CELEBRITY chief Marco Pierre White is to open a North-East steakhouse as part of a new £15m hotel.

The Hell’s Kitchen and Masterchef star will launch a 150-cover Marco Pierre White Steakhouse Bar and Grill as part of a new Hotel Indigo, which is to open in Old Shire Hall, the Grade II-listed former headquarters of Durham University, in autumn 2017.

The upmarket, boutique hotel will have 81 bedrooms and a four-star rating and will create up to 60 new jobs. It will be managed by Interstate Hotels and Resorts.

Developer Kevin Brown, who bought Old Shire Hall in 2014 and secured planning permission to convert the grand 1896 building later that year, said: “It’s taken just over a year to find the right buyer and broker the deal.

“From the outset it has been vital to find the right partners to produce an outstanding hotel for the city and equally as important, to secure Shire Hall’s future and prevent any further deterioration and damage to the building.

“Durham enjoys strong demographics in terms of local spending power with a key role played by Durham University.

“Tourism plays a significant part in Durham’s economy, but there is a widely recognised shortage of quality hotel accommodation. The new hotel will meet the need for high quality accommodation in the city centre and also provide another prestigious eatery with its Marco Pierre White Steakhouse Bar and Grill.

“On completion, the new hotel should attract up to 21,000 new visitors to the city annually and guests will enjoy the fantastic views of Durham Castle and Cathedral in the heart of Durham’s historic city centre, a Unesco World Heritage Site.”

Nick Taplin, chief executive at Black and White Hospitality, which owns the franchise rights to Marco Pierre White Steakhouse Bar and Grill, said: “Marco and I have been eager to find a suitable location in the city for some time.

“We know that Durham has a real appetite for affordable glamour and restaurants that offer top quality dishes in a sumptuous environment, at a price to suit all budgets.”

The hotel will make use of the Hall’s marble staircases, wood panelling and stained glass windows, while the stunning debating chamber and lobby room are to be retained and used as a cocktail bar and restaurant, respectively.

The project involves Maven Capital Partners, Elvet Developments and Durham-based architects Howard Litchfield.

Old Shire Hall has stood empty since 2012.