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Manor House Hotel & Spa
An historic venue in County Durham is undergoing a significant refurbishment that will make guests want to visit time and time again.
Whether dropping in for a drink in the lounge bar, enjoying a delicious meal in the light-flooded Orangery restaurant, spending a night in one of the luxurious bedrooms, or unwinding with a well-deserved treatment in the spa, Manor House Hotel & Spa, in County Durham, has been designed with you in mind.
The team is very proud of the venue and what has been achieved to make it a small, but beautiful, destination hotel with a rich history.
Formerly known as West Auckland Hall, and later a brewery, The Manor House Hotel is a Grade I listed building, built in the late 15th Century on foundations that date back to the early 14th Century.
Refurbishment has been sympathetically carried out to reveal original walls and wood beams, and a brick beehive bread oven has been retained in the lounge.
It has been home to the Eden family, and reputed to have been a hunting lodge for King Henry VIII when he was visiting the area.
Pictures of his six wives adorn the walls, and, in the entranceway, visitors can see a replica of Anne Boleyn’s uniquely personal necklace.
The extensive work to upgrade the hotel began three years ago and is nearing completion. Not only has the building benefitted from structural improvements, but a full new kitchen team was brought in to create a vibrant culinary experience for both residents and non-residents.
General Manager, Johnathon Cairns, has been with the hotel since 2023, overseeing the extensive project.
His pride in what has been achieved, so far, is evident. He says: “It has been wonderful to have been on this journey to create something that will offer people the chance to have a little escape with a touch of luxury.
“The bedrooms have been refurbished to a very high standard to give our residents an exceptional overnight experience, and the reception rooms offer visitors the chance to relax in comfort and enjoy their surroundings.
“The Spa boasts 5-Bubble status in the Good Spa guide, and was a finalist in the 2023 Best Spa in the North East. A full range of treatments are available using TEMPLESPA award-winning, cruelty-free, luxury skincare products.”
There’s no mistaking the warmth of the staff, most of whom are recruited locally. Guests receive a genuine welcome where nothing is too much trouble.
The success of Manor Hotel & Spa is important to everyone who works there, and, as Johnathon says: “We are only custodians of this historic building for a short time, but we, and everyone that stays with us or uses our facilities, become part of that history.”
Manor Hotel & Spa, Front St, West Auckland, Bishop Auckland, DL14 9HW
Phone: 01388 834834
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