'Superfan' visits Northumberland hotel for decades

Molly, who is from Alston, was one of Langley Castle's first visitors when it was transformed into a visitor accommodation in 1987 by American owner Dr Stuart Madnick.

Over the last ten years, her visits have become a 'ritual', visiting every Thursday for lunch, arriving by taxi at 12pm and leaving at 3pm.

She started coming to the hotel with her husband for overnight stays, but has continued to visit alone since his passing.

However, when family travel up from the south, she also heads to the castle for dinner in the candlelit 2AA Rosette Josephine Restaurant.

Her lunch order is always the same, starting with the soup of the day, followed by fish and chips with no tartare sauce or peas, just two mini pots of ketchup.

She also enjoys two glasses of champagne and a takeaway soup for supper.

The nonagenarian enjoys her meal in the same spot in the drawing room each week.

She makes conversation with the staff, some of whom have worked there since the hotel opened, and is particularly fond of Eilidh, a food and beverage assistant and part-time tour guide.

Langley Castle's food and beverage manager, Aiden McGuinness, said: "We are sure there is no other accommodation in Britain that has such a loyal and long-standing customer, or one who sticks to such a strict ritual every week.

"During the time Molly has been visiting, the castle has had five different managers, has had its accommodation options increased by the transformation of the former stables in the grounds, now our Castle View facility, and also had a Glass Pavilion added.

"She has made friends with countless visitors over the years and had goodness knows how many chinwags.

"Thursdays would just not be the same without her."

Langley Castle would love to hear of any other such ‘regulars’ at hotels, to see if any accommodation can trump its assertion that Molly is the 'most loyal hotel customer in Britain'.

Anyone who would like more information can find it at langleycastle.co.uk.