Crisp mornings, dark starlit nights and spooky Halloween fun – October is a month of true magic.
And at Matfen Hall it was a month of special celebrations, family fun and time spent in the beauty of our countryside estate, transformed by autumn’s rich palette. So, join us to take a look at October on the Estate.
Autumn Magic
In our beautiful part of the world, October brought autumn in its fullest and most enchanting finery. Burnished by soft brushstrokes of copper, deep burgundy and ochre, Northumberland’s hills and forests are transformed by colour.
On our 300-acre estate, guests woke to mornings gilded by frost and were enticed outside to explore the mature woodland and spectacular scenery of our grounds. Crunching through falling leaves with the scent of woodsmoke in the air, it proved a perfect (and popular) way to start the day before returning to relax, coffee in hand, by a crackling fire.
Spooky Season
For little witches and wizards October meant one thing – Halloween! And, at Matfen Hall we had a full cauldron of spooky fun for all ages.
Families were invited to brave our outdoor Halloween Trail, exploring all corners of the gardens to uncover ghoulish and fantastically silly facts, solve the puzzle and win a special treat (no tricks!).
In our historic hall, little monsters unleashed their messy side with creepy crafting sessions, got creative behind the bar with Potion Making mocktail classes and settled down to the best of the season with Halloween-themed family movies.
Explore our family-friendly features to plan your next getaway to Northumberland.
Sparkling Celebrations
In October we had the honour of hosting a very (very) special occasion – a 100th birthday.
The birthday girl arrived to the Great Hall to a surprise rendition of ‘Happy Birthday’ on our grand piano, a bouquet of flowers and a warm welcome from the hotel team before sitting down to a celebratory Afternoon Tea with her family in the Drawing Room.
October the 25th was Global Champagne Day and we celebrated in sparkling style, with bottle upon bottle of vintage Laurent-Perrier making its way from the wine cellar as guests enjoyed tasting flights and champagne cocktails in our historic 1832 bar.
Bespoke Events
At Matfen Hall, our exclusive, corporate events and stays are tailor-made to your needs. And, this month we had a wonderful two-day event incorporating sunrise yoga sessions in The Orangery each morning and culminating in a glamorous 1920s-themed event in The Vault – complete with a live band.
From timeless country pursuits and bespoke golf days to fine dining and opulent gala evenings, our dedicated team will be happy to help you plan your perfect event at Matfen Hall – get in touch to get started.
Looking Ahead
It may be starting to feel like winter outside, but our Gardening Team is always thinking ahead – and they’ve got spring in their sights.
The new garden areas around The Keepers clubhouse have been planted with mature specimen trees and shrubs to create a canopy structure and immerse the lodge building in an atmospheric woodland setting.
Mixed ornamental herbaceous perennials, ferns, grasses and seasonal bulbs have been planted alongside. With palette of burnt orange and vibrant pink tones to contrast the contemporary anthracite shade of The Keepers building, the planting is designed to expand our existing gardens and offer seasonal colour all-year-round.
October was truly enchanting, and we’ve got so much to come in November and December at Matfen Hall. Sign up to receive our newsletter and be the first to hear of upcoming events and special offers.
Image credit: @northumberland_adventures