Sitting proudly in a country park just north of Sedgefield is one of the jewels in the hospitality crown of Durham.

Hardwick Hall Hotel is a period genteel manor house full of character enveloped in a country park setting of acres of woodland and a lake – it's little wonder it has gained the title of one of the most beautiful hotels in this part of the North East.

Once the home of Lord Boyne, it can trace its history back centuries. There has been a dwelling on this site since the 13th century, but a major part of it was built in the late 1700s. A Grade II listed building, it is on the English Heritage Register.

Only minutes from the AlM or the A19, this is certainly the place for a luxury or celebration break or one to relax, sit back and recharge your batteries, so to speak. Entering through the gates, we were immediately blown away by the peace and charm of the grounds and the views that make Hardwick Hall so special.

Parking the car was so easy, and within minutes we were inside the cool, large, welcoming reception area and on our way to our plush Premier room.

To say I was amazed by its size and elegant décor was an understatement – this was the ultimate in boutique hotel style. The room was flooded by sunlight from the 3 windows – two of which had beautiful views of the lake, whilst the corner one looked over the manicured lawns and gardens.

There was everything I could wish for, including a large gilded mirror, plenty of wardrobe space, a large chest of drawers, small tables and antique-style comfortable armchairs, plus a lush wool carpet.

A large-size king-size bed dominated the room with a wonderful antique-style headboard. One of the most comfortable hotel beds I have slept in for some time, and I’ve slept in a lot in the course of my job – this was the type of bed I just wouldn’t want to get out of the next morning.

I loved the large crescent-shaped desk and chair in the corner, which enabled me to do some work whilst on my sojourn – I wish more hotels would provide such a facility.

Opening the door to the bathroom revealed a super-size, shining, luxurious, white-tiled facility. There was a large deep bathtub, a walk-in shower with jets if you needed them as a gentle massage facility and my favourite bathroom feature – his and her deep sinks with fluffy white towels, gowns and slippers, plus Elemis toiletries in abundance.

After quickly unpacking, we made our way downstairs for a much-needed cup of freshly ground coffee in the Hardwick Bar and Lounge with its vintage-style décor and a lot of different choices of seating. This is a firm favourite with locals, which says a lot about the hotel's standards, many of whom were enjoying a late lunch or gathering for one of Hardwick’s afternoon teas later on.

We decided to explore the grounds and took a walk round the lake and down one of the many winding paths before returning to the main hotel building and sitting on one of the terraces in front of the hotel overlooking the lake with a glass of chilled vino.

Dinner in the Rib Room was something we were really looking forward to. The restaurant itself is downstairs and with a beamed ceiling, exposed brickwork walls and shiny black leather upholstery. It is a smart yet sophisticated place to dine but still retains that essence of times gone by.

The highly polished tables were loaded with sparkling glassware and silver and white linen napkins, and the black leather seating shone and looked – and was – so comfortable.

The menu contained a good choice of gluten-free, vegetarian and vegan dishes. Our server was knowledgeable about the menu, indeed about every little detail in most of the dishes.

For a starter I opted for the Asparagus and Blue Cheese Tartlet with Rocket and Red Pepper Salad. The tartlet was large, to say the least, with a crispy pastry surrounding it. The filling was tasty and smooth, and one could really taste the blue cheese, which blended well with the asparagus. The accompanying salad with its various colours was appealing, and the red peppers gave the salad a real burst of flavour which blended well with the tartlet.

My partner opted for the BBQ Glazed Belly Pork Ribs and was impressed by the strong flavour of the barbecue sauce, as he remarked, “Normally it's just so bland." The meat he said was so tender it just dropped off the bones.

It's no secret that my favourite fish is halibut, so I really had to choose this. The fish was cooked just as it should be. The halibut was succulent and full of flavour, and the spinach, red onion and citrus butter sauce were the perfect partners, with crispy new potatoes being a great choice by the chef.

My partner chose the French trimmed Lamb Rack – it came superbly cooked as he requested . The portion of lamb was good and it had retained its unique taste . The roasted beetroot and asparagus certainly added colour and taste to the plate whilst the Onion Soubise - a creamy classic French onion sauce and Mint Chimchurri were he said a good addition to the dish.

As a side order, we shared one of the best side orders we have had for a long time. The Garlic Butter Spinach. The vegetable was crispy and had a strong taste of garlic, which added a new dimension to what can sometimes be a rather bland vegetable.

When it came to desserts, I was really at a loss for choice, but it was the Vanilla Pod Crème Brulee and Strawberry Jammy Dodger that really won me over. The crème brûlée was smooth underneath a delightfully crispy topping, and the jammy dodger was a playful addition that was obviously homemade.

When it came to dessert, my partner decided to pass, wanting to savour the taste and texture of his main course.

After dinner we had one last glass of vino in the bar in the sinkable seats before retiring just before the bewitching hour as it was an early start next morning.

Breakfast at Hardwick is a leisurely affair with waiter service in the comfortable and plus surrounding of the Boyne Restaurant – a refreshing change from the sometimes cramped and rather basic breakfast room surroundings of many hotels.

The menu offers a wide range of choices for everyone, with most dishes sourced from local suppliers and cooked to order. It's an old-world service here, and I loved the teapot and the leaf tea complete with a tea-strainer.

Soon it was time to say goodbye to Hardwick Hall but not before having one last coffee and sitting in the sunshine admiring the view gardens and the woodland before tackling the long drive to our next port of call.



Hardwick Hall hosts many special events over the year; check the website for the full line.

Hardwick Hall, Sedgefield, County Durham TS21 2EH
Tel: 01780 620253 www.hardwick hall hotelco.uk