A LEADING hotel is celebrating its 15th anniversary by becoming fully independent.

The ownership and team at family-owned Gisborough Hall will remain unchanged but it will no longer be a Macdonald Associate hotel.

The news coincides with it achieving its best inspection to date – earning the AA’s four Silver Star rating for overall quality and two AA Rosettes for its food.

A range of multi-million pound investment plans are also getting underway including a new in-house reservations team, the refurbishment of the meeting facilities and the appointment of a 'welcome host'.

More than £30,000 was recently invested in the latest technology, including a new website and customer Wi-Fi. Work will also get underway on a new spa this year which is planned to open by Christmas 2018.

Gisborough Hall employs more than 100 local people and a number of new positions will be created in the coming year.

Kim Yardley, who has managed the hotel since it opened in 2002, remains as general manager along with the 13-strong senior management team which has more than 125 years of service between them at the hotel.

They will be joined by Nick Holmes who was appointed as a non-executive director last year to support the new spa and leisure proposals. He is well-known for launching Rockliffe Hall, near Darlington, where he was managing director for six years.

Gisborough Hall dates back to the 19th century and is home to Chaloner’s Restaurant, a Revival Zone spa, 71 fully refurbished bedrtooms; ‘G’ Bar and Bistro; a ballroom, conservatory and traditional drawing room and inner hall.

Mr Yardley said: "Visitors will not see any initial difference as the team remains the same, as does our offering.

"However, our new independent status is allowing us to invest and develop as we see appropriate for both the local community and to encourage visitors to the region.

"Our recent AA inspection is a tremendous accolade for our team and we are looking forward to further building on this with our plans."

An AA spokesman said: "Gisborough Hall remains a wonderful property which as yet has not reached anything like its full potential. I look forward to seeing the future transformations with interest."