Matfen Hall Country House

My sister and I spent half a day at the spa, and the whole experience was fantastic. The spa staff were brilliant, and everyone was friendly and welcoming. We had an excellent five-star meal, too. The hotel is tastefully decorated, with several beautiful rooms to relax in, lovely furnishings, log fires in many of them and stunning views.

The massage was good, and the hotel itself is beautiful, but the spa day didn’t feel like the relaxing treat we’d paid a lot for. The spa is very dated. There was no water in the tiny, very rusty fridge by the pool, and the Jacuzzi was out of order. Lunch was poor, with few choices and very stingy portions, even though we’re not big eaters. We were also charged a £1 service fee for ordering two Cokes. Overall, the Spa Retreat day with my friend yesterday was very disappointing.

We treated ourselves to a stay for our 10th anniversary and babymoon, and Matfen Hall made it really memorable. From dinner at the Cloisters to the spa treatments, everything was perfect. The room felt serene and was spotless, and the staff had thoughtfully left a comfy pregnancy pillow without us asking. At 35 weeks, I really appreciated that. We were welcomed with drinks, our bags were taken to the room, and the team took extra care to talk through dinner plans with us. Nothing could have disappointed. Thank you all at Matfen Hall. We can’t wait to come back.

We’ve just come back from what must be our seventh stay at Matfen Hall, and it’s firmly our go-to whenever we’re in Newcastle. Somehow it feels luxurious and deeply cosy at once, and we leave looking forward to the next visit every time. Can’t wait for the new Spa to open, and we’ll see you in summer for it! Even though we booked at the last minute, everything was perfectly arranged for our arrival. There was champagne in the room, and our dog already had a bed and treats. Liam at the front desk and the girls deserve a special thank you. They make everything seamless, from arranging dinner at Cloisters to making sure we could have breakfast with the dogs in the dog-friendly area. Those thoughtful touches make Matfen feel welcoming rather than restrictive. We love the Hall’s decor and atmosphere, with its lovely mix of heritage and comfort. It all feels considered and elegant, with fires crackling as you walk through, and the grounds are beautiful for walks year-round. The staff are also happy to take our dogs out around the grounds during our stay, which means we can relax over dinner or explore without worrying. Nothing feels like too much trouble, the answer is always yes. Our room is always lovely and we always feel spoilt. With valet parking, we just pull up and everything is taken care of within minutes. Thanks for another beautiful stay, truly five stars every time.