Latest News from Matfen Hall Hotel

Matfen Hall Scoops Two Tourism Awards

Last night it was officially confirmed at the North East England Tourism Awards that Matfen Hall is the best large hotel in North East England.

At the ceremony held at the Stadium of Light in Sunderland, this independently owned and operated hotel won two of the seventeen categories "Large Hotel of the Year" category and "Business Tourism Award of the Year".

The North East England Tourism Awards, initiated by One North East, aim to showcase and award the excellent tourism providers in the region. The category of "Large Hotel of the Year" is open to all hotels with over 35 bedrooms. The "Business Tourism" category highlights the importance of the meetings industry to the region.

With 53 bedrooms, two golf courses, 7 conference rooms and extensive spa and leisure facilities Matfen Hall, near to Newcastle upon Tyne is the largest independent country house hotel in North East England. To win these awards they had to beat off stiff competition from across the North East region and demonstrate to the judges their excellence in customer care, accommodation, service, caring for the environment, staff development and training. In addition for the Business Tourism Award they showed that they have innovative programmes and 21^st century facilities to meet the needs of the business markets.

On hearing that they were the only tourism business in the North East to have been awarded two awards David Hunter, Director and General Manager of Matfen Hall was overwhelmed:

"As an independent hotel operator we strive very hard to offer the very best of accommodation and service at all times, so we are absolutely thrilled. It is a huge endorsement for all the investment and beliefs that Sir Hugh and Lady Blackett have put into their hotel. But above all these awards are for our staff and all of their hard work and commitment - we would certainly be nowhere today without them."

Commenting on Matfen's success John Sands Chairman of the North-East Tourism Advisory Board and Chair of the Judges said:

"The hotel caters very much for the modern visitors whilst retaining its regency character and many original features combined with 21^st century facilities. This is a truly magnificent hotel offering very high standards."

Increasingly more and more hotels are being bought by larger hotel groups and are losing their individuality. However, Matfen Hall continues to remain at the cutting edge of the hospitality industry.

Since opening as a hotel in 1999 Matfen Hall has gone from strength to strength. It has gone from being a small country house hotel in rural Northumberland to one of the leading independent hotels in the UK.

• In 2002 with 31 bedrooms it was awarded Best Small Hotel of the Year by the English Tourism Council.

• Last year the owners Sir Hugh and Lady Blackett undertook a £5 million expansion programme to add additional facilities and services to meet the needs of new and evolving markets.

Today Matfen Hall is still a traditional Regency mansion, however the facilities are probably the most sophisticated and up to date facilities of any hotel in the region.