A NEW £1m purpose-built events centre will open in a 17th Century country house hotel next month.

The centre, at the Redworth Hall Hotel, between Bishop Auckland and Darlington in County Durham, will be unveiled on September 10.

The hotel is owned by the Paramount Group of Hotels and the project will bring its investment in Redworth Hall to more than £2m since its purchase last year.

The new centre has its own dedicated entrance, foyer and bar.

It will feature six meeting and events rooms, ranging in capacity from 300 in the fully air-conditioned Prince Bishop Suite, to just 15 or 20 for more intimate business meetings.

A business centre will include computer links, copier, fax, scanners and everything required by the modern-day business, including the latest audio-visual equipment. Optional extras include satellite links, lap top computers and even stage sets.

More complex arrangements, such as Sony scan converters and Procon data interfaces, are also available, under a joint venture with AudioVisual Services Corporation of America.