Lavish themed hotel appoints first manager

A North East hospitality professional has taken up a heavenly role at a new hotel in Durham that will be many guests’ idea of true paradise. Cath Bellhouse has been appointed general manager of The Fallen Angel, a ten-bedroom, themed hotel taking luxury to a whole new level.

No expense has been spared on the opulent accommodation provided at The Fallen Angel, which will open its doors in mid-September, following an extensive refurbishment of a Grade II listed Georgian townhouse in Old Elvet, in the city centre.

This will be Cath’s first general manager position, although she has had extensive experience of carrying out high-level duties in other hotels and was a director at Lumley Castle, in Chester-le-Street.

Cath, originally from Hartlepool, has had extensive hospitality sector experience during her career and has two degrees to her name, having studied at both John Moores University in Liverpool and Leeds Metropolitan University.

She has worked in Durham before and is delighted to be back, especially since she has the super challenge of running the Fallen Angel for owners John Marshall and Sandra MacDonald.

She says: "My aim is to ensure everyone who enters The Fallen Angel has a fabulous experience, returns time and time again and goes away to tell friends and family that they really must experience this unique hotel."

The Fallen Angel has a very different personality, offering guests the opportunity to step into a world of make-believe thanks to fabulous theming. Options include staying in a science-fiction themed suite complete with outdoor hot tub, lounging on a day bed or canopied, oak four poster, in a decadent Victorian boudoir and sleeping in a black sleigh bed in the Cruella room.

Cath Bellhouse believes her favourite of the ten rooms will be the Russian Bride suite, perched on the top floor of the townhouse and affording fabulous views across the city to the cathedral and castle.

This penthouse suite, with its glass-fronted sauna, spa bath, hand-carved furniture, tented ceiling, bamboo flooring and cream tones is very much influenced by the film and novel Dr Zhivago and is a romantic’s dream.

Cath says: "This room really appeals to me, partly thanks to the movie and, it has to be said, visions of Omar Sharif, though I really don’t consider myself to be Julie Christie!"

Owner John Marshall says: "We are delighted Cath has joined us and are sure we have made a great appointment. Cath already has the reservations system open for booking and is looking forward to greeting her first guests. With her at the helm, the North will soon have another Angel waiting in the wings."