Meet Laurèns Le Gal, Our New Head Pastry Chef

Having delighted countless guests at Walwick Hall Hotel with his delicious Afternoon Teas, we are delighted to announce that Laurèns Le Gal will be bringing his award-winning skills to The Orangery.

Afternoon Tea in Hexham is an already memorable experience and now, Laurèns adds a delicious French twists to a British tradition. Those new to his Afternoon Teas and those already familiar to his distinctive style can experience it alongside stunning views of our unique parkland.

Here, we sit down with Laurèns to discuss his approach and how he is looking forward to working at Matfen Hall.

What can guests expect from your Afternoon Tea in The Orangery? 

Our guests can expect seasonal, mouth-watering pastries on the top tiers. The middle tier includes fluffy, golden raisin scones and indulgent, Beaufort cheese scones and the bottom tier is where finger sandwiches, homemade sausage rolls and quiche can be found.

Freshly made every morning, each part of my Afternoon Tea is designed to be as tasty as possible for our guests.

Can you tell us how you come up with your ideas for Afternoon Tea?

For me, Afternoon Tea ideas always start with what is in season and available. But, I also get inspired a lot by Pastry Chefs from around the world, as well as from my own experiences, dishes from the past and from what I enjoy to eat myself. Mix all of these elements together and it creates a great recipe for ideas, flavour pairings and visually-pleasant pastries.

What attracts you to the challenge of working at Matfen Hall?

This is all new to me. A different kitchen, environment, equipment, etc., so becoming familiar with these is my first challenge.

I think making Matfen Hall known for its Afternoon Tea is the biggest challenge and is certainly an exciting one. Obviously, there’s more to Matfen Hall than just Afternoon Tea, with 3 other dining destinations, but it is exciting and challenging to cover all of the sweet aspects of the food on offer and to make them as delicious as possible too.

Working closely with our Head Chef is also another great source of inspiration for me, as I challenge myself to do my best in this role.

Besides joining Matfen Hall this year, what has been the highlight of your career so far? 

My time as a Pastry Chef at Walwick Hall has definitely been a highlight in my career. Being promoted to the position of Head Chef there is also something I’m proud of, as it’s something I never thought I was capable of achieving.

How would you describe your style as a Pastry Chef?

I don’t think I could say that I have one particular style, but I adopt approaches that could be seen to be ‘classic’, while I’m also willing to get out of my comfort zone and create new, original flavours that best suit the dining location.

Ultimately, I think my style is prominently French, as this is my base and it is where I come from.

In your opinion, what makes the perfect Afternoon Tea experience?

It has to include fresh, tasty food, good ambience and a beautiful environment complemented by Champagne, with you being joined by family and friends. If you have all of these things, you will be sure to have an enjoyable time.

Laurèns is clearly passionate about creating new menus that are bursting with seasonal flavours and by bringing his culinary flair to our dedicated tea lounge, diners can enjoy his Afternoon Teas alongside views of our majestic estate.

Plan your Afternoon Tea experience here.