A TRADITIONAL inn with an award-winning restaurant in Darlington has been welcomed into a hotel group.

The George Hotel, set against the banks of the River Tees in in Piercebridge, has joined the Bespoke Hotels fold.

The coaching inn marks the group’s first foray into the region, and stands alongside a growing collection of inns and guest houses across the UK.

The George Hotel has 30 bedrooms, a ball room and a variety of function spaces, as well as an award-winning restaurant and gardens.

It has become a popular destination after being shortlisted as one of the best wedding venues in the North of England.

Group chairman Robin Sheppard said: "We are delighted to welcome The George to the Bespoke family. It’s a property I’ve long admired, with an esteemed history stretching back over three centuries, and serves to further extend Bespoke’s coverage across the full length and breadth of the UK."