Lumley Castle is a magnificent castle situated near Chester-le-Street in County Durham. It was built in 1392 as a manor house and was later converted by Sir Ralph Lumley to the castle that can be seen today. In 1972 the Earl of Lumley enlisted the 'No Ordinary Hotels' group' and they are the new tenants of the Castle. The group has turned the castle into a renowed and luxurious historic hotel famous for its Elizabethan Banquets.