MORE than £1m has been ploughed into renovating Slaley Hall in the past year, but more is yet to come.

The hotel’s new general manager Christopher Wayne-Wills revealed this week that the recent refurbishment of bedrooms and public areas was just the first phase in a close to £3m project.

Since Mr Wayne-Wills joined QHotels in January after 10 years working with MacDonald Hotels, 85 bedrooms have been given a luxurious makeover, with air conditioning and heating systems all updated.

In addition, the ‘Whisky Snug’ public room and the fine dining area, which now offers afternoon tea, have been refurbished too.

And there are plans to renovate more rooms in the coming months, while it is hoped the spa facilities and main restaurant will undergo the same treatment.

Mr Wayne-Wills said: “I was appointed by QHotels in January with the vision of getting people to rediscover Slaley Hall.

“I was in my last role with MacDonalds for a decade, but I saw the Slaley role as an exciting opportunity.

“It already has a great reputation, yet it has so much potential too and the level of investment promised was great.

“We have refurbished bedrooms and spaces that the public will use, and we are bringing everything up to a high quality.

“The people of Hexham and Slaley are proud of having something like this on their doorsteps, and local people have been very positive about what we’re trying to achieve here.”

Since the turn of the year, Mr Wayne-Wills estimates that 20 new jobs have been created.

And he is keen to forge links with the area’s colleges to set up a training academy and centre of excellence at the hotel to develop the skills of people looking for a career in the hospitality industry.

As well as boosting the hotel’s reputation throughout the North-East and further afield, Mr Wayne-Wills is keen to develop stronger links within the district.

The hotel is working with Slaley First School on a woodland project onsite, while it heavily sponsored this year’s Slaley Show.

Mr Wayne-Wills said: “I am renting property in Slaley and go to the village pub, and everybody has been very welcoming.

“They are recognising that we are approachable and will listen to them, and that we are reinvesting heavily in a business on their doorsteps.

“I was at Slaley Show and we sponsored that and Slaley Leek and Flower Show.”