Last Updated on August 5, 2026
A visit to the five-star Matfen Hall in Northumberland
Matfen Hall is a luxury five-star country house hotel situated in the beautiful Northumberland countryside not far from the city of Newcastle upon Tyne. The architecture is stunning; the hotel is surrounded by spacious, three hundred-acre estate grounds complete with a championship eighteen-hole golf course, the Douglas, with a state-of-the-art, reimagined luxury spa opening soon. Matfen Hall exudes timeless elegance and tranquillity, making it a great choice for a short break or a longer stay in North East England.
The hotel, a Grade II-listed building, is thoughtfully and opulently furnished, combining period features and antique furniture with modern luxury amenities. Matfen Hall is part of the PoB (Pride of Britain) collection of exceptional independent hotels.
Originating in the thirteenth century, West Matfen Manor was built by the Sheriff of Northumberland during turbulent times. In the seventeenth century, the Blackett family took on the estate, with Sir Edward Blackett replacing the manor with Matfen Hall. The heart of the mansion, with the Gothic-style entrance and imposing full-size Great Hall, was completed in 1836.
Matfen Hall spent a period of time being used as a residential nursing home for the Leonard Cheshire Foundation, from 1965 to 1994. In 1999, Sir Hugh and Lady Blackett opened the hall as a country house hotel. In 2020, the estate was purchased by the Walwick Estate Group, who renovated the hotel to a luxury standard whilst maintaining the original features.
I was invited to Matfen Hall for an overnight stay; it delighted me from start to finish. I drove as I was already in Durham County, a short distance away. Upon arriving at the striking entrance with its stone fountain, the concierge team offered to park my car and retrieve my luggage whilst I visited the bar for a refreshing sparkling elderflower drink.
Afterwards, I made my way back to the reception desk, passing through the Great Hall. This grand space had the wow factor in abundance: stained-glass windows, an ornate ceiling, a sweeping staircase, a large fireplace, and exquisite flower arrangements. I was informed it is much sought after as a wedding venue, not surprisingly.
My room was an impressive luxury suite, with high ceilings and ornate coving, a large sofa, and a table and chairs set by the large bay windows overlooking the parkland and golf course. There was a beautiful vase of flowers on the table, a box of artisan Lauden chocolates, and a bottle of 1832 Hepple gin. A smaller side table provided tea- and coffee-making facilities, including a Nespresso machine and a packet of salted caramel cookies.
In the wardrobe there was a safe and fridge with chilled water and fresh milk. An antique telescope standing close to the windows would have been perfect for star spotting on a clear night. An Emperor-sized bed with cushions embroidered with the Matfen crest looked extremely inviting.
The opulent bathroom, with floor-to-ceiling Carrara marble, featured a large walk-in shower, a standalone bath, a chair, and a sink with Penhaligon’s Quercus toiletries. A robe and soft slippers, again with the Matfen crest, were provided.
The gardens surrounding the hotel were gorgeously maintained, with seating to soak up the view; I loved the Matfen Hall deckchairs placed close to the bar entrance. To the side of the hotel, the flower beds were full of stately foxgloves. As a keen gardener, I thought the planting was sublime.
I was booked into the Cloisters restaurant for dinner; the fine-dining restaurant Emerald was closed because I stayed on a Sunday night. The Cloisters bar has striking colourful, comfortable seating on two levels flooded with natural light from the glass ceiling above. This was an impressive space in the heart of the hotel, ideal for relaxing, have a leisurely drink, or a bite to eat.
The restaurant was a cosy and welcoming room with sea-themed prints adorning the walls.
To start, I chose some nibbles, freshly baked focaccia with olives and a glass of Côtes de Provence rosé, Château la Tour de L’Éveque 2024, an elegant and light wine, whilst I perused the menu. The focaccia was excellent, the olives plump and juicy.
For my starter, I opted for a light dish of sea-cured trout with buttermilk, horseradish and lovage. It was delicious with a great texture.
It was difficult to narrow down the main course options; I decided on the local pork chop with green peppercorn sauce and a side dish of Parmesan and truffle fries. The generous pork chop was perfectly cooked and tender; it came with a tasty field mushroom stuffed with flavoursome ox cheek.
I asked the sommelier, Donald, to suggest a glass of wine to accompany the main course as I was looking for something smooth but not too full-bodied. The glass of primitivo red from Puglia he recommended was velvety and fruity with just the right amount of depth.
A lighter dessert was needed, as the main course was substantial and filling. I plumped for the Valrhona Manjari chocolate mousse with caramel, sea salt and a chocolate tuile. This came beautifully presented, a delightful chocolatey end to my meal.
Having dined well, it was time to retire for the night. It was blissfully quiet, and the bed was very comfortable. I slept well and woke refreshed and ready to make my way home.
Breakfast was served in the Emerald restaurant. This stunning room was decorated with beautiful emerald-green wallpaper; the walls were lined with books, and yes, the comfy chairs were plush emerald green!
Breakfast was à la carte, with a choice of continental-style cereals and pastries, plus freshly cooked hot options. I chose my favourite way to start the day: homemade granola with Greek yoghurt and Matfen Hall honey along with a fresh fruit salad. The granola was crisp and crunchy, with the sweetness coming from the honey. As I had a long drive ahead, I plumped for the hot option of homemade pancakes with maple syrup and streaky bacon. I did my best but couldn’t finish it as it was bigger than I anticipated.
I had a fabulous visit to Matfen Hall and would have happily stayed longer. The setting is stunning, the rooms and service excellent in every way. This is a magnificent five-star luxury country house hotel with everything you need. I would love to revisit and experience the new spa; from a glimpse of the exterior from the grounds, it promises to be something special.
I was hosted by Matfen Hall for an overnight stay on a B&B basis in a luxury suite with dinner at the Cloisters restaurant.
With superb golfing facilities in the spacious grounds, Matfen Hall is a great destination for golfers. Hadrian’s Wall is close by and well worth a visit. Further afield, Newcastle offers good shopping, or Raby Castle in County Durham is a short drive away.
Matfen Hall is situated in the village of Matfen, easily accessible by car. Newcastle Airport and train station are a reasonably short taxi drive away. The hotel offers a chauffeur-driven transfer included with certain room types. Rooms range from luxury suites to classic double rooms or balcony rooms. Families are well catered for with the option of interconnecting rooms, classic family rooms or sofa beds in the larger suites.
Matfen Hall is part of the PoB, Pride of Britain, collection – a small number of specially chosen independent luxury hotels offering exceptional service and facilities. The PoB plaque is displayed prominently at the entrance to the hotel. Now and Then, the current campaign by Pride of Britain, focuses on the extraordinary histories of properties within the collection, as well as the ultimate luxury they offer guests today.
For more information and to make a reservation, visit Matfen Hall
Matfen Hall, Matfen Village, Northumberland, NE20 0RH.
Email: info@matfenhall.com
Telephone: 01661 886 500
To find out more about Now and Then by PoB Hotels.
Check out our Best British Boutique Hotels – Charming Hotels in the UK
Leave a Reply