A NEW hotel has opened in what used to be a Malton girls' school.

Gunter and Dagmar Schwark who run the Mount Hotel in Yorkersgate said that occupancy is already 70 per cent of its potential.

The couple, who hail from Bavaria, came with their children to Malton in 2011 and started a German Bar below the main part of the building, offering traditional German-style food as well as other dishes.

It was the first time the former St Michael’s Girls School, which was built in 1876, had been occupied for a number of years.

Just over two years ago they then opened a restaurant on the first floor, but the couple, suffered a setback when leaking water damaged part of the building which meant it had to close.

Now, following extensive refurbishment work several en-suite bedrooms have been opened and work is progressing on four more and , if all goes to plan, there is the potential to have a total of 16 rooms.

At present what used to be part of the restaurant has become a breakfast room offering full English and continental.

“If all the rooms become ready to take guests then we will open the restaurant again,” said Dagmar.

“But we need to take on more staff. It has been hard work but we are determined to make it a success and we are very pleased with the standard of work on the rooms,” she added.

A double room costs £90 a night and a single £65 and the intention is also to have a family room and a VIP room.