A Doxford Hall Hotel & Spa Review written following a 3 night stay here in the summer of 2021. This review covers: location, facilities, dining options, bedrooms and any other information which may help you decide whether this is the perfect place for you.
Location
Doxford Hall Hotel & Spa is a beautiful 200 year old mansion house situated within 10 acres of peaceful Northumberland countryside.
With the town of Alnwick just a 20 minute drive away in one direction, and the coastal villages of Seahouses and Bamburgh 15 minutes in the other, Doxford Hall provides the perfect base from which to explore some of the best locations in Northumberland.
Hotel & Facilities
The hotel and grounds are simply stunning. Externally, a tree lined driveway leads to picturesque gardens which guests are invited to use. A patio, complete with covered gazebo, is the ideal spot to enjoy an early morning coffee or pre-dinner drinks. There's also a walled area to wander through, or why not attempt to conquer the fun garden maze. It's not as easy as it looks!
Once you climb the pillar lined steps into the hotel building, rich red and gold carpets, dark wood panelling, and luxurious furnishings portray a sense of opulence.
For the ultimate relaxation, the hotel boasts a Spa, complete with pool, jacuzzi, sauna and steam room. A number of lounges provide space where guests can unwind, plus there's also a cocktail bar and main dining room which both serve food.
Dining
The George Runciman Restaurant
Whether you're planning to breakfast in preparation for the day ahead, or enjoy a candle lit meal in the evening, the award winning George Runciman Restaurant is a diners delight.
Impressive chandeliers, draped windows, and an open fireplace create a relaxing atmosphere without being overbearing.
Although we didn't have chance to dine here in the evening, it was a pleasure being able to experience the fabulous food, service and surroundings each morning at breakfast.
The a la carte menu looks both interesting and delicious, with a selection of seasonal meat, fish and vegetarian dishes available.
Bar & Lounge Menu
For a more relaxed dining experience, the Bar & Lounge Menu is available until late.
Burgers, salads, fish & chips, sandwiches, sides and nibbles can be ordered from the Cocktail Bar. Where an array of cocktail recipes above the bar entice you to sit back and relax in the comfortable surroundings, whilst sipping on one of their concoctions.
We enjoyed some late evening fun in here on our last night. The food was delicious, and although a lack of ingredients meant we couldn't order the cocktails we'd hoped for, the bottle of red we ordered did the job.
Additional dining experiences include Afternoon Tea, which can be taken in the comfort of the lounges. The George Runciman Restaurant serves Sunday Roasts, and private dining is also available. In short, Doxford Hall Hotel & Spa offer something for every occasion from formal meals to light bites.
Breakfast
Breakfast was included in the price of our rooms, and Doxford Hall Hotel certainly know how to help you start your day the right way.
A selection of cereals, pastries, fresh fruit, yogurts, and porridge are available. Together with hot offerings of Full English Breakfast, Eggs Benedict, Kippers, or Smoked Salmon Bagel. There's also various fruit juices, tea and coffee, plus white and brown bloomer toast with preserves to choose from.
The Eggs Benedict were a triumph, and, apart from a couple of rather hard potato scones one morning, the Full English Breakfast got the overall thumbs up.
Spa
As Doxford Hall had introduced a pre-bookable 1 hour time limit on use of the spa facilities during our stay, we decided to give it a miss.
If you do fancy spending some time relaxing, a pool, jacuzzi, sauna and steam room will be at your disposal.
Spa treatments are also available, and if you're looking for something a little more strenuous, there's also a small fitness suite guests are welcome to use.
Bedrooms
There are 36 bedrooms at Doxford Hall Hotel & Spa, which are all named after Northumbrian Castles.
Rooms range from Classic Twins through to Deluxe Suites. Some are dog friendly, there are 2 accessible bedrooms, and a few have sofa beds to suit family groups.
As our children are older, we opted for 2 separate rooms. Thankfully, Doxford Hall were extremely accommodating in ensuring our rooms were situated next to each other.
The hotels classic style continues through to both bedrooms with chandeliers, heavy drapes, and traditional furniture.
The children's twin room was spacious enough for 2 teenagers, and their mess! A large free standing wardrobe provided plenty of storage, there was also a dressing table, wall mounted TV, and bathroom with shower over the bath.
If you're seeking a touch more luxury and space, our Executive Double was larger in size. It housed similar furniture to that of the children's room - obviously having a double bed rather than twins.
However, the main difference was evident in our bathroom. This was far bigger, and came complete with separate shower plus a beautiful roll top bath. There are even robes and slippers provided in each room, meaning you can wind down in style after a relaxing soak in the tub.
A selection of teas, coffee, and biscuits can be found in each bedroom. So if you're lucky enough to be in one of the rooms overlooking the front courtyard, pop the kettle on, grab a biscuit, and enjoy the view.
Booking
Rooms and restaurant reservations can be booked directly with the hotel through their website: www.doxfordhall.com
Here, you'll also find a full list of room categories, offers, and availability. As well as the latest restaurant menus, plus news, including any Covid restrictions currently in place.
Parking
Free parking is available to all guests, and there are also charging points for electric cars.
As the parking area is situated a short distance away from the main hotel entrance, guests are welcome to drive to the front courtyard to drop off luggage before leaving their car in the designated location.
Service
From the moment we arrived at Doxford Hall Hotel, we received excellent service from everyone we encountered.
Staff always conducted themselves in a professional and courteous manner. And even on a morning when the restaurant was extremely busy, the staff ensured everything ran smoothly and efficiently.
At a glance:
Pros:
- High standard of rooms
- Beautiful grounds
- Excellent service
- Free parking
- Extensive breakfast menu
Cons:
- Very rural location - there are no alternative establishments, including pubs or restaurants, within walking distance of the hotel
Star Rating: 
(4.6 / 5)
(4.6 / 5)| Ease of Booking: |  |
| Value for Money: |  |
| Amenities: | |
| Location: |  |
| Cleanliness: | |
As you can see from this review, we thoroughly enjoyed our stay at Doxford Hall Hotel & Spa. So, if you're planning a visit to the stunning Northumberland coast, and fancy a little bit of luxury during your stay, this wonderful establishment is the place for you.
You may also like:
