Set to bring a major boost to Alnwick, The Bailiffgate Hotel occupies the former Commissioner’s House – a grand building that later became the Duchess’s School in 1888, originally founded by Duchess Julia 80 years before.
The hotel features a transformation of the original Georgian structure and a striking modern five-storey extension.
Here’s a look around:
5. Stylish design
A celebratory reception took place within the hotel’s light-filled Garden Room and courtyard terrace, where guests were welcomed by the General Manager, Bernard Bloodworth, members of the Hotel’s senior team and representatives from Northumberland Estates. The event culminated in the unveiling of a commemorative plaque, positioned between the former Commissioner’s House and the hotel’s contemporary new extension - symbolising the careful blending of past and present at the heart of the hotel’s design. | The Pull Limited
6. High end offering
Speaking at the opening event Earl Percy said: "The intrinsic and deep rooted role that this building has played in the community as the former Duchess High School for well over 200 years, along with its proximity to the Castle and the links with the Percy family meant that we saw this redevelopment as not only important but actually essential and very much a part of our responsibility as a custodian. Our hope is that Bailffgate will further contribute to the vibrancy of the town of Alnwick and the wider county of Northumberland, offering more high end rooms to cater for the County’s ever increasing number of visitors and tourists, which in turn will benefit the wider community as well as the businesses and shops of Alnwick.” | The Pull Limited
7. Connection with the past
Mr Bloodworth, a former pupil of the Duchess’s School, reflected on the emotional and personal significance of the day. He said: “This building holds a special place in my heart - I walked these corridors as a schoolboy, and to now see them reborn into a place of such warmth, beauty, and hospitality is a genuine honour.To welcome the Duke and Earl Percy here today, and to share this moment with the community, makes the occasion even more meaningful. Bailiffgate is not just a hotel. It’s a connection between heritage and future, a space that celebrates where we’ve come from while offering something truly special for today’s visitors. We’re incredibly proud of what’s been achieved here.” | Submitted
8. Years in the making
The new addition has been years in the making and is now writing a new chapter as an exclusive hospitality offering for the county. | The Pull Limited