Airport hotel revival set to take off

A North East hospitality group is preparing to revive a long-vacant airport hotel following a landmark agreement.

Ramside Estates has taken on a 150-year lease for the former St George Hotel at Teesside International Airport, paving the way for a full redevelopment of the site. 

The building, which closed in 2018, is set to be transformed under plans that include a new hotel alongside conference and banqueting facilities.

The deal sees the well-known operator – whose portfolio includes Hardwick Hall, Ramside Hall, Bowburn Hall, the Impeccable Pig and its newest entertainment venture, The Pin, at Ramside Hall – expand its regional footprint once again in partnership with the airport.

John Adamson, owner of Ramside Estates, said: “I’m hugely excited to have secured this agreement and the major opportunity this site provides. 

“The appeal of the hotel can be seen in what’s happening in the wider Teesside area when it comes to projects like the freeport, the airport’s growth and the prospect of more flights in the future.

“The demand is there. 

“This will be a multi-million-pound development and I’m looking forward to us working together on plans for the hotel in the years to come.”

The agreement will also safeguard both the Mynarski Memorial and its access at the front of the current hotel site.

Phil Forster, managing director of Teesside International Airport, added: “This is a huge vote of confidence in our airport and securing the backing of someone with the stature, expertise and calibre of John is a big coup. 

“We know the hotel means a lot to people and holds a lot of memories for those who stayed and used our airport over the decades.

“To have the Ramside name backing the hotel is a huge boost.

“We can now open a new chapter on the hotel’s future with some exciting plans to come in the not-to-distant future.”

Tees Valley mayor Ben Houchen added: “To have Ramside Estates and John behind our airport offering their invaluable experience and expertise at the former St George Hotel is fantastic. 

“The hotel welcomed tens of thousands of people through its doors during its past – and, with Ramside’s backing, it’ll be great to see the site transformed to welcome many thousands more in the years to come to create jobs and help attract investment. 

“Our airport is on the up with more flights and more international companies coming to Teesside and expanding here, so to have Ramside on board is another huge boost, and I’m looking forward to our airport forging even closer ties with the group and John in the years ahead.”

To find out more about John, who has spent his entire working life in the hospitality  trade, read his interview in our sister publication, N, here.

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