UK-based von Essen Hotels has acquired the Seaham Hall Hotel and Serenity Spa near Newcastle and The Samling hotel in the Lake District for an undisclosed sum.

The von Essen group has acquired the Serenity Spa brand, but not its offshoot, the Serenity in the City day spa concept, which has sites in Newcastle and Edinburgh, and remains with Tom Maxfield, owner of Tom’s Companies.