Tom's Companies is to expand its Serenity in the City spa concept throughout the UK.

The group, which is based in the North-east, is planning three new sites this year, then five each year after that.

Chief executive Debrah Dhugga confirmed that the company hopes to find sites in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Leeds, Birmingham, Manchester and London and plans to expand into Europe once all the major UK cities are covered.

"I'm really enjoying growing the spa brand," she said. "I'm currently in negotiations for one in the South and one in the North of Britain."

Tom's Companies owns Seaham Hall in County Durham, home of the first Serenity Spa the Samling hotel in Windermere, Cumbria and two Newcastle-area restaurants, Fisherman's Lodge and Treacle Moon .

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