Durham set for upmarket hotel, complete with Marco Pierre White restaurant

Commercial property developer Kevin Brown and business partner Shaun Crawley have completed a deal with Maven Capital Partners for the sale and refurbishment of the Grade II-listed Shire Hall, in Durham city centre.

Originally built in 1896, the building will be sympathetically renovated into a Hotel Indigo, the up-market, boutique brand of InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG), with a 150-cover Marco Pierre White Steakhouse Bar and Grill.

The conversion will create an 81-bedroomed four-star hotel and is set to generate up to 60 jobs.

Kevin Brown, who bought Shire Hall in 2014, and Shaun will work together through their joint venture Elvet Developments Ltd (EDL) to lead the renovation and refurbishment on behalf of Maven Capital Partners.

EDL has appointed Gordon Brewis, from Durham-based architects Howarth Litchfield, as lead designer on the project.

“It’s taken just over a year to find the right buyer and broker the deal,” said Kevin.

“From the outset, it has been vital to find the right partners to produce an outstanding hotel for the city and, equally as important, to secure Shire Hall’s future and prevent any further deterioration and damage to the building.

“The new hotel will meet the need for high quality accommodation in the city and provide another prestigious eatery with its Marco Pierre White Steakhouse Bar and Grill.”