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Grade II-listed townhouse becomes £1m hotel

New life has been breathed into an historic County Durham building, which will open as a hotel next week after a £1m makeover.

Grade II-listed Houndgate Townhouse in Darlington, which is thought to date back to the 1770s and has played a significant role in the town’s history, opens on Thursday (August 1).

Well-established house building company Bussey and Armstrong own the building but the development of the hotel is a new business venture for one of their youngest staff members, Natalie Cooper.

More than £1m has been invested in restoring and refurbishing the building at 11 Houndgate, which now boasts eight en suite bedrooms, the Hound Bar and Lounge, and Eleven restaurant, which will also be open to non-residents.

Natalie, who previously worked for fashion label DKNY and for websites including Elle Online and Sugar Online, said: “People who have visited say Houndgate Townhouse feels like a big house, not a hotel, and that’s the kind of atmosphere we’re trying to create; a comfortable and friendly home from home.

“It’s been a real labour of love but I know the hard work is only just beginning.

“There’s nothing else like it in Darlington so we’re aiming to create a market among business guests and weekend visitors as well as local people for lunch, dinner and drinks.”

The hotel will serve breakfast, lunch and dinner Monday-Friday, brunch, afternoon tea and dinner on Saturdays, and breakfast and lunch on Sundays.

The Georgian building’s history has played a large part in the luxury interior which Natalie has created, with references to its past as a Quaker boarding school, town Register Office, and the home of the first Christmas tree to come to Darlington.

All four features depicted in the Darlington coat of arms are represented in the décor, from the Locomotion to the Shorthorn bull, while original works of art and specially commissioned furniture and fittings reflect the building and its location.

Natalie added: “We’re proud with what we’ve done in restoring the building back to its former glory and hope that it will play an important part in Darlington’s future by helping to put the town on the map.”

Many local craftspeople and suppliers have worked with Bussey & Armstrong including Anthony Nixon bespoke furniture makers of Barnard Castle, granite suppliers F Jones Cleveland Limited and Hill Cross Furniture, North Yorkshire.

Work has been commissioned from Darlington artist James Paterson and sculptor Brian Russell, of Little Newsham Forge.

Houndgate Townhouse stands opposite Pease House, the former home of the ‘father of the railways’ Edward Pease, and in 1853 it became the first ever building in Darlington to have a Christmas tree following the tradition started by Prince Albert 12 years earlier.

The building was the first location of the school started by the Proctor sisters, who later moved to Polam Hall where an independent school still exists, then a private library.

For many years it was used by Darlington Borough Council and used as the Register Office before work began on the refurbishment around two years ago.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Martin Walker .