A POPULAR Teesside hotel is up for sale for nearly £900,000 after going into administration.

The Staincliffe Hotel, in Seaton Carew, Hartlepool, is being offered for around £875,000 for the freehold interest.

Newcastle-based Christie and Co, has been called in to act on behalf of the joint administrators Chris Stevens and Ian Vickers. of Vantis.

They have been appointed to sell Mark Jones Catering Limited, which is trading as the Staincliffe Hotel.

Chris Stevens, at Vantis, said: "The hotel entered into administration following financial difficulties.

"However, trading continues. We are working closely with the management team to try to achieve a sale to safeguard the business and its staff."

David Lee, a director at Christie and Co, said: "We expect a substantial amount of interest in this landmark hotel which has superb views over the North-East coastline, with a number of viewings having already taken place."

The Staincliffe is described as a picturesque, pre-Victorian property which is a 20-en-suite bedroom hotel.

The business features the award-winning 64-seater Ocean Restaurant, a 40-seater lounge bar, two function rooms with total capacity for up to 200, a 35-space car park and garden areas to the front and rear.

The Staincliffe was placed into the hands of administrators in April.

It was owned and managed by Mark Jones, a former Tees Valley Chef of the Year, before the financial developments.

The Staincliffe was built in 1869 as a home for wealthy West Hartlepool merchant Thomas Walker and was converted into a hotel in the 1920s.