Venue Review: Matfen Hall, Northumberland

Matfen Hall is a sweeping 19th-century Gothic mansion set in 300 acres of parkland, unique of its kind in “quiet county” Northumberland. Tranquility is the order of the day at Matfen Hall, a fantastical escape from the humdrum of life outside of its Grade II listed walls.

Why Book Matfen Hall?

At Matfen, experience romance as it was intended, with all of the splendid country whimsy of an Austen novel but with the added drama of a uniquely theatrical backdrop. Make full use of the opportunity for exclusive use, giving your wedding party ultimate privacy and space, but also the scope to make Matfen’s hallowed halls your own. With the team, no creative vision is off limits; the Great Hall can be transformed into a concert hall (with enviable acoustics), or, for the Scotch-lovers, the Vault Bar can be turned into a whisky lounge.

Venue Style

From the moment you walk through the 200-year-old double doors and look up to the starry ceiling of the double-height Great Hall, you are decidedly transported. Steeped in rich heritage, here you find original features from Matfen’s inception, including the Gothic entrance and Blackett coat of arms, and rich silk tapestries.

The top note here is aristo-grandeur – it is, after all, the seat of the Blackett baronets – but know that there will be no compromise on modern luxuries; renovations were completed as recently as last year, keeping the soul of Matfen intact while bringing the space bang up to date.

Set The Scene

If coming from London, travel by car, plane, helicopter, or train; the latter is a particularly scenic way to enjoy the winding seaside views of England’s East Coast. Upon arrival, a Matfen driver will pick you up – a thoughtful welcome emblematic of the attentive service they are famed for. The tone is now set, and the bar raised: the bride and groom are in the safest of hands for an unforgettable wedding weekend.

Experience the full force of the estate by taking it over with your loved ones. Celebrations can be stretched over several days to make proper use of Matfen’s 27-hole championship Golf Course, or pop down to The Retreat, Matfen’s spa, to rejuvenate after all of the excitement of the celebrations. If you would prefer to adventure outside of the bounds of the estate, make the pilgrimage to Hadrian’s Wall a mere two miles away, or stroll through Corbridge, a dinky village with Roman heritage.

Event Spaces

Your wedding ceremony can take place in the Great Hall, an unparalleled space with the sort of vaulted ceiling usually reserved for a cathedral. Look up, and you would be forgiven for thinking you’d fallen into heaven: the ceiling has been cast in sky blue, bespeckled with gold stars that create a uniquely magical flickering effect. With all of the dignity and character of a church wedding but additionally swoonworthy credentials, the Great Hall offers a singularly sublime environment to say your “I dos.” And lest we forget the opportunity to make a serious entrance, sweep your way down the enormous wooden staircase for a show-stopping moment no one will forget.

Outdoor spaces are available too, with The Pergola and Wedding Garden offering an achingly beautiful romantic canopy, the Jardin Hollandaise’s pinky-purple flowers and ornamental box hedges bringing a more formal Austen-style offering, and the happy warmth promised by the South-facing Dutch Garden.

There is also the option to have your ceremony in the neighbouring village, at the steepled chocolate box Holy Trinity Church. The church has ties to the estate itself too, originally built by Sir Edward Blackett, the 6th Baronet who built Matfen Hall.

Any of the picturesque outdoor garden spaces can be used for the champagne reception, but on a more autumnal day, make use of the Great Hall. It will be at its most romantic, flooded with the twinkling music of a grand piano against the roaring glow of the wood fire.

A Wedding Breakfast for up to 100 guests will take place in the classically beautiful Drawing Room, a space that can be exclusively yours, designed as you see fit. Here, Matfen provides the best of the best, with a silver cake stand and knife for the ultimate cake-cutting moment and a thoughtful wedding box for guests to deposit cards and small gifts.

Now for the party. One of the major perks of exclusive use of Matfen is access to the Cloisters Bar for the celebration. It is an epic and unique space with a central luminescent bar and a contemporary mezzanine overhead—an ideal spot to place a DJ. The Cloisters’ innovative design is a notable highlight, having recently been renovated to fuse old and new in the space of a courtyard, flooded with starry light from glass panels overhead. Or descend underground to the Vault Bar, a dedicated events space conspiratorially tucked away in the cellar. With exclusive use of the venue, you are free to spread the celebrations over both spaces.

The most avid partiers should also be advised there is the opportunity to extend the dancing to 1.30 am, available at an additional rate.

Food & Drink

The menu for the Wedding Breakfast is designed to include three courses with paired wines. Matfen operates on a seasonal basis, so the menus are led by ingredients and prioritise local produce, some even foraged on the estate. Consider making a selection from the wine cellar too; there are all-star bottles of Chianti Classico and heavyweight Barolos for reds; crisp Gavi Di Gavi for whites; and an enviable array of Laurent-Perrier champagnes, with Bolinger and Louis Roederer Cristal to boot.

Pizza ovens and a barbeque space are also on hand to offer more relaxed dining options to fuel hungry partygoers late into the night.

And if you decide to extend your stay, make full use of the four in-house restaurants, offering everything from elevated pub grub at the Keepers Lodge to artisanal fine dining in the grandeur of the Emerald Restaurant.

Accomodation

As the party winds down, the bride and groom are best advised to rest their heads in one of Matfen’s luxury suites. Here you feel the full force of Matfen’s five-star status: the indulgence of luxuriating white marble bathrooms (complete with walk-in shower), plush velvet-upholstered sofas, Emperor beds to get lost in (note the Lansdowne Cashmere mattresses), and as-far-as-the-eye-can-see views of the expansive green of the estate. Each has been uniquely designed, highlighting the individual quirks that are the lifeblood of a country house, like period fireplaces or antique wardrobes. No matter which suite you choose, the Matfen team knows how to spoil you: expect to find handmade Lauden Chocolates resting on your pillow, seasonal floral arrangements, and Penhaligons toiletries.

Otherwise, there are 63 unique bedrooms to choose from: the Luxury, Deluxe, Balcony, and Classic rooms. Opt for the high ceilings and ornate detailing of Luxury Rooms, or the Deluxe Rooms, with similar comforts and access to the original entrance to the Hall, the Balcony Rooms that look onto the quaint charm of Matfen village, and the light and airy Classic Rooms.

The Story

Matfen’s long history is rooted in the 13th century, when Philip de Ulcote owned ‘The Manor of West Matfen’ on the site of Matfen Hall today. Over hundreds of years, the estate passed through various hands until it came into the Blackett family by marriage in 1757.

Some years later, in 1832, Sir Edward Blackett, 6th Baronet Blackett of Newcastle in the County of Northumberland, commissioned renowned architect Thomas Rickman to re-design the house. Upon completion in 1836, Matfen was decorated with storied relics—such as double-headed pellet, first fired from the Spanish fleet onto Collingwood’s ship at The Battle of Trafalgar—and masterpiece artwork from Caravaggio to Anthony van Dyck and Peter Paul Rubens.

Wander into The Drawing Room today, and you will spot a fireplace featuring naked forms; in a particularly amusing twist, it was not originally meant for Matfen but had been ordered for Buckingham Palace. It found its place at Matfen after being deemed ultimately too risqué for the reserved palette of King William IV.

And in a spooky twist, the estate’s long history has featured rumours of the ‘grey lady’ ghost. As recently as 1995, a photographer, who had seen no such ghost upon his visit, later developed photos of the Great Hall, spotting the clear figure of a lady in a long dark cloak, standing next to the fireplace.

Eco-Friendly

Sustainability is a big-picture priority; the most recent renovation of Matfen Hall implicitly prioritised longevity, with sustainable materials like Glulam built into the fabric of the newly refreshed hotel. An eco-friendly approach is observable in the running of the estate too, with heating and hot water provided by an on-site biomass powered by local woodchips.