Northumberland has its own Red Star Hotel

Doxford Hall has received the highest accolade for service and facilities in achieving 4 Red Stars.  Ithas been selected by the AA as one of the best hotels in the British Isles, offering excellent levels of quality throughout, outstanding levels of hospitality and service.

Part of the Robert Parker Collection of Hotels Doxford Hall is the only hotel in Northumberland to have achieved this status and one of only 151 hotels in the British Isles.

This prestigious award is given by the AA’s inspectors personally and regardless of size or type of operation.  In receiving and retaining their red star status, it is part of an exclusive, elite group of top performers within the hotel industry which includes some of the UK’s most prestigious establishments.

On hearing that Doxford Hall was the only hotel in Northumberland to have 4 Red Stars, Jude Leitch, Director of Northumberland Tourism said:

” The quality of Northumberland’s tourism offer continues to rise and Doxford Hall has been at the forefront of this renaissance so I am delighted to hear of this latest accolade.  Doxford’s dedication to the highest levels of customer service and constant improvement is an inspiration to the county’s other tourism businesses and makes a significant contribution to Northumberland’s reputation.”

For any hotel, being awarded Red Stars is quite literally the industry Oscar, and as such the 32 bedroom, magnificent Georgian mansion, really does stand out from amongst the crowd.  However to reach this status is no easy task, the hotel really does have to pull out all of the stops in terms of standards and quality, 24 hours a day 365 days a year.

Mark Booth General Manager of the Hotel gives some examples of these extras miles:

“To receive 4 Red Stars is a tremendous achievement and one which would not have been possible without the exceptional hard word and commitment of every single member of staff, who work together to deliver the highest of standards and service. This is something that everyone at Doxford Hall works toward, day in and day out.

“We have a very high ratio of staff to guests and to achieve this result, we have to offer the highest standards in terms of food and drink, dining and décor. This includes the presentation and decoration of the hotel in all areas.  “From the moment you drive through the main gates, from the gardens, grounds, and the bedrooms to the banqueting suites, from the lounges to the spa it must impress.”

Mark added: “As a hotel it is the ultimate mark of quality and one which we are delighted to promote and I hope that this will also create further attention for Northumberland as a county.”

Part of the Robert Parker Collection, Doxford Hall is located close to the Northumberland Coast, midway between Newcastle and Edinburgh. With a 2 AA Rosette Restaurant, a handful of other accolades, including North East Small Hotel of the Year and 4 gold stars for the quality of its staff, accommodation and public areas, attention to detail is evident throughout as soon as you drive into the grounds.

With conference and banqueting space for up to 300 delegates, it is a sought after venue for both the business and leisure markets.  It is also one of the venues for the prestigious Northumberland Music Festival, and is scheduled to host full length performances of The Magic Flute and Rigoletto, this November.

The AA has been recommending hotels since 1908, but in 1912 adopted a more critical approach to the hotels listed in its handbook.  The AA’s Secretary then, Stenson Cooke, had once been a wine and spirits salesman and felt that the star rating of brandy would be a familiar yardstick to apply to hotels.  From then on, the AA star rating for hotels was born. Establishments are awarded between one and five stars depending on set criteria following a visit from an AA Hotel Inspector.

For further information about Doxford Hall please visits – www.doxfordhall.co.uk