Hotel of the week

Rockliffe Hall,
County Durham
Opened this year, Rockliffe Hall is
"a Victorian Gothic red-brick pile
turned sumptuous five-star golf
and spa resort", says Jo
Fernandez in The Independent on
Sunday. Built in 1863, it was
designed by Alfred Waterhouse,
architect of the Natural History
Museum. The hotel's decor
matches its Victorian origins, with
"luxurious, bordering on opulent"
rooms; its chef, Kenny Atkinson, is
a Michelin-star winner who uses
locally sourced ingredients. The
championship 18-hole golf course
is the longest in the UK, and the
spa is no less "ambitious".
Doubles from £270, incl.
breakfast Contact: 01325-729999;
www. rockliffehall.com.