Five-star hotel opens beside Alnwick Castle

A new hotel has opened in Northumberland, transforming a former school into a five-star destination beside Alnwick Castle.

The Bailiffgate Hotel, owned by Northumberland Estates and managed by Bespoke Hotels, has transformed the former Commissioner’s House – later home to Duchess High School – into a five-star-standard retreat. 

The hotel features 48 individually styled rooms, 14 luxury suites, a signature restaurant called the Motte & Bailey and a mix of modern and Georgian design.

Launched at a celebratory event attended by Ralph Percy, Duke of Northumberland, and his son George Percy, Earl Percy, the opening was marked with a commemorative plaque and reception.

Earl Percy said: “The intrinsic and deep rooted role that this building has played in the community as the former Duchess High School for well over 200 years, along with its proximity to the castle and the links with the Percy family meant that we saw this redevelopment as not only important but actually essential and very much a part of our responsibility as a custodian.

“Our hope is that Bailffgate will further contribute to the vibrancy of the town of Alnwick and the wider county of Northumberland, offering more high-end rooms to cater for the county’s ever-increasing number of visitors and tourists, which in turn will benefit the wider community as well as the businesses and shops of Alnwick.”

The hotel has created 70 permanent jobs, involved over 250 local tradespeople and provided more than 200 weeks of apprenticeships.

With its unique location beside Alnwick Castle and its focus on seasonal Northumbrian produce, the hotel is set to become a key destination for visitors and a new highlight in the region’s tourism offering.

Bernard Bloodworth, general manager and a former pupil of the Duchess’s School, said: “This building holds a special place in my heart – I walked these corridors as a schoolboy, and to now see them reborn into a place of such warmth, beauty, and hospitality is a genuine honour.

“To welcome the Duke and Earl Percy here today, and to share this moment with the community, makes the occasion even more meaningful.

“Bailiffgate is not just a hotel. 

“It’s a connection between heritage and future, a space that celebrates where we’ve come from while offering something truly special for today’s visitors. 

“We’re incredibly proud of what’s been achieved here.”

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