A HISTORIC building has been officially reopened following a year-long project to convert it into a hotel.

The Old Shire Hall, in Durham, has been reopened as Hotel Indigo following a £15m redevelopment.

The grade II listed building in Old Elvet also includes a Marco Pierre White Steakhouse, Rotunda bar and Tinderbox Espresso Emporium, as well as the 83-bedroom hotel.

The building, which was built for Durham County Council in the 1890s, has been empty since 2012, when Durham University moved out.

General manager Paul Borg said: “The hotel is right in the heart of Durham and we feel it fills a gap in the market, with Durham tourism on the rise.”

The hotel was opened by Mayor of Durham Councillor Bill Kellett and James Ramsbotham, from the North East Chamber of Commerce.

Helen Wilkinson, Linda Ritchie, Carol Embleton, Christine Merrington, Anne Kitching and Audrey Smiles, who all used to work at the Old Shire Hall, also attended to see how their former workplace had been transformed into a four star hotel.