Enjoy Luxury At A Leisurely Pace At Rockliffe Hall Hotel, England

Rockliffe today

The house was purchased by Steve Gibson, owner of Middlesbrough Football club, in 1997, after it had fallen into disrepair, and over time was developed into the range of facilities you see today. The picturesque 18-hole championship golf course covers 400 acres or 161 hectares and is one of the longest and most challenging courses in Europe.

Rockcliffe is ideal for a short break, weddings, or even a day visit to the spa or one of the three restaurants, it has something for everyone. It is a five-star luxury experience with first-class service and facilities. Conferences and meetings can be catered for at the Rockcliffe suite, which has its own entrance.

There are sixty one bedrooms in total with forty in the main hotel and the rest in the substantial newer extension. The rooms have huge comfortable beds and there are botanical prints and references everywhere as the original Victorian family collected and planted rare and unusual trees which are now flourishing in Rockcliffe’s extensive grounds at full maturity. The meeting rooms and floors are named after trees and there is a tree trail featuring little plaques which create a trail around all the different trees on the estate which start with different letters of the alphabet - it’s called ‘the alphabet of trees.’

The rooms are very spacious with tea and coffee making facilities, slippers, robes and complimentary water in the fridge. There is even a TV in the wall above the bath!

A very special spa

The spa here is a real treat. A lovely large pool with art deco style stained glass windows which reflect in the water is complemented by steam rooms, a sauna and a hydrotherapy pool with five different types of jets of water rotating on a timer. A new part of the spa is the Spa Garden, which is an additional outdoor section with heated hot tub and infinity pool overlooking the grounds. During a two-hour window, a butler offers you coffee, herbal teas and snacks as you relax in your pool with a view or on the heated loungers. There are also luxurious treatment rooms and I was lucky enough to try a NEOM treatment, which is a spa range developed locally. You choose an aromatherapy candle with a scent that you like, and that becomes the basis of your treatment. The candle is then lit to create a melted shea butter massage oil. I chose a lavender-based one which was for Tranquility. You could also have chosen Energise, De-stress or Happiness options. There will be no trouble relaxing after this excellent aromatherapy full body massage. If massages aren’t your thing and you prefer to work out, there is a full fifty-piece techno gym on site for the more energetic.

Dining options at Rockcliffe Hall

There are three options for food at Rockliffe Hall. The less formal Brasserie, which is above the spa, leans towards a more relaxed atmosphere with live music. The clubhouse restaurant, with its attractive grass roof and Gastropub style. Last but definitely not least is Rockliffe’s fine-dining option, the Orangery. We started the evening with a delicious classic cocktail in the bar and then moved through to the airy restaurant which was the original orangery in the old hall. The Orangery is very much a food destination in itself and we sampled the seven-course surprise menu with wine pairings for each course. This kind of wine tasting is known as a flight of wines. Our sommelier was very informative and entertaining and he really made the experience special for me. Each course was beautifully presented with an appropriate wine for the food. A light white Rompone for the fish course. A Torrentes red to accompany the Northumbrian lamb and a heavier sweet dessert wine to complement the last course of the meal. This type of dining is really occasion dining. You can’t hurry proceedings and you need to savour the explosion of flavours and how they work with the chosen vintage. Chef Richard Allen was poached from the Grand Hotel in Jersey (along with a few other staff!) and rumour has it that a Michelin star may be on the cards for this exceptional restaurant.