Gordon Cartwright and Craig Sherrington join Lumley Castle

Former AA inspector Gordon Cartwright and ex-Virginia House chef Craig Sherrington have joined Lumley Castle near Durham as general manager and executive head chef, respectively.

The four-AA-starred, 73-bedroom hotel has benefited from recent investment and the new appointments are the next step in the property's repositioning, which will also see further investment next year.

Cartwright joins Lumley Castle from Macdonald Hotels and Restaurants where he was group quality director. He previously held general manager roles at the Isle of Eriska Hotel and Spa off the west coast of Scotland, the Old Inn at Crawfordsburn in County Down and the Gilpin hotel in the Lake District, having left the AA in 2012. His new role is to oversee the rejuvenation of Lumley Castle, which includes the refurbishment of eight bedrooms in January.

Sherrington formerly ran Virginia House in Ulverston, Cumbria with his wife Louise for four years before the hotel and restaurant closed earlier this year. He has been tasked with bringing in a more relaxed dining style, which will fit in with the planned refurbishment of the Knight's Brasserie, the library bar and the lounge in January.

Cartwright said: "I am delighted to be heading up the team at Lumley Castle and working alongside our new executive head chef, Craig Sherrington. It's an incredible property with a wealth of history and I'm confident that between us we can elevate it to the next level and offer guests a truly memorable experience."

Built in 1388, the castle has been the seat of the Earl of Scarborough for over 700 years.