Both directors enjoy a close working relationship with the client for this project which was carried out whilst they were both with Padgett Lavender Associates. The brief was to extend the existing hotel from 17 bedrooms to 53 rooms, provide a 5000 square foot sub divisible function room and refurbish and restore the original grade II listed house.

The project was further complicated by the sites proximity to the grade II listed historic landscape of Hardwick Park which was undergoing restoration by Durham County Council. The development of the scheme involved close consultation with the with the County Council, English Heritage, and not lease the local planning authority, Sedgefield Borough Council. Great emphasis was placed on achieving a symmetrical frontage to the historic park. The finished project has been well received and has won awards from the Northumbria Tourist Board, and the venue hosts the Northern Business Awards as well as many other prominent regional business and charitable events.

Since completion of the extensions in 2001 we have also obtained planning consent for a further development of 48 bedrooms to the north of the main hotel building.