I was in Guisborough at the weekend and took the chance to re-acquaint myself with the re-birth of Gisborough Hall, just around the corner from the High Street. Originally built in 1857 as the family home of Baron Gisborough, it had serious money spent on it not too long ago to upgrade it to a top class residential hotel and conference centre.

If you know this building well, you'll know that it's been crying out for this treatment for years. I remember several years ago being there for a dinner before a broadcast of Any Questions on BBC Radio 4. There was a beautiful evening sky looking across towards the Cleveland Hills and the Guisborough Forest, and the whole table, headed by Jonathan Dimbleby no less, were raving about the possibilities.

The restoration has been beautifully done, and this is a welcome addition to the growing portfolio of excellent venues in our area. Sitting next to a beautiful fireplace with that timeless view, you really do feel like the Lord of the Manor! The rooms have real character, and, in the guest accommodation, they have rooms which are world class.

On a previous visit, the present Lord Gisborough popped in, and surprised us all with a cracking good version of As Time Goes By, supplying both vocals and a fine hand on the grand piano!

Their Tockett's restaurant is a particular high spot, and I was delighted to see that the menus made a great feature of local produce instead of the bland fare which can be such a wasted opportunity. Whitby fish, Wensleydale cheeses, and Raby Estate venison give the visitor a real reminder of the things we still do best in the North East. My only minor quibble is that the restaurant can be a little too quiet. I certainly wouldn't welcome raucous music, but how about something appropriate to such a grand venue, or, especially at weekends, a gentle guitarist or pianist to encourage guests to linger and soak up the atmosphere. My best model to emulate would be the world famous American Bar in London's Savoy, where pianist/vocalist Barry sets exactly the right tone, and, commercially, gives people a reason to stay and spend!

The real clincher for the resurgent hotel and conference business in this area is the natural friendliness and hospitality of the people who live here. I've said before that we really should push this hard as a unique selling point for our part of the world. When Gisborough Hall first recruited after its refurbishment, I remember General Manager Kim Yardley telling me that they were staggered by the high quality of applicants to work in the new venture, and it really does provide the icing on the cake.

It's a mark of high levels of confidence in this area that big companies like Macdonald Hotels are producing serious investment for places like Gisborough Hall. In terms of new jobs created, and another leg up for our image, this is very good news indeed. Take a tour and organise bookings on www.gisboroughhall.com

Published: 30/07/2003