A peep inside the Fallen Angel hotel

10:39am Friday 3rd October 2008

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TWO years ago, The Fallen Angel hotel was 12 rooms of student accommodation.

Now, after a £2m facelift, it has been transformed into a luxury getaway complete with its own Tardis, cinema room and Victorian boudoir.

North-East businessman John Marshall, the man behind Durham Pine, has converted the building in Durham City into a fun hotel where each room has a different theme.

There is a science fiction room complete with a Dalek, Cyberman and Tardis and a cinema room with two authentic movie theatre seats and a popcorn machine.

Mr Marshall lives in Durham City and undertook the project with his partner Sandra MacDonald.

The 52-year-old entrepreneur said he believes there is nothing else quite like it in the country.

"I know of themed hotels but I don't know anyone who has taken it this far," he said.

"That is typical of me. I like to get an idea and push it to extremes rather than just tinker with it."

Themes include the Cruella de Vil room, based on the character from Disney's 101 Dalmatians, which has a huge, black, sleigh-shaped bed and a sauna in the bathroom.

There is also a library room, featuring Nazi and American army uniforms, designed to transport guests to Paris at the end of the Second World War, and a New York-style self-catering apartment with a Wurlitzer jukebox.

The garden apartment is decked out with artificial turf, and the nautical room has curved floors.

The ocean-themed cafe bistro is also open to non-residents and the reception area is themed in the style of a Victorian gentlemen's club.

The other rooms in the hotel are the railway-themed Edwardian Express, the Victorian boudoir and the Dr Zhivago-inspired Russian Bride room.

Mr Marshall added: "I was trying to create an adventure for people who stay here more than just another cardboard box room, somewhere that if you came for a visit you never forget."

There are views of Durham Cathedral and Castle to the front and the university's cricket pitch and the River Wear to the rear of the hotel.

The owners expect their hotel be a favourite with people celebrating a special occasion or wanting to treat a partner, with rooms ranging from £150 to £300 per night.