Words by Mary Isokariari
Tucked away in the heart of rural Northumberland, the expansive Grade II listed Matfen Hall is a true escape to a luxurious world. Steeped in rich history, this 65-bedroom, 19th century gothic style stately home offers luxurious accommodation, excellent cuisine, top spa and wellness facilities and a challenging championship golf course.
Hotel
Surrounded by 300 acres of parkland, Matfen Hall was owned by the Blackett family since the 1830s. In 1999, Sir Hugh Blackett and Lady Blackett opened Matfen Hall as a country house hotel with 31 bedrooms. During a phase of refurbishment in 2004, the number of bedrooms was increased while leisure facilities and a spa were also installed.
The hotel closed briefly before it was reopened by its new owners, the Walwick Estate Group. After a multi-million-pound refurbishment to bring Matfen Hall up to modern standards, the luxury suites and classic rooms have been designed with a modern twist on tradition. A new restaurant space was added in the Cloisters and extensive upgrades were made to the Great Hall, dining and bar areas, and bedrooms, while still retaining Matfen Hall’s charm.
Room
Every room has a view, either over the parkland, the golf course, Le Jardin Hollandaise or the estate’s church. I had to switch rooms due to an issue with flies, which the staff were very accommodating about. I struck gold with my suite, located in the magnificent Great Hall under original high ceilings. My new room was grand with beautiful large windows overlooking the lush parkland, underfloor heating, and lavish bespoke furniture crafted by local craftsmen. Champagne upon arrival was a nice touch, and I didn’t want to leave.
The Emperor-sized bed with Egyptian cotton sateen sheets and Lansdowne Cashmere mattresses were very comfortable. The luxurious marble bathroom had a large walk-in shower, a large standalone roll-top tub, and Penhaligon’s of London toiletries. It was so quiet you could hear a pin drop; there were no outside noises, or interruptions from wandering guests making themselves at home, which added to the serenity of Matfen Hall.
Food and drink
As a champagne enthusiast, I was delighted to taste a selection of exquisite bubbles held downstairs in the wine cellar located below the Great Hall. The intimate champagne tasting was a memorable experience, sampling multiple award-winning wines including Laurent-Perrier’s Grand Siècle, Prestige Cuvée unique in Champagne, named to honour the reign of Louis XIV. Other bottles included Laurent-Perrier La Cuvee Brut, Laurent-Perrier Blanc de Blancs, and Della Vite, a vegan prosecco from sisters Chloe, Poppy, and Cara Delevingne.
Guests can choose from five spaces to drink and dine in. A winding staircase leads to the Cloisters Restaurant and Bar which serves made-to-order breakfast, followed by an all-day menu with a grill and seafood theme, underneath a glass roof allowing for a view of the Great Hall’s stained-glass windows.
Emerald Restaurant, a former library, with an intricately decorated ceiling, offers amazing views of the estate. It’s headed up by Ernst Van Zyl, who also worked at the iconic Heston Blumenthal Fat Duck restaurant, and brings 25 years of culinary experience with him.
Dishes on the six-course tasting menu are locally sourced. Dinner began with amuse-bouche, which means ‘it amuses the mouth’ in French, in the form of a single, bite-sized hors d’œuvre. The caramelised onion gougère with rosemary paired with four different champagnes including Laurent-Perrier La Cuvée Rose, Laurent-Perrier La Cuvée, Champagne France Brut NV and Champagne France, NV.
For my starter, the local lobster tail with lemon, capers and dill was served with a selection of wines such as Bekaa Valley Lebanon. Since I’m allergic to shellfish, I had an alternative which was just as delicious. For the main, beef Wellington served with forest mushroom duxelles, bordelaise jus, and baby summer vegetables was delicious. Californian and Spanish wines such as Macan Rothschild and Vega Sicilia accompanied the meal.
Dessert was plentiful, with a choice of mint ice cream as a pre-dessert. I skipped this due to being dairy-free and went straight to crispy chocolate mousse. The main dessert was strawberries and cream and coconut, spiced strawberry sorbet, and was a delightful treat. It went well with Finca Antigua Moscatel, a white wine with a characteristic lemony green colour, along with a few other Spanish and Italian wines. Meanwhile, the cheese platter was filled with Morangie brie and quince jelly, caramelised walnut tuille and was served with Port including Taylor’s 10-Year-Old Tawny Port.
After-dinner cocktails took place by the fireplace in 1832, a decadent bar crafted from rich oak and adorned with stunning intricate plasterwork, leather-topped stools, estate views and a velvet blue sofa.
Afternoon tea on the Sunday was served in The Orangery, a pastel-coloured dining area. The sun beamed brightly through the large, beautiful glass-paned walls, with views of Le Jardin Hollandaise, which made the experience even better. Free-flowing Laurent-Perrier alongside a selection of loose-leaf Newby teas, I ended up taking a goody bag home with scrumptious treats.
Spa and wellness
No luxury weekend is complete without a trip to the spa, The newly refurbished ‘Retreat’ Spa features five treatment rooms, an eight-bed relaxation room, an aromatherapy suite, a sauna, Jacuzzi, and an impressive 15-metre pavilion pool. Guests can enjoy lavish world-renowned Germane de Capuccini and Natura Bissé beauty and body treatments as well as indulgent massages.
To do
The 27-hole championship golf course at Matfen Hall is impressive. Rated as one of the finest in Northeast England, it features a Par-3 short course, golf driving academy and driving range to give guests the ultimate experience. I tried my hand at the sport for the first time and surprised myself. A young boy beside me looked like he had been playing for a long time, his father, clearly an expert, kindly gave me some swinging tips on how to chip the golf ball in the hole.
There are many attractions nearby such as the Vindolanda Writing Tablets, one of the North East’s most famous tourist attractions. It’s an incredible exploration of the ongoing discoveries and accounts of Roman life with live excavations taking place every year. It lies in the beautiful landscape of World Heritage Site Hadrian’s Wall, which stretches from Newcastle upon Tyne to Cumbria, and was built to guard the wild northwest frontier of the Roman Empire.
In a nutshell
Matfen Hall is the perfect place for couples, families, and friends to escape real life and indulge in ultimate luxury. Indulge in the finer things in life and immerse yourself in the true meaning of relaxation and rejuvenation. Don’t be surprised to see a helicopter on the lawn, a sign of opulence and the type of guests who stay here.
Factbox
Getting there – Matfen Hall is within easy reach of Newcastle, a 15-minute drive for central rail and air links and offers chauffeur transfers directly to the hotel.
Address: Matfen Hall Hotel, Matfen, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE20 0RH
Phone: 01661 886500
Email: info@matfenhall.com
Website: matfenhall.com
Photography courtesy of Matfen Hall.
