MatfenhallAvis 

The worst, but most expensive afternoon tea I have ever had. I visited yesterday with my 2 friends to have afternoon tea. It was booked about a month ago and they wanted the full amount up front, not just a deposit. The cost was £45 per person, and this did not include any alcohol.
Normally, when you have afternoon tea you get a little menu telling you what is what. If you don't, then when the server brings the afternoon tea they give you a run down. We received neither. Someone came and asked us what we would like to drink and brought this to us. Shortly after the afternoon tea arrived. There was 1 on one serving plate and 2 on the other. When we were looking at what we had we realised that there were some things missing from the one with the 2 servings on. We had to wait quite a while before a member of staff came into the room. We advised that some things were missing and they looked at us as if we were lying. I thought they were going to ask if we had eaten them. For £45 I want everything I have paid for.
Comparing what we got to other afternoon teas this was smaller. There were 2 finger sandwiches, a small bun, small quiche and the thinest sausage roll I have seen. One sandwich was coronation chicken, one was grated cheese with some orange (presumed tomato) accompaniment. The little bun was crab and I am not sure what the quiche was. The chicken was chewy, the orange tomatoy dressing was awful and the bread was dry and stale, the crab had been drowned in lemon. There were 2 scones, one cheese and one blueberry - both were dry and dense. The 3 tiny cakes were something with caramel and honeycomb on the top. A little pot of something with rhubarb in and the 3rd one was a little cracklin choux bun with cream. This was so dry, it just crumbled. It felt like some things had maybe been previously made, frozen and defrosted. Or maybe they had been standing out in the kitchen for too long.
We were there just over 2 hours. No staff came to check on us and ask how things were going. We had to wait for a member of staff to come into the room so we could ask for some more tea. This was the same member of staff who we had asked for the missing items. We asked for more tea and some tap water. They looked at us and practically spat out "tap water". Anyone would think we had asked for free champagne.
So overall, terrible service, poor experience food.
They maybe want to have a look at hiw Jesmond Dene house do afternoon tea. We recently had afternoon tea in the Lakes. It was £35 and was far superior to what we had at Matfen Hall.

I have just checked current reviews. Not good at all. My wife and I were at the keepers lodge for the second time in a matter of weeks yesterday. I thought the first time we visited the service must be just a one off. Yesterday we returned for a drink, the service was terrible. The staff weren’t even interested in taking our order. I had to go to the bar, even though we were given menus at the table.

We had our daughter’s wedding at the venue when the ownership was the previous family. First class it was. You need to wake up Matfen Hall. (I was a golf member also). I won’t be going back in a hurry.

Sadly the good staff are let down by bad management and a lack of care.
We stayed over Christmas and whilst reception and the porters were great the front of house in the restaurant seemed very badly run. Slow to react, insensitive to allergies and even not delivering breakfast one morning. (Well they did after over and hour but it was hurried and inedible). The worst though is that feedback to the management have been completely ignored. I raised it at the time but no manager appeared and wrote to them 3 times to let them know there was a problem. I was assured it was passed to the General Manager but no response. Clearly they don’t care. All bad service can be quickly traced to bad management. It’s a real shame it undermines everything they are trying to do here

Date of stay 11.1.24 - 12.1.24

Me and my husband recently enjoyed a 2 night stay to celebrate my 50th birthday.

From arriving at the hotel, from being greeted with welcome drinks to checking out this ‘beautiful’ place exceeded our expectations.

We were staying in one of the newly refurbished rooms opposite the retreat and it was absolutely stunning as was the hotel and grounds.

We dined in the Cloister’s restaurant both nights, the food was out of this world - wow!. Not one single fault - compliments to the chef.

I couldn’t recommend this hotel enough, there’s not a single thing we would have changed - well maybe staying longer!

It was a dream come true. Honestly can’t thank all the staff enough for making my 50th incredible.

I would like to say a special ‘thank you’ to two members of staff in particular. Wesley in the Cloister’s restaurant- he was fantastic on both nights. He was very knowledgeable on the menu and wine, he was passionate about what he was talking about and his job. He was an absolute diamond and a credit to your hotel.

Michael the concierge was attentive, friendly and made us feel at ease. Michael showed us around the hotel and grounds. He went out of his way on everything, even tracking down a book for me, The Ship That Came Home’ when he knew I was interested in all of that history.

Both Wesley and Michael you could tell straight away how much they put into their jobs and how much they love what they do.

We also had two spa treatments during our stay in the retreat and the girls were equally incredible in the spa, making sure everything was as special as it could be.

I can’t thank all you guys at the Matfen enough, I really didn’t want to come home. We are already booking our next stay.

Beautiful hotel in Northumberland. Went here for a stay with my partner and really enjoyed our weekend. Staff couldn’t do enough for us. Would definitely recommend to others.

As a wedding photographer, I have had the privilege of capturing countless memories at Matfen Hall and I must say, it is one of the most enchanting venues I have had the pleasure of working at. The magnificent country estate is nestled in the heart of stunning Northumberland, providing breathtaking scenery for wedding photography.
The Great Hall is the main celebration space and it is simply magnificent. It can accommodate both intimate and grand weddings, providing a warm and elegant atmosphere. I was particularly impressed with the natural light that flows into the hall, creating a stunning backdrop for the wedding ceremony.
The captivating grounds at Matfen Hall provide a romantic and intimate setting for outdoor ceremonies. The spacious lawns, surrounded by beautiful greenery, are perfect for a fairytale-like wedding ceremony. I was able to capture some breathtaking portraits of the couple in this stunning setting, and it made for some of the most memorable photos from their day.
In addition to the Great Hall and captivating grounds, Matfen Hall has a host of remarkable spaces for different parts of the wedding celebration. From intimate rooms for intimate gatherings, to grand spaces for a grand celebration, there is something for everyone at this venue.
What sets Matfen Hall apart from other venues is the exceptional personal service offered. The staff is dedicated to making each couple's dream wedding a reality. They work tirelessly to ensure that every detail is taken care of and that the day runs smoothly. This dedication to the couple and their special day is what makes Matfen Hall a truly unique venue.
In conclusion, if you're looking for a romantic and enchanting venue to celebrate your special day, look no further than Matfen Hall. With its magnificent Great Hall, captivating grounds, and exceptional personal service, it is the perfect location to begin your married life together.
Kindest regards
The Kensington Photographer