STEPHANIE BARRON, 23, has been appointed as administrator at Jesmond Dene House Hotel, in Newcastle, which is to open on September 1.

Following drama studies at Newcastle College, Stephanie, from Jesmond, worked for a year at the Village Hotel, at the Cobalt Business Park, Newcastle.

For the past few months, she has sung in bars and lounges in Cyprus before returning home to help her father with his business, running a chain of pharmacies.

She said: "I am very excited about joining Jesmond Dene House. I think it puts me at a great advantage to see the project in the early stages, and to be involved in the run-up of the opening."