THIS week saw the dawning of a new era for an historic Redesdale hotel.

Otterburn Coach House Hotel welcomed its first guests on Tuesday after being bought and renovated by a North-East entrepreneur, author and screenwriter.

Set in the woodland of the former Otterburn Hall Hotel, the Coach House went under the hammer in January.

Owner Julie Blackie said: “Otterburn has become a really popular place for people to marry, but there wasn’t the level of overnight accommodation locally to meet demand.

“The Coach House will fill that gap in the market. We’ll be providing great food and an excellent atmosphere, so local people can enjoy a great night out without having to travel to Newcastle or Edinburgh.”

Built in 1870, the Grade II-listed Coach House has 14 bedrooms.

The Hall was turned into a spa hotel in the 1920s and was recently known as a wedding venue before closing in 2012.

A former project manager with Newcastle City Council, Julie has a flair for organisation.

The Coach House sees Julie working in partnership with her daughter Julie Burrows.

Alongside her business ventures, Julie is a successful screenwriter who has written for Hollyoaks and Casualty.

She’ll be using her entrepreneurial and creative talents to put the Coach House firmly on the map, with vintage-style teas, gourmet fine dining nights and facilities for stargazers, walkers, cyclists and dog owners all on the hotel’s agenda.

The hotel will initially create five jobs, including manager Laura Kennedy, who previously worked as assistant manager at the Newcastle-Gateshead Hilton.

She said: “This is a tremendous challenge and a very exciting opportunity to help the Coach House become one of the go-to hotels in the region.

“We have an incredible team and I’m looking forward to making our guests feel valued and welcome. Otterburn has so much to offer and I’m proud to be part of the hotel’s plans.”

Also earning a new position is head chef David Hadfield, who was previously employed at The Duck in Corbridge.