What is Bannatyne’s Darlington known for?
Health and wellness: Bannatyne is famous for its spas and gyms, and guests of the Bannatyne Darlington will get privileged access to the sumptuous spa, with its pool, relaxation and Elemis treatments, as well as the state-of-the-art two-level health club, less than a mile’s walk from the hotel. Bannatyne has over 2,600 employees, working across 72 health clubs and spas, 4 hotels and its Head Office in Darlington. In the financial year ending 31 December 2020, Bannatyne received a variety of goods and services from over 900 suppliers and spent approximately £51m.The health club and hotel conglomerate helmed by former Dragons’ Den star Duncan Bannatyne has posted record sales and a surge in profits for 2024. Bannatyne Group has reported revenue of £149.Duncan Bannatyne, the savvy Scottish panelist on BBC 2’s hit show Dragons’ Den, has trumped any deal he might make on the programme by acquiring health and fitness chain LivingWell from Hilton International for £90m in cash.
What is the history of the Bannatyne Hotel Darlington?
Bannatyne Hotel, Darlington was originally a town house, built in 1804 by Edward Backhouse. It was bought by Joseph Pease, the railway pioneer and first Quaker Member of Parliament, in 1826 and used as a family home. The town is home to many notable landmarks, including Darlington Abbey, St Cuthbert’s Church, and the Darlington Railway Centre and Museum. Darlington is also known for its association with the birth of the railways, as it was here that the world’s first passenger railway service began operating in 1825.
What is the nickname for Darlington?
The track’s nickname, Lady in Black, comes from Darlington being the first paved track in NASCAR. It also refers to the difficulty of racing here. Darlington is a narrow track and, combined with its egg shape, is much more challenging than most race tracks. Over the past 75 years, Darlington has earned the nicknames “The Lady in Black” and “The Track Too Tough to Tame” for good reason: It’s one of the most difficult circuits on the NASCAR Cup Series schedule, which also makes it a true prize for drivers who win there.In 1965, after Darlington Raceway was resurfaced for the first time since it opened 15 years earlier, hall of fame NASCAR sports writer Benny Phillips coined the phrase The Lady in Black, to describe the 1. NASCAR. And it stuck.