Planning permission for £600,000 Honest Lawyer hotel upgrade Picture: STUART BOULTON PLANNING permission has been granted to transform an award-winning County Durham hotel. STR Enterprises have received planning permission for a major upgrade to the Honest Lawyer Hotel at Croxdale Bridge, near Durham city. Situated just off the A167, the 3 and AA Rosette hotel had acquired an enviable reputation not only as a base for visitors to Durham, but also for its restaurant. Like most hospitality venues, however, the coronavirus pandemic had forced the Sanderson family, owners of the hotel, to reconsider their offer in the light of potentially ongoing restrictions and changing trends in weddings and other functions.