Matfen Hall has revealed a £250,000 refurbishment of its East Wing, making it a go-to venue for weddings and events.
Socialising just got swanky at Matfen Hall. The leading Northumberland venue is putting the L into luxe after unveiling a complete refurbishment of its East Wing.
The transformation, managed by North East interior designers and architects, Space ID, combines modern touches with the historic features of the Great Hall, Sir Edwards’ Bar and Terrace Room – as the venue embarks on its next chapter.
Bernard Bloodworth, managing director of Matfen Hall, said: “We wanted to create an air of luxury and introduce some modern touches, so that the wedding and event spaces reflect the impressive and unique feel you would expect from a well-established venue like Matfen Hall.”
The renovation has included emphasising the theatrical space in the 200 capacity Great Hall, by creating a virtual firework display of contemporary lighting on the spectacular original, oak ceiling. The sweeping oak staircase has been carpeted in opulent teal, to complement the antique mirror arches and rose window. And in Sir Edward’s Bar, guests are greeted with textured wall finishes in rich blues and greens, accented with artisan brass metalwork and Italian marble to provide a relaxing and intimate space for socialising.
“It’s a fabulous place to kick back and enjoy a G&T or one of our cocktails,” says wedding and events coordinator Victoria Patterson.
In the new-look Terrace Room, the muted colours of the decorative plasterwork on the high ceiling match the panelled walls; bespoke gold ring seats add a touch of class and the original Jacobean windows frame the spectacular backdrop of Matfen Hall gardens and golf course.
Executive head chef, Paul Blakey, has crafted a new menu that reflects the elegance of the East Wing, while still showcasing his passion for Northumberland provenance.
“We’ve redesigned the whole menu so each dish has its own identity. It’s more creative, innovative while still retaining our connections with the best producers,” says Paul, who oversees the food operations of weddings and events, the restaurant, and Matfen Spa’s Juice Bar.
“We’ve got a great team of young chefs from the region who are all passionate about working with great ingredients and delivering top-class dishes,” says the chef, who has helped gain the restaurant 2 AA rosettes.
“We love being creative. We’ve designed Caribbean and Indian menus for brides and grooms on their big day; a Geordie-themed menu and one of the biggest challenges was doing 300 covers for an event outside where we built a kitchen in a marquee.
“There’s always something different everyday and there’s nothing we can’t deliver,” says Paul.
His new menu features dishes such as roast rump of lamb, vegetables, dauphinoise potatoes and French beans and roast codling fillet with buttered carrots, pancetta, herb butter, wild mushroom and spinach sauté.
But his favourite dish from the new menu? “The slow-cooked feather blade of beef. It’s going down a treat with guests, too.”
As well as weddings, the new spaces will be used for an exciting new calendar of events including Ladies’ Lunches, Wine Nights and Tipsy Afternoon Teas. They can also be booked for private dining and corporate events.
For more information, or to book Matfen Hall, visit matfenhall.co.uk or call 01661 855712.
