Matfen Hall Hotel, Golf & Spa

We were last here 2 years ago and we were blown away with the changes to the place in this short space of time. Some stunning spaces. Loved the clubhouse and Cloisters. Spa was the only area really needing attention (though by no means bad) - but they have already started building a new one! We ate in every place and loved every meal. Emeralds was very good. Desserts not to the same level as starters and mains (same in Cloisters). Pastry on our rhubarb dessert was burnt and hard. Some stunning courses though - bread and the most amazing chicken skin butter, lamb and scallop dishes real standouts. Staff all friendly. Can't wait to come back.

Matfen Hall is a great place to stay, and is set in a wonderful location. We have stayed many times and I'm sure we will stay many more. We have just returned from our latest, four night stay (09th-13th July). Unfortunately on the 11th July we found the breakfast service very poor, not what would be expected from a 5 star hotel! Breakfast started well and our main course order was taken, we noticed guests which came after us were served before us. Eventually I asked a member of the dining room staff, if we had been forgotten ( that was obviously the case) and she said 'no'. We waited a further 15 minutes and eventually we were presented with a cooked breakfast which, must have been kept warm for some time under a halogen lamp? the sausage was dry and shrivelled, the mushrooms had the texture of rubber etc. This food should not have been served, and should have gone in the bin. We entered the dining room at 09.30am and left at 11am (after all the other guests had departed) it should have been noticed that we had not been served, especially when we were seated in the centre of the dining room. We also had to request butter, milk and toast (which had previously been ordered to accompany the cooked breakfast). The toast arrived after we had finished breakfast. I came out of the dining room and made my disappointing experience known to the lady on reception. As it was 11.00am, meaning many guests were checking out, I did get the impression that she wasn't interested!!

I was recently invited to play Matfen Hall by current members who were quite literally embarrassed by the state of the golf course — and it’s not hard to see why. Once known for having some of the finest greens in the North East, Matfen has completely fallen into decline. The greens are a disgrace — covered in black mould, riddled with disease, pitted with holes, and so uneven that the ball won’t even roll in a straight line. The tees are in equally shocking condition — many of them resemble practice mats or poorly maintained temporary surfaces. Despite this, the club is only replacing 9 greens out of 18, leaving the others untouched, even though they’re also in dreadful shape. Worse still, the new greens have been designed with shape and interest, while the rest are flat, uninspired and completely out of place — making for a jarring and inconsistent round. Members were saying that there’s no clear communication about when the rest will be fixed, and members are being charged full fees to play on a substandard course. Guests not playing with members are charged £80 per round which is disgraceful. Even the £40 I paid was crazy as I wouldn't go back if it was free. You’d expect some sort of concession or reduced fee given the course is half-finished, but instead, you’re paying top dollar for what feels like a temporary municipal set-up. The truth is, the golf course is clearly not a priority here — it’s all about the hotel and spa. Meanwhile, those passionate about the game are being completely let down. Clubhouse is new but the prices are ridiculous. Why the clubhouse was prioritized above the golf course is beyond me. Golf first as this attracts people to the facility then the membership and visitors grow. If you don't prioritize golf, members leave and guests won't come and will share far and wide how bad the course is. Avoid at all costs. There are dozens of better courses across the North East offering better conditions, better value, and more respect for the sport. This is not one of them.

Writing this review from the beautiful Matfen Hall, where we've just enjoyed a truly unforgettable anniversary celebration. From the moment we arrived, we were captivated by the immaculate grounds and the warm, welcoming atmosphere. The staff have been exceptional..attentive, professional, and genuinely thoughtful throughout our stay. A special thank you to Chey, who went above and beyond to make our celebration even more memorable. We were touched to find an incredibly generous anniversary gift waiting for us in our room upon returning from dinner, a thoughtful gesture that truly elevated our experience. Our stay has been absolutely faultless in every way. We’re already looking forward to our next visit. Highly recommended for anyone seeking luxury, tranquility, and top-tier service.

Visited the golf course to play with friends. The course is in shocking condition. 9. Holes are out of play for green remodelling which is fine. But the state of the other 18 holes is shocking. The grass on the tee boxes is dead or nonexistent. The grass on the fringes of the green is all dead or again nonexistent (bare cracked soil). The green looks like they have had disease allowed to run rampant and not treated. Most of the grass is either dead or black. In a way I was lucky that I was a guest of a member so was only ripped off to the tune of £40 to play on a course no better than a goat track. Others had to pay £70 as a standard visitor - outrageous. The only positive were the fairways were good and green so it is not a water issue, it’s clearly a greens / tee box mismanagement issue. How the pro shop is not highlighting the state of the course BEFORE charging visitors to play is beyond me. The course layout has always been great when I’ve played it in the past so my advice is avoid it in 2025 until the sort the greens and tees out.

As soon as we arrived at the entrance, we were greeted by 2 members of staff. They took the bags from the car and then parked our car for us. We were shown around and made to feel very welcome. The Hall is a beautiful building and decorated to a very high standard. We enjoyed the spa and pool. We had a 3 course dinner, choosing to have the dessert brought to our room later. The menu was first class! The food was delicious. All in all, a fantastic experience.