Facelift for seaside hotel under new owners

A South Shields seaside hotel is to undergo an extensive refurbishment after being bought in a £1m deal.The Sea Hotel has been acquired by High Street Hospitality – a subsidiary of Newcastle-based The High Street Group – which has promised a further £750,000 for improvements. The work will include full refurbishment of the rooms, reception areas, restaurant and the wedding and function areas.The hotel, built in the 1930s, will initially retain its Best Western brand but will eventually become part of High Street Hospitality’s Hotel 52 chain. Additional amenities planned include a Latin American bar and kitchen, a vintage sports bar, a fish and chip takeaway and coffee outlet.High Street Hospitality already runs two hotels at Whitley Bay and in Stanley and plans to operate a chain across the North within the next three years. The company is currently investigating options for three further outlets in Tyne and Wear, Durham and Cumbria.Phill Brumwell, High Street Hospitality managing director, said “no expense would be spared” in redeveloping the facility.