A County Durham tourist attraction has announced it has closed for good due to the impact of the coronavirus lockdown.
Crook Hall and Gardens in Durham was closed for 10 weeks during the lockdown, with staff furloughed and weddings postponed.
Now, owners Maggie and Keith Bell have confirmed the business that employs 19 permanent staff and double that during holiday periods is going into liquidation.
All staff have been made redundant and future events have been cancelled.
In a statement, the couple said: “We are so very sad to let you know that Crook Hall and Gardens is about to go into liquidation.
“The economic effects of the covid-19 pandemic has given us an insurmountable challenge, especially with it beginning at the start of what we had anticipated being our best ever season, and after a winter of investment for the year ahead.”
The Grade I-listed hall and gardens is a popular tourist attraction and the medieval manor house is one of the oldest inhabited houses in Durham city.
The couple added: “We are devastated about the effect this will have on our wonderful staff and customers. It is a horrible situation. We will have to put the hall and gardens up for sale as soon as is practical.”
