Member Article

Vermont buyers celebrate new era for hotel

Earlier this month, it was announced that The Vermont Hotel and Martha’s Bar and Courtyard, Newcastle had been purchased by Gainford Hotels, a division of the Gainford Group.

It is the first hotel purchase for the Group, who operate 13 care homes across the region and employ more than 700 people.

In honour of their latest acquisition, new owners Susan and Mohammed Khaliq hosted a party at the Vermont Hotel, which brought together members of the business community, politicians and Gainford Group staff.

Bdaily was in attendance at the event, and spoke to the new owners about their plans for the hotel.

“We are proud to have brought this building at the heart of Newcastle city centre, and we now hope to restore it back to its former glory,” said Gainford Group founder Mohammed Khaliq. “The architects and designers working on this project should have all the drawings and designs finished within the next few weeks, then it will go out for tender and hopefully work will start in the next few months.”

Imran Khaliq, managing director of the Gainford Group was equally excited about the prospect of revamping one of Newcastle’s most well known buildings, adding: “As a central location hotel, this was a great opportunity to take.

“We see it was a ‘sleeping giant’, and now we’ve come to wake it up.”

Plans for the hotel include the transformation of Martha’s Bar into a luxury champagne and cocktail bar, and later in the year the creation of Newcastle’s first rooftop restaurant. The Gainford Group also have ideas for a spa on one of the upper floors.

“We have some fabulous facilities within the hotel already which we will be revamping, so it’s really going to be the whole package - with access to shopping restaurants and the unique views over the Tyne Bridge, you could really spend a full day here.” Imran added.

David Faulkner, former leader of Newcastle City Council and leader of the Liberal Democrat opposition was also at the event, and praised the Gainford Group for saving the hotel, which formerly served as the headquarters for Northumberland County Council.

He said: “The hotel is unique in that it has incredible links to the Quayside and to the older parts of the city, so when I heard that its future was uncertain, I was a little bit worried.

“I’m absolutely delighted that the Gainford Group have put their faith into this hotel, and I’m sure they will make a real success of restoring it.”

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