Langley Castle Hotel and Restaurant has celebrated its 40th anniversary as a hospitality business.

A special event on May 6 welcomed guests including the mayor of Hexham, Derek Kennedy, and Cllr Alan Sharp, chairman of Haltwhistle Town Council, as the mayor delivered a speech highlighting Langley Castle’s importance to the local economy, North East tourism, and employment.

The four-star (AA Silver), 2 AA Rosette hotel and restaurant – which is located near Haydon Bridge and Hexham – was opened in 1986 by American owner Dr Stuart Madnick. During his ownership, it has grown from an eight-bedroom hotel to an award-winning accommodation provider with 29 rooms alongside the Luxury Toll Bar Villa self-catering accommodation. It has also become a popular venue for weddings as well as events ranging from stargazing to murder mystery nights.

As part of the celebrations the team – led my general manager Mohamed Serag and deputy manager Bob Rutherford – sought out 40 community knights who have made a significant contribution to charities, young people, the county and its tourism economy. The group was invited to the anniversary celebrations, where the Baron and Baroness of Langley, Stuart and Dr Mariann Madnick, paid tribute to them.

The community knights included representatives from the Young & Sweet Charity, Hexham Youth Initiative, Haydon Bridge Football Club, Haydon Bridge Parish Council, North of Tyne Mountain Rescue Team, Eden Hexham, Tynedale u3a, Allendale Youth Ambition, Haltwhistle Walking Festival, Allendale Youth Club, Tyne Green Parkrun, Allendale Youth Club, Allendale Football Club, Warm Welcome Haltwhistle, the Nurture Project, and Adapt NE.

Among the knights was Dudley Robinson, the son of Molly Robinson, who visited the castle every week for 37 years, becoming known nationwide as Britain’s most loyal customer. Molly’s weekly treat, on her 30-mile round trip, was soup, fish and chips, and two glasses of Champagne.

Chris Parkes also joined the celebrations. A former soldier and an amputee, Chris was part of the world’s biggest wedding skydive at Langley Castle alongside his nine groomsmen in July 2023.

Various contributors to Northumberland’s tourism sector were also in the group, including Nigel and Catherine Jarvis, and Sonja Gregory. Alongside them was Judy Willis, the former organiser of Northumberland County Show and a major supporter for Langley Castle’s launch of Northumberland Day.

The youngest community knight was Thomas Leadbitter, aged 5, who has set himself eight challenges including hikes and five-mile bike rides to raise money for Wark Primary School’s playground.

The community knights took turns to ring a bell to signify a year in Langley Castle’s history, before all 40 rang their bells simultaneously, orchestrated by Hexham town crier Helen Barrow.

On the same day, four pupils from Haydon Bridge’s Shaftoe Trust Academy planted four of 40 trees, while guests were able to abseil down the 90ft castle walls, enjoy historic storytelling from the Time Bandits, see archive footage of Langley Castle projected inside the castle, watch Northumberland clog dancing, hear a Northumbrian piper, and enjoy castle tours.

The occasion was also a chance for the team to say thank you to many long-serving staff members.

Those who picked up awards included deputy manager Bob Rutherford (32 years), head housekeeper Lorraine Findlay (29 years), housekeeping supervisor Julie Kerrigan (26 years), reception manager Jessica Rutherford (23 years), food and beverage manager Aiden McGuinness (15 years), kitchen porter Danny Harris (12 years), housekeeper Natalie Findlay (11 years), assistant food and beverage manager Daniel Watson (nine years), assistant food and beverage manager Adam Urwin (seven years), waitress Barbara Young (seven years), groundsman Stephen Clemmitt (five years), and head kitchen porter Matthew Wilson (five years).

“We have celebrated all the factors that have made us a vibrant Northumberland business from the moment we opened our doors in 1986. This includes our interaction with our local community and the dedicated service provided by our loyal employees,” said general manager Mohamed Serag. “We have a whole year of celebratory initiatives planned, so if you have not yet discovered Langley Castle, it’s time to put that right.”

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