Welcome to the Hall of fame...
ROCKLIFFE Hall Hotel has opened its doors to the public following a £50m facelift.
Boro chairman Steve Gibson was on hand to welcome visitors at the formal opening of the former country house at Hurworth Place, near Darlington.
The vast 375-acre complex sits next door to the football club’s state-of-the-art training academy.
And, while the championship-standard 7,879-yard golf course and clubhouse opened in the summer, the five star hotel welcomed its first guests yesterday.
Rockliffe Hall managing director Nick Holmes was understandably excited about the big kick-off.
“This has been many years in the planning,” he said. “Millions have been spent on creating a facility that looks jaw-dropping.”
The venue includes a 50,000sq ft spa, including swimming and hydrotherapy pools.
The hotel also boasts fine dining - headed up by Michelin-starred chef Kenny Atkinson. The complex will also host business meetings and private wedding ceremonies.
Despite the substantial cost, Rockliffe Hall is expected to turn a tidy profit which will be re-invested by Mr Gibson into the football team.
In fact, the chairman said the venture will produce an annual income on par with a season’s worth of gate receipts.
He said: “Rockliffe Hall is fantastic, it’s an absolute gem now for this area.
“It will bring a lot of people into the area, - we believe that will create a revenue stream which will be the equivalent of our current gate income.”
