A COUNTRY hotel has been taken over by interim managers after its former landlords were unable to meet their commitments.

The owners of The George Hotel in Piercebridge, near Darlington, have stressed that it is still trading and will continue to take bookings.

The historic hotel is owned by Town and Village Hotels, based in Tadcaster, and until last week was leased to a company called Teesdale Hotels and Inns.

However, an independent team of managers has recently taken over from Teesdale Hotels and Inns on an interim basis. Edward Walsh, the managing director of Town and Village Hotels, said: “The lease held by Teesdale Hotels and Inns ended last year.

“Since then, the company has continued trading at the George, but more recently has been unable to meet its commitments to the owners, and vacated the hotel last week.

“The new, highly experienced management team was established on site within two days, and the George now continues to run as normal and with the existing staff continuing to serve customers at the excellent standards for which the hotel is well known.”

The 16th Century hotel, which has several claims to fame, is on the banks of the Tees on the North Yorkshire side of the river.

It has had several owners over the years, some of whom have struggled to run the business profitably.

In October 2006, the hotel was briefly closed, with the loss of 25 jobs, when owner Swallow Hotels went into administration.

On New Year’s Day 2000, the hotel was placed into the hands of a receiver by its US man Chuck Barringer, who had bought it in 1998.

The notorious highwayman Dick Turpin reputedly stayed at the hotel.

A grandfather clock at the hotel is also said to have been the inspiration for the song “My Grandfather’s Clock”

after it stopped working when its owner died.

The hotel also contains several examples of wooden furniture by Robert “Mouseman”

Thompson.

The Northern Echo was unable to contact Teesdale Hotels and Inns for comment last night.