- Christmas
- 31st Oct 2025
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Christmas at Matfen Hall: wreath making workshops, festive feasts and seasonal stays
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‘Tis the season for roaring fires, mulled wine and making magical memories – and nowhere captures that festive feeling quite like Matfen Hall.
Set within 300 acres of Northumberland countryside and just over half an hour away from Newcastle, this five-star award-winning country estate transforms into a winter wonderland every December. Think roaring log fires, lavish decorations and indulgent festive feasts.
Fresh from a multi-million-pound refurbishment and crowned Best Countryside Hotel in the Condé Nast Johansens Awards for Excellence, Matfen Hall is Christmas done the luxury way — expect champagne receptions, artisan feasts and festive stays.
So, whether you’re planning a romantic rural retreat, a family escape filled with magic and mince pies or a glamorous New Year’s celebration, here’s why Matfen Hall should be top of your festive wish list this winter.
THE LUXURY WREATH-MAKING MASTERCLASS
Friday 28th November or Friday 5th December 2025
Cost: £100 per person (Christmas lunch included)
There’s something so satisfying about stepping into the season with creative Christmas crafts – and Matfen Hall’s luxury wreath-making masterclass is the perfect way to do it.
Hosted by local florist Kate from Northumbrian Flowers, these hands-on workshops invite you to design your own festive wreath using seasonal blooms and botanicals sourced right from the heart of Northumberland.
With professional guidance and a relaxed, festive atmosphere, it’s a dreamy December day out — finished with a delicious Christmas lunch in the Sapphire dining room overlooking Matfen’s gorgeous frost-dusted grounds.
FESTIVE FEASTS THAT FEEL LIKE A CELEBRATION
When it comes to dining, Matfen Hall knows how to do Christmas properly — indulgent, elegant and with a range of restaurants to choose from. Across its glamorous Cloisters Bar and Restaurant, the refined Emerald Restaurant and the cosy Keepers, festive menus take centre stage.
Expect classic dishes elevated with fine-dining flair: think roast turkey with chestnut stuffing, 45-day aged fillet of Hereford beef, or woodland mushroom wellington for the veggies. And for pudding? The dark chocolate and cherry crémeux with amaretto cherries might just be all you want for Christmas this year.
Whether you’re gathering friends for a pre-Christmas catch-up or settling in for the big day itself, Matfen’s festive dining experiences — from Christmas Day Lunch in Cloisters to Emerald’s five-course feasts — promise something unforgettable.
And if you’re around earlier in December, Keepers’ festive menus pair comforting seasonal favourites with relaxed country charm – a perfect day out during the Christmas countdown.
A MAGICAL VISIT FROM FATHER CHRISTMAS
Friday 5th, Saturday 6th, Sunday 7th, Friday 12th, Saturday 13th, Sunday 14th and Saturday 20th December 2025
Cost: £40 per child (with each additional child £20)
If you’re bringing the little ones along, don’t miss the chance to make their Christmas truly unforgettable. Father Christmas himself will be visiting Matfen Hall on select dates throughout December, welcoming children to his festive workshop for stories, hot chocolate and a special gift.
It’s a heart-warming experience that captures the magic of the season — and the perfect excuse for a family day out in Northumberland’s prettiest setting.
A LUXURY CHRISTMAS ESCAPE TO REMEMBER
If ever there was a year to swap the stress of cooking and hosting for total luxury, this is it. Matfen Hall’s two-night festive stays are the ultimate way to experience Christmas in style — complete with Champagne receptions, live music, festive feasts and cosy fireside moments.
The Emerald Two-Night Festive Stay
Wednesday 24th – Friday 26th December 2025
Cost: from £2,190 per room
You’ll arrive to mulled wine and mince pies, enjoy a five-course dinner on Christmas Eve, and wake up to an à la carte breakfast before your champagne and canapé reception and delicious Christmas Day lunch. Expect every detail to be taken care of, from gifts in your room to late check-out on Boxing Day.
The Cloisters Two-Night Festive Stay
Wednesday 24th – Friday 26th December 2025
Cost: from £1,840 per room
Prefer something a little more laid-back but just as luxurious? The Cloisters Two-Night Festive Stay offers the same impeccable service with a slightly more relaxed feel — think board games by the fire, Christmas films in The Vault and dining in the welcoming Cloisters Bar and Restaurant.
Whichever you choose, this is a Christmas where you can sit back and let the five-star magic happen.
SEE IN THE NEW YEAR IN STYLE
Wednesday 31st December 2025 – Thursday 1st January 2026
Cost: from £1,250 per couple
Once the tinsel has settled, Matfen Hall keeps the sparkle alive with its New Year’s Eve Gala – a black-tie affair that’s all about glamour, live music and champagne.
Expect Laurent-Perrier bubbles, a five-course dinner, a live band and a piper leading the countdown to midnight before an impressive fireworks display lights up the sky over the estate. Stay overnight and wake to an à la carte breakfast and full spa access to start 2026 the right way.
Rachael Ellis
Head of Content
After gaining a first in her BA Media and Journalism degree at Northumbria University, Rachael worked at Newcastle’s leading regional newspaper with her stories being picked up in national and global newspapers. She spent two very successful years giving a voice to those communities across the North East who otherwise…
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