ABOUT half a million pounds is expected to be invested in a country house hotel over the next year, after it was taken over by a new company.

Classic Lodges, which owns a number of hotels in the UK, has bought Solberge Hotel at Newby Wiske between Northallerton and Thirsk.

Classic Lodges says it will be investing £500,000 over the next 12 months in the large Georgian mansion. Some of this investment will be spent on improving its existing wedding facilities, including a new outdoor wedding venue.

The company already owns The Old Swan in Harrogate and Grinkle Park in Easington.

Solberge Hall was built in 1824 by a wealthy local landowner John Hutton. The Georgian venue has retained a lot of its original features and contains 24 guest rooms set in nine acres of garden and woodland.

Richard Grime, managing director of Classic Lodges said he hoped to invest “considerably” in the hotel over the coming months

“We are looking forward to working with the team at the hotel to continue to develop its excellent reputation in the North Yorkshire market for weddings and family events,” he said.

“We will be investing considerably in the hotel over the next 12 months to improve the guest experience.”