THE owners of the South Causey Inn near Beamish, County Durham, have invested £450,000 in the luxury hotel.

The independent hotel has created two hot tub houses and an onsite antique and vintage store, which opened last weekend. It has also recruited ten new members of staff, taking the number of employees to more than 110.

The family-run hotel, which has an annual turnover of around £3.5m, was taken over by Philip and Susan Moiser in 2007.

Since then they have invested by increasing bedroom numbers from 16 to 38, introduced two wedding venues, conferencing facilities, weekly market and a mini farm. In 2015 they converted a London Bus into luxury accommodation and in 2016 spent £800k on eight ultra-luxury themed rooms.

Chester-le-Street company Radford Construction Services worked with the Inn to complete all refurbishment and building work.

Co-owner Philip Moiser said the store opened in response to guests asking about the hotel's vintage decor.