NESTLING below the Cleveland Hills, with majestic views of the surrounding forest, Gisborough Hall has a special appeal even before stepping over the threshold.

The imposing stately home is the ancient seat of Lord Gisborough - a family that has presided over the market town of Guisborough, in east Cleveland, since its days of old as the capital of Cleveland.

In later years, the hall became a popular restaurant and venue for wedding receptions - but, because it did not have hotel facilities, began to lose out as other venues emerged in the area.

Now, a massive expansion programme, costing nearly £9m and taking more than 18 months to complete, has provided a large extension, the development of bedrooms, and a makeover of the hall's existing facilities.

Operations manager David Phillips-Tait said the project has gone a step further than simply bringing the hall in line with other facilities.

It has staked its claim to be a leading hotel, conference, banqueting and restaurant complex - "determined to provide a style and quality of service which will be unique in the North-East", he said.

Staff, dressed in the hotel's livery, provide a silver service and decorative touches that hark back to the hall's glory days.

As an added twist, Lord Gisborough can be found on occasions playing a £50,000 Bernstein piano situated in one of the hall's lounges.

Mr Phillips-Tait admitted that the grandeur comes at a price, but added that the hall was aimed to cater for the "top end of the affordable market".

"I believe that the finishing flourishes and pampering perfections which staff have been trained to provide, will make people realise that it is worth paying slightly more for quality of service."

While the hall reflects class, sophistication, wealth and glamour, the wider east Cleveland area is one of the poorest in the North-East.

The creation of 80 jobs - filled mainly by local people - has provided a welcome boost to the economy.

"I want Gisborough Hall to be synonymous with quality of food and service - but for the whole of the community," said Mr Phillips-Tait.

"By employing 80 local people, we have become an integral part of life in the area. I am very much aware that we should not be seen as aloof and a place where people think they have to wear a shirt and tie. We should be accessible."

Ultimately, the success of the investment, both in the eyes of far-travelling guests and local people, will only be judged over time.