Matfen Hall: A 5 Star Upgrade in the Heart of Northumberland
Despite being one of the most prominent North East luxury hotels for many years, I’ll confess I hadn’t previously been to Matfen Hall before my visit last week. Known for its picturesque setting and timeless luxury heritage, Matfen Hall has recently reopened following an extensive refurbishment. Taken over by the Walwick Group, I knew it would hold a certain charm having seen the Walwick Hall updates last year, but Matfen Hall was new territory for me and I was chauffeur driven up to experience it.
That’s the first thing to mention, whether you’re visiting from the local North East area, or arriving in via train or plane, Matfen offers a chauffeur service to take you directly from door to door. A local welcome awaits before you even get there, with both drivers happy to chat about the local area and the hotel.
On a very wet July evening, we were dropped right at the door, with the concierge running out to usher us in under the giant golf umbrella. My first impressions were of this entranceway, with the fountain outside framed by the arched doorway, and the cackling fire lit in reception.
Disclaimer: I received a complimentary experience at Matfen Hall
A Matfen Hall Welcome
Heading straight through the room opened up into the fabulous Great Hall, the centrepiece originating in the 1830’s, that has in recent years been the focal point for weddings. Now with the hotel transformation that aims to improve the guest experience and journey, it can be enjoyed by everyone.
From the beginning of the Matfen Hall walkthrough, Head of Commercial Development, James O’Donnell kept prompting us to ‘look up’, and it’s impossible not to, especially in the Great Hall with its arched details, intricately designed ceiling and sweeping staircase with the grand piano at the bottom.
A family gathered around the fire on the big cream sofas by the fireplace as we passed through, looking very cosy and relaxed, despite the grandeur of the backdrop. This is what I found Matfen did well, the luxury and opulence you’d expect from a 5 star stay, but in a way that makes you feel comfortable and right at home.
Weaving between the big pillars we were shown the reception room, with huge windows overlooking the estate gardens, and another room with a ceiling it was hard to look away from. The designer had hand painted the details, with duck egg blue and gold intricacies, so that’s the level of attention to detail you can expect across the board.
Wining & Dining at Matfen
There are multiple dining spaces at Matfen Hall, the first and prime spot being the stunning Emerald Restaurant, in what used to be the library. Rows upon rows of old books line the shelves along the walls, surrounding a huge carved feature fireplace, and deep emerald dining chairs coming together to give the room a very warm, plush feel.
Here you can enjoy a grand but relaxed dining experience or Sunday lunch, with views across the parkland and menus consisting of seasonal dishes made from a lot of locally sourced ingredients. You can see current menu samples on the Matfen Hall website here.
Following on from the Emerald Restaurant we came to the Sapphire Room, similar in style except for the colour as the Emerald Restaurant, but this room offers a private dining experience for up to 16 people. Ideal for a business group, or celebrating an occasion with all the family.
There are a number of other smaller break off rooms and lounges to relax in pre or post dinner, but for me the one I’d be heading to would be the 1832 bar. One of the most striking rooms with jewel coloured armchairs, oak features, and another very ornate beautiful ceiling. Here you can enjoy a cocktail, glass of champagne, or perhaps their signature 1832 gin.
Through to the Orangery, this pale green, airy vibe is perfect for the afternoon tea experiences served here. I couldn’t believe it when we were told that the entrance to Matfen had previously been just by here, in a side entrance and you had to then go outside to get to some of the rooms. The Great Hall is a much more welcoming arrival, but not only that the new areas that have been developed have brought the outside in.
Glass ceilings and wooden beams of similar design to the Great Hall have been added to the stretch of Matfen that was previously outside, in some of the biggest changes they’ve done recently. The modern additions blend naturally into the elegance of the place, adding a lot of light but still retaining the old fashioned charm. It’s been done tastefully, and doesn’t stick out like a sore thumb in comparison.
This seating area with beautiful lighting leads through to The Cloisters, which is a stunning new restaurant and bar, with a mezzanine addition too. James talked us through how much work had been done here to move the kitchens, and improve the flow of the hotel. No more dashing between buildings in the rain. He said this ‘significant refurbishment was about maximising what space already existed and adding and replicating the historic beauty to previously unused areas.’
It’s very striking and a lovely intimate space to have dinner or enjoy a drink from the bar, which people were doing as we passed through. Before we joined them to enjoy dinner here ourselves too, we went into the wine cellar for a glass of champagne, and to meet the Head Sommelier who has been working extensively with the staff on the wine offering.
She talked us through her experience as we sipped the bubbles, before she joined the staff looking after us for dinner to help pair our wines with our meal.
We enjoyed dinner up on the mezzanine with The Cloisters menu, a huge selection again with many locally sourced dishes. James joined us, and it was so interesting to hear about his longstanding experience in luxury hospitality, as well as the vision they all have for Matfen Hall going forwards and how it’s coming to life, especially since the refurbishment.
They’re aiming for unparalleled luxury, but in a way that doesn’t leave anyone feeling intimidated or out of their depth. They can look after you and give you a memorable stay whether you’re a frequent visitor to this level of hotel, or if you visit for unique special occasions. I’d say they’ve achieved it, and the Sommelier definitely adds to this experience.
As we chose our courses, Craster smoked salmon for me to start, with a couple ordering haggis, and the cheese souffle for James, she discussed our tastes with us, and brought us each a wine to suit.
Often I find portions can be on the smaller side, but these weren’t at all. My starter was delicious, followed by a fabulous rib-eye steak with garlic butter, huge chunky chips and of course a glass of red. I think almost all of us had steak, it was a real Northumberland hearty meal of superb quality.
The setting is fabulous, I kept looking around at the mix of old and new, despite being such a high spec, it was very relaxed. I’d suggest that with so many distinctive spaces to dine and drink, Matfen Hall caters to every palate and occasion, whatever you’re looking for.
When it comes to retiring for the night after you’re fed and watered – via that beautiful bar again for a nightcap I’d hope, the bedrooms are beautiful too, but it’s the bathrooms that really stood out for me, with roll top baths, underfloor heating and clean white marble. Very spacious, and with a fluffy white robe to change into.
For someone who hadn’t previously visited Matfen Hall, my impressions of it were very good. They’ve definitely had a bit of a journey to get to this point, with a change of ownership, new management coming in and renovation works causing sporadic closures. There are a few other changes in the pipeline to come, with additional finishing touches, so they’re looking forward very optimistically and with good reason.
My opinion is that often hotels of this stature can date, so it was refreshing to hear about the plans to elevate and modernise but without losing the heritage and history. It’s that which they’ve captured very well, and I found it a stunning experience. It’s somewhere you could go and escape into a different world for a few days and enjoy the luxuries. They’ve retained the timeless elegance and rich history, even with the decor upgrades which gave a very similar feeling to Walwick Hall, where I stayed last summer.
Whether you’re after a peaceful getaway to relax, a wedding venue, a unique dining experience, or a 5 star stay from which to enjoy all that Northumberland has to offer, Matfen Hall caters to all, and it very much surpassed my expectations. I’d absolutely visit again, for afternoon tea, Sunday lunch and to stay. The good news is, it is dog friendly, so they can come too – it was the first thing I asked as I know how important that can be to people too.
Further details including rooms, menus, and details of the gold course and spa facilities can all be found online on the Matfen Hall website.
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