Aurelius Spa at Matfen Hall opens as estate completes six year transformation
Matfen Hall, Northumberland's first and only five-star hotel, has unveiled its new spa, Aurelius Spa at Matfen Hall. The opening marks the final phase of the estate's six-year, £55m transformation.
Set within the Grade II-listed country house and its 300 acres of private parkland, just 30 minutes from Newcastle, Aurelius has been designed as a sanctuary that draws on the historic building’s heritage and its surrounding landscape.
A New Wellness Destination in the North East Aurelius is housed within an expansive new wing of the hotel, doubling the footprint of the former spa, and was designed by local architects. At its heart is a serene 18-metre indoor pool set beneath a vaulted beamed ceiling. Floor-to-ceiling arched windows take their inspiration from the stained-glass window in the Grand Hall entrance of the hotel, and natural materials create a neutral colour palette, with locally-sourced stone, Welsh slate and oak panelling found throughout.
Guests can move between a Roman sauna, cryotherapy chamber, Himalayan salt sauna, aromatherapy steam room and thermal experience showers, before unwinding in the relaxation room, complete with a personalised VR experience, or the new dining lounge and its champagne and juice bar. Meanwhile, a sensory garden houses a vitality pool surrounded by aromatic botanicals, herbs and flowers and arches in an open-air courtyard.
Taking inspiration from ancient Roman culture, Aurelius boasts an extensive range of thermal and wellness facilities:
● 18-metre Pool and Outdoor Jacuzzi Pool
● Himalayan Salt Sauna and Traditional Sauna
● Aromatherapy Steam Room, Steam Showers, Experience Showers
● Sunlight Therapy Room and Red Light Therapy Room
● Brass Monkey Ice Baths, Cryotherapy Chamber, Hyperbaric Chamber
These sit alongside six treatment rooms, each fitted with Gharini MLE Neo Treatment Beds, dedicated relaxation spaces, including a Relaxation Room, Sun Room and private lounge areas, a TechnoGym-equipped gym with a Pilates and yoga studio and The Salon.
Aurelius is open to non-resident guests for spa days and will also operate a membership programme, providing members with exclusive benefits. Treatments Designed for Results Aurelius's philosophy centres on visible, lasting results, with treatments using botanically sourced products from Natural Spa Factory. Signature 90-minute rituals include the gold-infused Ultra Gold Experience, the mineral-rich Head to Toe Serenity Ritual and the circulation-boosting Invigorating Scrub, alongside results-driven facials such as the Matfen Hydrafacial, designed for immediate glow and lasting hydration. The menu is complete with deep-pressure and restorative massages, a traditional Japanese Head Massage, and wellness therapies including cryotherapy and hyperbaric oxygen sessions.
Matfen Hall has further collaborated with Natural Spa Factory on an exclusive bathroom amenities range, with scents including yuzu and watermelon, lime and lemongrass, and fig and vanilla. Family and pregnancy-adapted treatments are also available, including a Parent & Child shared spa treatment, and a Matfen Mama ritual for expectant mothers.
A New Approach to Spa Dining Aurelius also marks a deliberate departure from the conventional spa-day format at The Garden Kitchen. Here, the food offering has been conceptualised to serve as fuel for a day of relaxation, available to guests as and when they want it. The offering runs all day: smoothies, fresh fruit and freshly baked pastries in the morning, a chilled mezze display allowing guests to build their own plate from a choice of proteins and garnishes through the day, and sweet treats with herbal infusions or hot beverages later on. Poolside and spa deck service will also be available. The result is a more relaxed approach to spa dining, moving away from a set two-course lunch spa day, to instead focus on serving food that makes guests feel good.
