Luxurious Walwick Hall hotel takes over Northumberland stately home to offer guests a new destination

Walwick Hall made a statement on its Facebook page about the acquisition of Matfen Hall.

It reads: “We are pleased to announce that we've added Matfen Hall to our portfolio of Northumberland properties. Situated 10 miles from Walwick Hall in the vast Northumbrian countryside, Matfen Hall offers guests a hotel, restaurant, wedding venue, spa and golf course.

"As new owners, we plan on keeping everything guests know and love about Matfen, as well as adding some touches that have made Walwick Hall such a favourite destination in Northumberland.

"In due course, we will be publishing further news on how the addition of Matfen Hall to our portfolio will benefit our guests at Walwick Hall.”

The ancestral home of Sir Hugh and Lady Blackett, Matfen Hall, near Corbridge, was restored and opened in 1999 as a hotel.

As well as being a popular wedding venue – winning The Best Stately Home Wedding Venue award in this year’s UK Wedding Awards - it also boasts 53 bedrooms, a 27 hole championship course and Aqua Vitae spa, which recently reopened its doors for treatments.

Walwick Hall, a former stately home in Humshaugh, opened its doors as a boutique hotel in 2016 after extensive renovation work on the 18th century Grade II-listed building.

As well as Matfen Hall, the Walwick Estate Group owns Walwick Hall Country Estate and Spa and Chesters Stables in the UK with overseas properties in Europe and the Caribbean.

The group plans to continue the work of Matfen Hall’s previous owners and maintain its position as one of the UK’s most elegant and most luxurious hotels.

Walwick Estate Group chairman, David Harrison, said: “Sir Hugh and Lady Blackett have ensured that Matfen Hall has a well-earned and established reputation as an outstanding hotel, spa, golf, wedding and conference venue throughout the UK and beyond.

“It has an even longer history as a stunning venue and location with a rich North East heritage and has maintained its natural elegance while being modernised.

“We are delighted with the addition of Matfen Hall to the Walwick Estate Group, which goes from strength to strength. Matfen Hall sits perfectly alongside our other naturally beautiful and luxurious venues. Our aim is to continue Sir Hugh and Lady Blackett’s work of retaining Matfen Hall’s history while securing its future as a top destination for decades to come.”

To read our guide to the North East’s best spas see here.

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