Opening date for multi-million pound Northamptonshire hotel pushed back to later this year

Rooms will feature a roll-top bathtub, period features, and a palette 'inspired by the surrounding countryside'.

The Falcon Hotel, in Castle Ashby, has now postponed its opening date to September.

It comes as the hotel, which has taken more than three years to build, was just one week off completion before lockdown was announced.

Owner, Lady Northampton, said: "Initially, the refurbishment works were halted completely, however, our contractors slowly returned and over the past six weeks they have made steady progress. In the last few weeks there has been a substantial pick up in works completed.

The interior design of The Falcon Hotel has been overseen by interior designer and personal friend of Lord and Lady Northampton, Jackie Blakey.

"The launch was postponed to September once we were made aware that the hospitality industry would be allowed to reopen in July.

"This was to give us additional time to assess the coronavirus climate and adjust accordingly, if required. The health, safety and wellbeing of guests, customers and employees staying, visiting or working at The Falcon is of paramount importance. September felt like right time for us."

When the country retreat opens it will boast 22 bedrooms with eight of those located in the main hotel and a further 14 rooms in the adjacent farmers cottages.

Head chef James Gordon will be in charge of the hotel's new restaurant - ‘Eyas’ - with 56 covers inside and a further 32 on a large outdoor terrace.

Lord and Lady Northampton have designed the new hotel, which was meant to open in late March, with a stand-alone wellness centre due to open next year with yoga retreats.

Lady Northampton added: "We are finalising the final details of our wild swimming offering in one of the nearby estate lakes. This is a spectacular spot and will be thoroughly enjoyed by our guests.

"We will offer yoga and meditation in our stables studio room and have bicycles and walking routes within the 10,500-acre estate so guests can explore.

"We are also actively planning to transform an area in the village into a wellness area with a large studio for yoga, barre classes, meditation, massage treatment rooms, and a health-conscious cafe. This will be open to hotel guests, non-residents, and the local community."