Member Article

£15m investment in Durham Hotel

Work has begun on a £15 million development at Ramside Hall Hotel and Golf Club, cementing its reputation ad one of the regions most exclusive resorts.

A new 18-hole championship golf course, spa, leisure centre and hotel expansion will add to the already well-established venue on the outskirts of Durham.

Ramside Hall Estates director, John Adamson, said: “We are pressing ahead with plans to give County Durham a first-class golf resort that it can be proud of.

“Ramside is already considered among the finest golf destinations in the North of England and by expanding the hotel and creating a new course we are polishing our golfing diamond.”

The course is currently the only new golfing development planed for completion in England, and has presented golf course architect Jonathan Gaunt with the opportunity to return to the course he designed in 1996.

Four holes are set to be revamped, five will be retired and a further 14 will be added to the former agricultural land.

Commenting on the project, Mr Gaunt added: “This site is special. It is a mature and established piece of land with lots of elevation changes, a sense of rural remoteness and natural water features including becks and streams.

“From the tenth tee there is a view of Durham’s iconic Norman Cathedral which is considered one of the greatest religious buildings in the world.”

Water features are also to be added, heightening the Ramside golfing experience. John Adamson, contunied: “In 1996, we built 15 man-made water features and worked with over 50,000 planted trees to create our championship golf course. This new course will be bigger, better, longer and even more exciting to play.

The golfer will have to hit over and around water more than 20 times on our new course, most dramatically at the par-3 12th hole – which will be completely encircled by water hazards.“

The last part of the expansion will begin in 2012, with the addition of 48 new bedrooms increasing the bed stock to 130. It is hoped that the project will be completed by September 2013, when Ramside Estates Ltd celebrates its 50th anniversary as a business.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .