by Karen Dent, The Journal
UP TO 40 jobs are expected to be created a result of a £1.5m facelift at a Northumber- land coastal hotel.
The Bamburgh Castle Hotel, which overlooks the harbour in Seahouses and across to the Farne Islands, is the second venue to be added to Lindisfarne Inns Ltd’s portfolio.
The group, which also owns the Lindisfarne Inn at Beal near the causeway to Holy Island, is carrying out a major refurbishment and development at the Seahouses hotel which it bought in November.
In addition to renaming it the Bamburgh Castle Inn, the new owners are revamping the 20 bedrooms and building an extension containing a further 10 bedrooms. They have also submitted a planning application to build an elevated pavilion-style cafe-dining area.
Lindisfarne Inns director Keith Liddell said: “We are looking to create a coaching inn, offering value-for- money accommodation and traditional food in relaxed surroundings.
“We’d hoped to be able to do the development in phases but because of the condition of the unit, we’ve had to close the entire site and the development is under way in two phases. Hopefully, we will have a summer opening of phase one.”
Around 40 full and part-time jobs are expected to be created, ranging from managerial posts to chefs, customer service, kitchen and domestic staff.
Mr Liddell said: “There is a broad requirement. If you consider the site, there will be breakfast, residents 24 hours a day, and hopefully, its primary operation will be from 10am to 11pm.”
Mr Liddell has worked in the pub industry for 25 years, previously as head of Wessex Taverns, and separately to the Lindisfarne Inns brand, he owns Rosie’s Bar and the Duke of Wellington pubs in Newcastle as well as bars in South Shields and the Lake District.
Lindisfarne Inns plans to concentrate on its two Northumber- land hotels for the moment but Mr Liddell says the group may consider further expansion next summer.
The group, which bought the Lindisfarne Inn – previously The Plough – and opened it in May last year after a complete refurbishment, is confident the strong holiday market and the Bamburgh Castle Hotel’s position will ensure its success as a short-break destination.
“The area is fabulous in terms of its draw for tourists. You couldn’t conjure up a location of that nature. We aim to make the most of the building’s unique location,” said Mr Liddell.
“The Northumberland coast is definitely a holiday destination on the up thanks to the unprecedented amount of publicity the area has received recently.”
The first phase is due to open this summer with the second phase, including the additional bedrooms, expected to follow in the autumn.
