Situated in the historic heart of Northumberland Matfen Hall is the perfect place to stay whether you are visiting for business or leisure, 18 miles from Newcastle Central station and 11 from Corbridge. The hotel is situated on a slight hill with a gradual approach. We are located in 300 acres of park land, ideal to explore Northumberland and Hadrian’s Wall. We have 53 bedrooms with 3 accessible bedrooms suitable for wheelchair users situated on the first floor with lift access. All bedrooms have en-suite bathrooms. The en-suite bathrooms of accessible bedrooms have chair access to the bath tub with handrails fitted throughout e.g. bath and toilet. We also have one room with a level entry shower.
Pre Arrival
For full details and maps of how to reach us please see the directions section of our website. Alternatively, you can plan your journey by car or public transport using www.transportdirect.info; simply enter your postcode and ours, which is NE20 0RH to get directions. The nearest mail line railway station is Newcastle Central Station , which is 18 miles away (a 125- 30 minute taxi ride). Taxis are available at the station. If you require an accessible taxi this can be booked in advance, see contact information for details. The nearest bus stop is in Matfen village opposite the Black Bull Pub 500m from the hotel - ask the driver for the stop in Matfen Village. There is a shelter and seating. All buses can accommodate one wheelchair. The No. 74 bus runs to/from the bus station, every 2 hours Monday – Saturday from 8:30am – 11pm and every 2 hours on Sundays from 8:30am until 6:30pm The main road outside the hotel has a narrow tarmac path.
Car Parking and Arrival
There is full parking on site for up to 200 vehicles. The main car park has 3 clearly marked Blue Badge parking spaces and are available free of charge 100m from the hotel entrance The car park surface is gravel with a tarmac path leading to the main entrance. The car park is well lit at night and the path has uplighters. There is a drop off point at the main entrance of the hotel, but with a dropped kerb. There are also two additional Blue Badge parking spaces in the tarmac inner courtyard 10m from the spa entrance and 40m from the hotel entrance The main entrance door is manual, 750mm wide, light to push and opens inwards. We have a reception and porter service available 24 hours a day to assist with your luggage
Reception
There is a graded approach to main entrance which has manual opening doors. The external lobby doors are usually open. There is an external call intercom. If this cannot be reached, please phone 01661 886500 for assistance. The entrance lobby level has a large accessible toilet, dimensions 1.9m x 3.2m. The main reception/check in and the bar are up 1:12 grade carpeted ramps. The reception phone number is 01661 886500.. The floor surface throughout the lobby is carpeted. The area is evenly and well lit with overhead lighting and wall lights. A hearing loop system is installed at reception and staff have been trained in its use. A magnifying glass, pen and pad of paper are available on request. There is a choice of seating in the lobby area, which can be used as an alternative space for check-in. A familiarisation tour is available on request.
Bedrooms
There are 3 first floor accessible bedrooms They can be reached via lift access from the main entrance and reception. The width of the lift door is 800mm. the lift is 1400mm deep x 1100mm wide These rooms provide specific facilities for guests with disabilities, these include: All entry doors are 760mm wide, room entry doors do have quite strong spring closures for fire prevention purposes Furniture can be removed or rearranged in the room if requested. Beds in the accessible rooms include Doubles and Zip links beds are 580mm high Bed height adjusters are available to raise the beds A pull call alarm cord is fitted beside the bed and beside the toilet. Visual warning to fire alarm is fitted at ceiling height in the bedrooms.
Room 21 has the largest bathroom and consequently the best space for wheelchair manoeuvre, transfer onto the toilet pan and space for an assistant.
Room 21 is closest to the lift and the shortest journey to the reception.
Room 21 offers right hand transfer onto the toilet and bed.
Room 22 offers left hand transfer onto toilet and bed. Bathroom dimensions including bath are 1.95m x 2.19m. The floor space is length 1.95m x width 1.5m at the widest point and width 1.37m across the back wall
Room 23 offers right hand transfer onto the toilet and bed. It is the dimensions as 22, just a reflection.
Rooms are bright and evenly lit. Overhead and wall lighting is used, controlled by switches. There are also bedside and table lamps in each room. Additional reading lamps are available on request. Lighting as above, good colour contrast between the floor, walls and doors, short pile carpet, widescreen digital television with remote control, subtitles, and audio description facilities. A mobile hearing loop, vibrating pillow pad and alarm clock with flashing light are available on request.
Bathrooms
All of the 3 first floor accessible bedrooms have en-suite bathrooms providing specific facilities for guests with disabilities, these include: Doors 820mm wide, easy to open. The toilet height is 400mm – toilets seats with raised lugs are available. The wash basin height is 800mm, with clear space underneath. A grab rail is fitted alongside the bath. Horizontal and vertical grab rails are fitted either side of the toilet. Lever taps are fitted on the washbasin and bath. Well lit with overhead lights and a fluorescent light over mirror. Good colour contrast between the doors, floor, walls and towels. The flooring is non-slip Seat raisers and bath seats are available where required. All rooms have baths. We have a portable swivel bath seat with back support that can be used by guests who need to sit and use the shower hose over the bath and this can only fit the bath in Room 23. Room 26 although not classed as accessible does have a level entry shower
Public Toilets
All public areas, halls, stairs, landings and lifts, are well lit using a combination of ceiling and wall lights (fluorescent lighting is used in the lift). Corridors are slightly dimmer lit by wall lights. Corridors are between 800mm & 1200mm wide and the floor covering is short pile carpet. There is one lift, with audio announcements and tactile buttons. It is 1400mm deep by 1100mm wide with a 800mm entry There is a mirror on the back of each lift, the sides are covered in a fabric material and the floor is short pile carpet Our refuge area is located in the first floor next to the lift – it is clearly signed
