Seaham Hall awarded a MICHELIN Key in its 25th anniversary year
The clifftop hotel and spa on the Durham Heritage Coast is now the only hotel in County Durham to hold the accolade, and one of just two in the North East.
For a hotel marking its 25th anniversary, there are few better ways to celebrate than with recognition from the MICHELIN Guide. Seaham Hall has been awarded a MICHELIN Key, putting it among a small and carefully chosen group of hotels judged to offer a truly exceptional stay.
The MICHELIN Key is often described as the hotel equivalent of the MICHELIN Star. Hotels are assessed through anonymous inspections, with inspectors looking at five things: design, service, character, value and sense of place. The Key goes to hotels that get the whole stay right, with a distinctive personality, high standards of service and a real connection to where they are.
This year, 18 hotels across the UK and Ireland were added to the list, bringing the total to 150 across England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland.
Seaham Hall is the only one in County Durham and one of two in the North East.
The award caps a year of significant change at Seaham Hall. In April, the Serenity Spa reopened its Zen Garden following a £1 million investment. The hotel has also launched two new places to eat and drink: Geko, a Japanese-inspired spa restaurant, and Harvey’s Bar, a modern speakeasy inspired by the hotel’s history.
Seaham Hall sits in a Georgian country house on the clifftop at Seaham, looking out over the North Sea from Lord Byron’s Walk. It was here that Lord Byron married Annabella Milbanke in 1815, and the house’s history still shapes the hotel today.
Guests can stay in suites in the main house or in coastal lodges with private hot tubs. Alongside the Serenity Spa, the hotel is home to two restaurants, The Dining Room and Geko, as well as Harvey’s Bar, afternoon tea and the Novara Aesthetics Clinic.
Ross Grieve, Managing Director of Seaham Hall, said: “Receiving a MICHELIN Key is a fantastic achievement for our entire team at Seaham Hall and something we are incredibly proud of. To be recognised among just two hotels in the North East is a real honour and reflects the care and attention that goes into every aspect of the guest experience, from our outstanding levels of hospitality to our approach to food and our connection to the region. It is incredible to see that commitment recognised by the MICHELIN Guide, and we look forward to continuing to build on this achievement.”
The MICHELIN Key adds to a strong year of awards for the hotel. Seaham Hall was recently ranked the top hotel in the North East by La Liste, placing 51st in the UK, and has been shortlisted in the AA Spa and Hospitality Awards. It also holds an AA five-star red rating and a five-bubble spa rating.