Northumberland hotel to become French-style chateau

A historic Northumberland hotel will be transformed into a French-inspired chateau after its owner announced plans to turn the property into a wedding venue.

The 27-bedroom Percy Arms hotel in Otterburn closed in 2012, when it went into administration.

The hotel will be transformed into Le Petit Chateau; a quirky venue with the look and feel of a French country manor house.

Work is expected to start by the end of the year and will include a Mediterranean garden with its own wedding terrace. It will feature palm trees, an antique fountain and lavender field.

Plans also include a wild meadow leading to a riverside setting for ceremonies, along with a ballroom with floor to ceiling glass doors opening to the garden.

Once complete, the venue will be able to accommodate up to 160 guests for dinner and up to 200 for an evening reception. There will be 30 bedrooms, some of which will have secret roof gardens and hot tubs.

Fisher said: "This is a massively ambitious development, which is totally unique.

"It is an incredible challenge to create a French chateau with breathtaking gardens in the middle of Northumberland but that's exactly what we're going to do."

The project, which will have a "substantial investment", is expected to create 60 new jobs, with the first weddings taking place from April 2016.

According to research carried out by Fisher's team the Percy family first came to England from Normandy.

The Apartment Group's portfolio includes the Joiners Arms pub and inn in Newton-by-the-Sea, Northumberland; Nancy's Bordello bar and restaurant in Newcastle; and Liberty Brown pizza restaurant in Sunderland.

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