'There was always something special about this place'

A FORMER schoolteacher who taught in what is now Northumberland’s newest five-star hotel says she “feels part of it” after teaching in the same building for 25 years.

- By Daniel Hall

The Bailiffgate Hotel is located in the historic former premises of the Duchess High School, overlooking the Barbican entrance to Alnwick Castle.

The 48-room hotel had initially been earmarked to open in summer 2024, but was hit by a series of delays due to the age of the former Georgian schoolhouse.

It opened to the public on Wednesday, May 28, with early guests enjoying the stylish rooms and high-end dining options. For one guest, the new hotel has brought back a lot of memories.