THE STUNNING gardens and floral displays at Durham’s Ramside Hall Hotel, Golf and Spa has have been voted the best in the North East.

The hotel has long been recognised for its stunning landscaping and flowers, having previously won a number of awards.

And this year is no exception, having taken the gold medal in the Hotels and Guest Houses category of this year’s Northumbria in Bloom competition along with being voted Best in Class.

The flowers at the hotel are grown at Ramside’s own nurseries based at their sister hotel, Hardwick Hall, where much of the vegetables and fruit used in the kitchens are also produced.

The hotel has previously won the gold medal but this is the first time it has received the ‘Best in Class’ for its sumptuous displays.

John Adamson, owner of Ramside Hall Hotel, Golf and Spa is delighted with the result.

“Creating that wow factor outside as well as inside the hotel has always been important to us,” he said.

“And it comes from years of love and care by our head gardener, Harry Howe, who is completely committed to making sure our gardens always look perfect.

“The outside surroundings are a really important of the Ramside experience, particularly as we’re set in 350 acres of grounds.

“We are thrilled that Northumbria in Bloom has recognised the hard work that goes into creating these gardens and that they have acknowledged it by not only giving us the gold medal but naming us best in class.”