Since my Wife Lisa and I don't really get out much (ha ha), I decided to cap off a stunning Summer of mini-breaks with a visit to Seaham Hall.
Admittedly, this wasn’t our first time , we’d checked in earlier in the year but were too hampered by work and family constraints to really savour the experience. With this in mind, we booked in again to really escape from the pressures of modern life. I’m so glad we did.
As one of the region’s top hotels, Seaham offers the true five-star experience, combining classical elegance with contemporary luxury. The hotel offers tastefully-appointed guest suites, an award-winning serenity spa and fine dining – all from its enviable clifftop location.
Dating back to 1791, the restored Georgian country house was originally the stately pile of Ralph & Judith Milbanke – County Durham gentry whose only daughter married the romantic poet, Lord Byron, at the property in 1815.
Since then, it has welcomed many notable visitors including rock royalty Brian May who last year posed for an Instagram photo with the hotel’s signature vortex whirlpool. What can I say? I’m Queen’s biggest fanboy!
On arrival, the hotel’s winding driveway builds a real sense of expectation. The grounds are nicely secluded and possess that real exclusive feel.
Service is incredibly attentive from arrival to checkout and undisputedly five-star valet parking and luggage is naturally all taken care of.
Following a cheery welcome, we checked out our guest room which was actually more of a mini-flat. Individually designed, rooms are characterised by a boutique charm; ours was decked out marvellously in shades of mauve and grey.
We also found all requisite mod cons including a Flat Screen TV, complimentary WIFI and a Nespresso coffee machine. The real centrepiece however was a free-standing bathtub sitting proudly in the middle of a marbled bathroom.
As I kicked back for a perusal of the papers, Lisa was already headed for the spa – I can’t say I blame her.
If – like Lisa – you’re really into a pamper, then Seaham Hall is the place for you. The Serenity Spa draws influence from Far Eastern healing and wellness rituals, creating a calming space which nurtures body & mind. Facilities include a 20m swimming pool, salt sauna, plunge pools, an Indian steam room and outdoor hot tubs. The newly-opened Zen Garden with its infinity hydrotherapy pool set in luscious green gardens is also well worth checking out.
In addition, the spa offers a range of treatments geared toward revitalisation. Lisa took full advantage, enjoying a full aromatherapy facial before reconvening with yours truly for a light bite in Ozone – the spa’s in-house, Pan-Asian restaurant.
Following this, we enjoyed a stroll around the hotel grounds of which there are 37 acres before returning to our suite for some further relaxation.
Food & drink is a key consideration at Seaham Hall Hotel and for our evening meal, we dined regally at the hotel’s flagship restaurant – The Dining Room. Its ever-changing menu showcases the very best of British cooking and champions ingredients fresh and seasonal.
Glittering chandeliers and Georgian windows create a grand décor yet despite its opulence, the restaurant is not stuffy. A nice mix of residents and visitors, it possessed a buoyant atmosphere on a near-full Thursday night.
Lisa kicked off with the Severn & Wye smoked salmon paired with pickled cucumber and buttermilk bread. I chose the scorched day boat mackerel a lovely, smoky tranche with turnip and salted gooseberries.
We followed up with the lamb saddle, smoked aubergine and miso and the dry-aged fillet steak with slow-cooked onions and a watercress salad. Cooked over charcoal embers, this possessed a delicious, light char.
Even our favourite desserts – salted caramel tart and the artisan cheeseboard -couldn’t quite tempt us and we returned to our suite totally replete.
The following morning, I rose early and was – unbelievably – the first one in the gym. Lisa cashed in the extra zeds before bucking the trend and ordering breakfast to the room – a selection of smoked salmon, pastries, fresh fruit, coffee and orange juice. “This feels like the Thomas Crown affair” we joked in light of our elegant surroundings, though I can’t recall McQueen/Dunaway walloping the Danishes with quite such gusto!
We headed for home in high spirits; Seaham Hall had been everything we’d expected and remains one of the region’s top destination retreats.