Archive news

North East Contact Magazine September 2008

Rockliffe Hall leaves no stone unturned in pursuit of perfection

A revolution in five-star international resorts has been quietly taking shape in a sleepy part of the North Yorkshire / South Durham borders.

Now developers of the newest and most intriguing luxury hotel, golf and spa development in the region are going public with their plans for Rockliffe Hall a simply stunning new project.

Based on the banks of the River Tees and nestling on the edge of the picturesque village of Hurworth on the North Yorkshire borders, Rockliffe Hall Hotel, golf and spa resort has been many years in the planning, but is now less than 12 months from opening its doors to the public and is bound to stir interest not just in the North East but throughout the UK and beyond.

Director of Rockliffe Hall Limited, Warwick Brindle has revealed what his aims are for the 370-acre site, in the centre of which sits the original 18th Century stately home around which the entire resort is based.

Warwick explained: “Guest experience is driving everything we are doing here. We realised that, whilst there were certain structural and operational elements in building a five star development, creating exceptional memories for everyone who comes to Rockliffe Hall is what matters. It goes way beyond designs on paper or a computer screen.

To that extent, we’ve left no stone unturned to make sure anyone who will represent Rockliffe Hall in the future understands our philosophy 100 per cent. Going that extra mile may seem so obvious, but so few do it.

When someone arrives at a five star hotel or resort, expectation is immediately high. Simply meeting expectations isn’t enough. It’s a bold statement but we must consistently exceed expectation for anyone who arrives at Rockliffe Hall. Whether that’s to play golf, have a meal, stay for the weekend or enjoy a spa treatment, there is no excuse for allowing any guest to walk away thinking we didn’t do everything to make sure they had an incredible experience and the very best quality service.”

And it’s more than just talk. Rockliffe Hall, which will consist of a 62-bedroom luxury hotel, top class spa and 18-hole course, has gone to incredible lengths to ensure the experience is unforgettable. Take the golf course for instance.

At 7,800 yards, it will be one of Europe’s longest off the back tees.

But flexibility of design ensures that the course can be enjoyed by everyone, whilst the use of ‘creeping bent grass’ seen on the very best courses in the US and Southern Europe will ensure fast and true putting surfaces all year.

Add in service levels more in keeping with the best American courses and those lucky enough to play at Rockliffe will be recounting their day over many drinks, in many clubhouses, over many years.

Still on the course, more than 25,000 trees are being painstakingly installed on the course to ensure it’s a challenge from the very first time someone strikes a ball off the first tee in early summer next year.

An island green on the man-made lake ‘more than a mile and a half in circumference alone’ offers golfing purists a signature hole which doffs its silken cap to the 17th at Sawgrass.

Warwick Brindle added: “It would have made much more sense to have planted new trees and allowed them to grow over the years, or do without the lake and instead rely on the River Tees which borders the course. But that’s what most new courses do and the golfers’ experience is one that they are playing a course which hasn’t quite reached its full potential. Who wants to play a course that isn’t quite ready?”

The same rules apply in the hotel, which is due to take its first guests in the early autumn of 2009. In addition to the sumptuous five star touches like Villeroy & Boch bathroom furniture and integrated Bose sound systems Rockliffe Hall has painstakingly restored a number of the original features of the old hall, including a vast stained glass window which greets guests as they sweep up the grand stairs to the executive suites.

Beyond construction, the five-star treatment continues and this is exemplified with the redevelopment of the original wine cellars where experienced sommeliers will invite select diners downstairs to try some of the rarest and finest wines to accompany their meal.

Personal butlers to cater for your every whim during a stay, personal drivers to collect and drop off guests at rail stations and airports and personal clubhouse assistants to help keep your golf shoes clean and your clubs safe are examples of the minutiae detail that Rockliffe Hall is prepared to go to, ensuring nobody has the excuse to think they were anywhere other than a truly world class development.

previous post: Rockliffe Hall employs ‘best in the business’ to lead five star development
next post: Construction work update - October 2008