Lumley Castle Hotel

Hotel

Had the worst experience ever here We booked the day of the queens celebrations with my 83 year old mother for afternoon tea It was so poor Quality so poor Never ever again!

We had our wedding here on 2nd October the rooms were all decorated beautifully. Keith and his team went above and beyond and was a lovely day and night.

One of the best romantic weekends away me and my wife have had. The room was beautiful and the four poster bed and bath in the room made it really unique. Our evening meal was also outstanding. The staff were on hand for any requests and made our weekend that little bit more perfect.

We were bought a virgin experience voucher for afternoon tea. As we walked into the castle I thought to myself wow this is going good will be really nice. How wrong could I of been. We went to reception showed the booking on my phone. The lady was very plesent and directed us to the restaurant. As we got to the restaurant we were greated by a lady who seemed in a rush. She asked for the voucher so I showed her the phone. She sent us back to reception to get it printed off. As we walked back out there was a large que. Which made us feel like we were doing the walk of shame for not paying cash. Anyways we got to the reception and she said they could of sorted it in the restaurant. So off we went back to the restaurant. We gave them the codes from the voucher and the other code that we paid to upgrade and get prosecco. We were then shown to our seats. They came and dumped afternoon tea along with tea and coffee. It was a game of guess what was what As it wasn't explained to us. One lot of the sandwiches only had cucumber in which we thought was a bit odd. Never in the whole time were we asked if everything was OK for us. There was no conversation between customers and staff. As it was coming to a end my Sister asked where our prosecco was. She said oh did you upgrade. Yes we gave you the upgrade code when we came in. She said oh they will do it now. They were cleaning the tables were disgusting. They still had food on them and only wiped round the stuff that was on the table.

I was lucky enough to win my stay at Lumbley Castle and we had a lovely time. Thank you so much to Sharon for all her assistance in booking. Being a castle the place, as expected, is full of character and definitely makes for a memorable stay. The bedroom. Amd en suite were spotless and gorgeous in design — we loved the sweet treats in the room too. highly recommended.

We stayed here last night and opted for the afternoon tea, escape room package. It was a really wonderful stay. The room was gorgeous (courtyard superior) with added goodies basket. The food was lovely, the staff were so friendly and helpful. We loved the escape room although only had one lock left before our time ran out 😭 the castle in itself is beautiful and very sympathetic decoration to it’s time. We also had the added bonus of poppet the castle cat inviting herself into our room for the night 🐈‍⬛. I didn’t want to leave today, but we will be back soon. Thank you for a amazing stay.

Great and friendly staff who look after you with a smile.

We had our wedding here and it was absolutely stunning. All the staff and wedding coordinators were all amazing! Highly recommend staying in one of the luxury castle suites, made our and all our guests experiences so much more authentic as a “castle stay”.

Lovely hotel. Very friendly staff. Would highly recommend.

I officiated a Wedding Ceremony at this beautiful unique venue. Such a warm, friendly and romantic occasion. Staff are very friendly too. I highly recommend a Wedding Ceremony here 🙂 xxx.

We had a most spectacular stay in the castle and enjoyed the Elizabethan banquet, this was a most celebrated joint 60th Birthday that we will talk about for the rest of our lives. The rooms beautiful, the concierge wonderful, the whole experience was magnificent. We will be back ❤️

Fantastic location, staff so professional. Stunning food, could go on and on… a fantastic night away.

Wonderful setting, gorgeous food and fantastic staff who go above and beyond to make your stay the best experience! 💕💕

Came with my mum for the afternoon tea in the castle. It was so beautiful and peaceful. Just what we both needed. Staff were wonderful, so helpful and nothing was too much trouble. Beautiful stunning place.

Tremendous history and character of a medieval castle coupled with friendly, attentive staff and wonderful food. Means Lumley is perfect for a short break or longer stay and an ideal stop off too if you are on the A1

Stayed in room 21 on 4th February. Lovely room, comfortable large bed. The castle and grounds were absolutely stunning. Lovely breakfast.

Attended the New Year festivities. What an amazing few days, faultless service, amazing food — flawless from start to finish. Would totally recommend it!

We had our wedding here on the 28th November and they did an amazing job looking after us 😁 and making sure everything went smoothly ❤️ I couldn't fault our wedding day it was amazing 😍 we stayed in the state room in the castle night before and night of the wedding day the room was beautiful and clean 😍 thank you to Alex who was looking after us that day 😘

Fantastic experience. We had a Court Yard room which was gorgeous, only fault was cleaning staff stood laughing and talking outside the room early morning. Brunch in the Library bar was excellent. Staff very friendly & professional.

AMAZING! Beautiful, friendly
No ordinary hotel x.

I officiated a Wedding Ceremony at this beautiful venue. Such a warm, friendly and romantic occasion. Staff are very friendly too. I highly recommend a Wedding Ceremony here 🙂 xxx.

Absolutely blown away by the king james suite it was absolutely fantastic I love this castle and go every year the service is second to none its absolutely a stunning place to be can't wait till Christmas till we're there again ❤️👌

Beautiful setting! Not many faults to be found but wouldn’t want to be dying of thirst in the bar. Bar staff are pretty lax!

Absolutely disgusting customer service
The hotel is closed and I had a booking but no contact whatsoever and no sign of a refund.

Amazing time doing the Elf hunt… it was great fun the staff (Elves) were lovely and we loved the special touches of Elf hats and hot chocolate. Thank you for a lovely day.

Absolutely disgusting customer service. Been waiting for a refund since the 6th october after being told it would take 28 days for my booking on the 14th november when the venue was closed due to covid. My emails are also now being ignored so basically no one is doing anything to resolve the issue. Very very disappointed and will not be returning and will ensure others are aware of how bad the customer service actually is. As and ex employee aswell I expected better.

Highly recommend the drive thru which we tried last night. Having recently had our wedding at Lumley Castle we already knew the food was amazing. We ordered starters so we could share and try out the different dishes. I rarely order duck but the pictures on the website persuaded me to give it a try and it was delicious. The goats cheese starter was plentiful and really tasty. We both opted for the beef main course and it melted in the mouth. Outstanding and a real treat with the cost comparable to regular take-aways. We might not be able to got out for date night quite yet but this allowed us to create a lovely night in.

Had a takeaway this evening — extremely efficient service & delicious as always. The goats cheese & spinach starter was amazing! Everyone devoured their food & the STP didn’t touch My son’s sides! Will be doing take away again but look forward more to eating in the Black Knight.

Fantastic place. Friendly helpful staff. Great setting. Awesome food from the restaurant. Would definitely stay again.

Went for afternoon tea here
absolutely awful, everything shop bought in dry scones not even clotted cream like it said on the menu
you think its gonna be amazing from the setting but it's an absolute let down. Have had many afternoon tea from Betty's to hotels this was the worse one I've ever had.

I got married here, great place for a venue, staff very attentive and organised.
we had our tenth wedding anniversary with family in one of their private dining rooms, again excellent & it happens to be our anniversary today
We oftain stay a night as a treat even though we live 15 miles away.

Great place and fantastic service.

Great place great staff warm rooms nice food.

Fabulous wedding, excellent staff service, delicious food, beautiful castle with lots of little authentic features,

No limit to what the probably most friendly and professional bar staff I have ever encountered will do for you. Excellent.

Thank you to all the staff at Lumley castle for making my Birthday special, I could not fault anything our room was stunning and water was red hot for a bath the food was out of this world in the new restaurant which is beuitfull and the staff where amazing exspecaly Dorina, Naomi and Imagen as they went above and beyond for us, we stayed at Rockcliff hall last year for my 40th Birthday and I can honestly say that Lumley castle is up there with the best of the best this is my second visit as we visited 7 years ago for our first wedding anniversary and that to was also amazing so thank you for a lovley stay and amazing memory's xx.

Beautiful castle to stay at. An amazing experience to enjoy with my family.

Daughter had wedding reception here. Staff great breakfast included
wonderful place. Real castle.

We had a lovely evening family, but the experience at Lumley castle was short of a 4* experience. We dined in a small room with a large Christmas tree at the top. The room and setting was amazing, but the service and in some cases food choices were shocking. The starter was lovely, as a vegetarian I had two choices which is unusual, both were very nice! I then had one option of risotto with veg. To not have vegetarian gravy it was severely disappointing, in a lot of other 4 & 5* hotels it’s a standard. Other party members of the group asked for Yorkshire puddings for their turkey dinner but were unpleasantly told by one staff member no they don’t come with turkey dinners. Which is acceptable, but there was no going above and beyond experience you get in other hotels. My partner and I stayed at seaham hall earlier in the year, and although there’s a difference in star — not one thing was an issue. We finished our desserts and moved into the bar, which we were told was closing several times and they were keeping it open for us. Which was kind, but almost felt like they were being strained to keep it open. It got to half 5 and we were told it was being closed, we asked if we could be seated in another bar — the staff member was beyond rude in her response. It wasn’t a matter of I will see, it was a rude response which left another sour taste in my mouth. All in all a fabulous family day, however Lumley is certainly no ordinary hotel… it’s a rude hotel.

Absolutely fabulous overnight stay at Lumley Castle. We won the Facebook Competition and wow what a prize! Room beautiful chocolates and wine were divine, food outstanding, hotel amazing, staff so lovely. Thank you so much!

Amazing staff, beautifully unique hotel loaded with history, elegant, delicious food and drinks!
Each person we encountered went above and beyond at every opportunity to make us feel welcomed. Connor Billingham and Beth Sweetpea Bell ensured that our glasses were always full, that we never had to ask for anything and that all of us were enjoying ourselves.
We had a large group staying throughout the hotel. Every room we occupied had unique features that spoke to the charm and history that have been preserved beautifully.
Meals, snacks, afternoon tea and evening drinks did not disappoint. Presentation and taste were made even better by the amazing service provided.
We are already planning a return trip — I can hardly wait!

Very posh. Clean rooms and friendly staff.

I wouldn’t recommend Lumley Castle Hotel. We held a very special occasion here and your staff were terrible. I have complained via email and I am waiting for a response 5 days later. This just reiterates how poor your staff actually are. I’m so disappointed.

My special place. Been here loads of times. Was even married here once.

Amazing staff and the most beautiful venue you could ever have.

Love it very friendly staff.

We got married her 22nd june 2019, we had the best day ever! holly answered every single question we had and did her best to ammend things to meet our needs and wants. Alison from the ops team was so friendly and made our day run smoothly from start to finish. And did everything! she is a superhero! the venue is amazing and the room we stayed in was amazing. Couldnt have asked for a better day. We wish we could do it all again! thanks from kirsty and sean.

Another brilliant stay and banquet at Lumley castle. Couldn't fault a thing from staff to accommodation to food. Excellent highly recommended.

Far too expensive. £10.65 for a double gin and lemonade? Shocking! And the food was appalling, all tasted the same, asked for more gravy twice and still wasn’t brought over.
To top it off, my mam (who has a walking stick as she has arthritis) was told there was no disabled access toilets and she would have to go up and down stairs all night. I spoke to the manager who told us that there was a toilet but we would have to go through another room that was occupied with another group of people celebrating. Not particularly happy and won’t be back.

Fantastic 2 days Gemma and Liam wedding staff very friendly and helpful room lovely but very dark couldn’t have asked for a better place to stay highly recommend it. Dot.

Just came back from a lovely couple of nights at this beautiful castle. It was a suprise trip for my 50th birthday from my lovely husband. Everything about this place is amazing. The building, ambiance, food, staff, comfortable, luxury just everything… can't wait to return.

The castle itself was absolutely stunning! We stayed here over the bank holiday weekend. The room we stayed in was a standard room and again was amazing. The only thing that let our stay down was our experience at breakfast. 20 minutes waiting for a table, 30 minutes waiting for someone to take our order and when it arrived it was lukewarm. The continental breakfast was a bit of a let down too as they had run out of ham and cheese, croissants, jam and fruit. I would stay here again I would just go elsewhere for breakfast as I think £15 for a substandard breakfast is expensive.

We had my sisters wedding there this weekend. The food was cold and soggy as it was made early that day and kept warm till 2.30. A lot of us guests are having tummy problems. The bar area had 10 chairs in there and other guests sat in the car park on chairs that were being taken up for the wedding breakfast. The rooms were lovely but way too dark even with lights on. The shaving mirrors in the rooms were next to useless and with the dim lights made it near impossible for my hubby to get shaved. The staff were run off their feet and throughout and during my sisters wedding ceremony the grounds man decided to chop wood and use a chainsaw. The bride and groom had an amazing day and looked beautiful but I feel a venue of this stature could have put the iceing on the cake! One member of staff that is a credit to your venue was the master of ceremony (Kieth I thing his name is). What a guy! Count not do enough for the happy couple and all the guests.

It's an amazing place, a hotel in a great setting with good views, walks… The food was good, though I'd have liked a slightly wider choice. The staff were extraordinarily friendly and helpful, and determined to make sure that everything went right. The hotel is, as promised, a castle. That carries it's own slight problems, in that adding it to modern hotel use isn't going to be trivial. The odd exposed pipe was a very small price to pay. My room was comfortable and well finished, though I felt that the furnishings and wall and ceiling coverings were perhaps getting a little tired. Power sockets near the bed meant that the CPAP machine wasn't a problem. The taps weren't round, but the machine hose fitted well for cleaning. Look, when you get there, you're going to wander around with your jaw dropping. Just remember your camera, and try not to trip over the other photographers. It's an incredibly friendly place, full of people wandering around going WOW! Staff are definitely a highlight though.

Had afternoon tea with my husband as a birthday treat, very disappointed. We were in The Library bar. On arriving we asked the girl behind the bar which was our reserved table to be told that "there's tables dotted all over" she is a very unpleasant person. The table we had was very close to the bar itself where people were waiting to be served, which made us uncomfortable. Had tea and coffee brought to us by a pleasant young man, but unfortunately I had to ask where our food was over 30 minutes later. He was apologetic but we won't be returning.

The castle is beautiful and a great value. There is so much to explore in both the castle and on the grounds and so many photo opportunities. Everything is so old yet wonderfully maintained. My favorite part is the library bar. You can have breakfast, lunch, dinner, or tea here, in addition to just drinks. I felt so comfortable in the castle and I didn't feel like I wasn't allowed to go where I wanted. Everyone working at the castle was so nice and went out of their way to make you happy. I felt like a princess. The room we had was huge and beautiful with an en suite bathroom behind a hidden door. Coolest thing ever! Plus the bathroom was huge and roomy. Breakfast and dinner in the black Knight restaurant was awesome too. Dinner was a touch expensive but it was good, very good. I can't say enough about this castle! I would definitely come back.

We cannot thank all of the team at Lumley Castle enough for making our Wedding Day so very special and for helping make the day run so smoothly.
From the very first email sent to enquire about booking our wedding, right up until the Wedding day was over, every single member of staff was so helpful, friendly, and professional. They honestly couldn't have done more for us and the day itself ran like a dream, not one stressful moment. That was all thanks to the organisation building up to the day with all of Christina's help, and on the day Alison was a complete superstar running around making sure everything went to plan. They both made me feel so relaxed about the Wedding day and Alison did such an amazing job on the day making sure all the decorations and little bits and pieces that all us Brides worry about not being in the right place were just perfect.
We really had the most amazing day and we cannot thank and recommend Lumley Castle enough for the perfect Wedding venue. We look forward to coming back to celebrate with them for many years to come.
Thank you so much,
Mr & Mrs Rowland. Xx.

This place is so beautiful. The castle is very pretty, inside and out. There is a gorgeous courtyard with seating to enjoy in the sunshine. Finding your way around can be a bit of an adventure; lots of twists and turns. The grounds aren't as large or extravagant as some other castles nearby in Northumberland.

Rooms are nice and charming and makes me think it looks like rooms from a century ago. Staff is nice. Castle is beautiful. It is fun to walk around. However you can't sleep well because curtains don't shut. You can also hear noises of other guests. It is a castle, so it is a trade off. However, I slept a million times better in a budget motel down the street.

We attended the murder mystery evening and stayed over for my wife's birthday. On arrival she got a birthday card from the venue which I thought was a nice touch. We were allocated a feature room within the castle itself, which was very nicely furnished and well presented. The murder mystery evening consisted of a 3 course meal with welcome drink, and the story was acted out in different scenes between courses. The food was top notch and the actors did a superb job with the mystery itself. We had a really good evening, and enjoyed a nice walk around the grounds afterwards. Breakfast was also very nice with a good choice of continental and hot options. I would recommend getting down to breakfast quite early as it was very busy when I got to the restaurant. However I was seated very quickly and service was also fast. We will definitely be returning in the near future.

We went to a murder mystery night at the castle. The castle was absolutely gorgeous! It was only £35 for the performance, and a three course meal of soup, chicken dinner and profiteroles. The food was a bit on the bland side. The actors were amusing and left us guessing who the murderer might be. 2 out of the 4 of us guessed correctly. All in all we had a good evening out. We would definitely go back to the Castle.

I have stayed here many times and I am always impressed. The staff were friendly and helpful has always and the room was clean and spacious. The room I was in this time was a room I had been in before but this time it had been decorated. It's lovely to see that they change the rooms while still keeping with he traditional theme and feel of the place. We attended the date night special which included a three course dinner (vegetarian friendly) and chocolates and wine to our room. And to top it all we had a fabulous breakfast in the warm and relaxing atmosphere.

This place is stunning very picturesque and would be a cracking venue for a wedding of grand event. The food in the restaurant is lovely but the outfits the staff had to wear looked absolutely ridiculous. They looked like the had been pulled from a dusty cupboard from a theatre group. Ill fitting and uncomfortable looking. The restaurant itself was lovely the décor was very fitting. The rooms are lovely as well my only gripe was that there was no mirror next to a socket in my room not the best design when trying to sort my hair in the morning. The staff were very helpful and parking was easy. The castle was very quirky and an absolute gem to explore.

A proper castle with all the atmosphere and quirkiness that goes with it. Lovely staff, friendly and helpful. Rapid response to queries or problems. Excellent dinner, beautifully cooked and presented in a main dining room that appears to have been an undercroft. Adjacent are two private dining areas that appear to be in tunnels or wine cellars. The library bar is comfortable with plenty of comfortable seating & offers coffee, afternoon tea, light bites etc. Throughout the castle is full of suitable decor, paintings in abundance, statutory, suits of armour etc. To me it appears unsuitable for guests with disabilities. Uneven floors, many steps, dark in places on ground floor as one would expect in a castle. Limited public toilets. A gentleman's toilet outside the library bar, but the Ladies have to climb to the floor above up a long staircase, although there is a small lift. Upper floors are light and airy, with abundant private rooms of various sizes for functions, weddings etc. It is not a Hilton, Radisson, Spa Hotel etc. We loved it with all its interesting quirks and constraints due to it being a proper castle.

The site is luxury, very good for a coffee and a little rest, or for a quiet week, very quiet.

Beautiful setting for a wedding. With very attentive staff. Food was amazing. Could not fault the service. Everyone was made to feel very important. This would have been 5 stars if the access road which is an incline had been gritted as it was a sheet of ice so dressed in our wedding refinery all guests had to push each other's cars to access car park.

Fantastic stay over in the hotel and also stayed for a medieval banquet. The food was great as was the novelty of the banquet! We were very entertained. This is a great option for an alternative weekend away!

Room was very small myself and my partner had to shuffle around each other when getting ready. The room was alao very hot even with windows open and radiators switched off. No wardrobe just a few hooks on the wall which wasn't enough for two people's coats and outfits. For £115 a night without breakfast I wouldn't go back. The grounds were nice and the bed was comfortable.

Gorgeous place that I've passed a thousand times and never thought about staying at until after I had moved to Scotland. Bargains to be had if you shop around. Wasn't overly impressed with the breakfast. Dry. But the dinners! Wow Limited menu, but, what IS on the menu is superb. Wouldn't hesitate to come again.

What a fantastic hotel. Great service. Real character and charm. Comfy clean rooms. Good breakfast. What more could we want?

A beautiful venue nestled amongst some lovely countryside. There's ample parking, appropriate disabled spaces, and well presented signs that direct you where you need to be. You're next to a golf course, yet feel isolated from the outside world in a picturesque castle. The staff were knowledgeable and friendly, the events the castle had seem to be brilliant and even though its a bit of a maze, as all older venues are, it was a great place to visit. Be careful if you are disabled, because due to the old nature of the site, some of the uneven steps and sizes of doors can't be helped. The castle does have a lift inside however.

Beautiful building outside and in. We had the Queen Anne room… wow. Like stepping back in time… I didn't want to leave. The staff are wonderful. So helpful. Breakfast was lovely and loads to choose from. I will definitely be staying again.

A great place, a beautiful atmosphere and great English food.

Once again had a great time. Dinner bed and breakfast with friends for a Christmas get together. Bed so, so comfy. Food lovely and service great. A little cold in the library bar but hey, its a stone castle. We'll be back.

We attended an Elizabethan Banquet to celebrate a very good friends 80th! The staff were friendly and helped our disabled/elderly members to the lift to get us up to the room! Seating was on hard wooden benches but this enhanced the evening! The food was meant to replicate food of days gone by, and had to be consumed without a fork or spoon, apart from the desert course! It's basic foods but was plentiful, and messy! Don't worry we were all given a bib to protect our clothing! Mead and red wine was at the table and refilled over the course of the evening! You have to go see this yourselves! A great evening for all.

My husband and I have just returned home after spending a wonderful night here. The castle is beautiful inside and out. Our room was absolutely stunning, the four poster bed was so comfortable the room was very spacious and the shower was out of this world. We had dinner in the restaurant, the food was delicious, beautifully presented and the staff were very friendly, breakfast was also very good. The only reason I didn't give 5 stars was because we felt the two tiny biscuits we were given in the room were a let down and some bottled water would of been nice too. We certainly intend to stay here again and would highly recommend this hotel and restaurant to anyone.

Amazing 600 year old castle but too much geared towards the commercial wedding market to be a genuine haven for those seeking a gem of a boutique hotel and a break. Set in pleasant parkland with a golf course, and with easy access to Durham and other local sites, the castle has much to offer. The house had two weddings in mid-flow when we arrived and it can host up to 6 weddings at any one time. Every staircase, corridor and public space was full of people celebrating a happy nuptial and they partied into the night. What was much more unpleasant was our arrival — the receptionist was extraordinarily rude (for no reason) when we checked in, perhaps because she had already had a demanding day, but she continued to be unpleasant when asked for advice and information; fortunately she was not a typical ambassador for the hotel as most of the staff were charming (even the poor women in maids' garb serving dinner while their male colleagues were in modern dress). The food in the Black Knight restaurant was good (imaginative pairings of food and well cooked and presented), the classical guitarist and the wine list were both exceptional. Our rooms cost over £250 each so it was a shame that one smelled appallingly of damp and mould — so bad that 2 of our party refused to stay in it and we had to keep the window open, despite the weather. A blast of air freshener was in no way up to solving the problem.

Absolutely superb venue for drinks, guests, weddings and celebrations. Hotel is absolutely immaculate. Reasonably priced and very grand indeed. I will be back after a excellent first Impression.

We got married here on the 6th Oct 2017 and all I can say it it was absolutely fantastic and that was massively down to the venue and staff, our wedding planner Alison was unbelievable as all the lumley staff. This was even more the special as I am the most unorganised laid back person in the world so dealing with someone like me and getting everything to run like it did is a testament to the place. The amount of people who we have come up to us and say it’s one of the best days nights they have ever had has been breathtaking so I can not recommend the place any higher. They truly did make our day truly amazing and I don’t think anywhere else could of done this. Great venue, great staff absolutely perfect and there after service is also great, if you are thinking about using this place for a wedding go for it you will not be disappointed.

A fantastic hotel. We attended a friend's wedding and had an amazing time. The staff were excellent and the food was amazing.

We attended a friend's wedding at Lumley Castle. It was Amazing! We had a Elisabethan banquet completed with entertainment throughout. The food was amazing despite them not being informed about a dietary requirement they quickly adapted the menu to suite me. The castle itself is so wonderfully old and it's original features gave been preserved. I would love to go again and stay this time!

Went for afternoon tea as I'd received a virgin gift voucher. Lovely place, staff all very polite. Had afternoon tea in the black Knight restaurant, was very busy with other people enjoying afternoon tea. Lovely selection of sandwiches and sweet treats, tea and coffee and refills offered. Would definitely recommend and will be going back.

Large and beautiful old castle. It is a huge facility with more potential than we were introduced to. We were offered some of their history on our way out of the door.

Staff and food was great as always but 2 very ignorant men were sitting on next table to us on their phones playing music loudly while a guitarist played in the restaurant. They totally ignored the ladies they were with. The staff were very apologetic. Ladies what are you doing with these men!

A truly beautiful place. Only slightly concerned about the general upkeep of the place, it seems like the whole place could do with some TLC as the castle itself is over 300 years old. The surrounding areas are gorgeous, and from most areas of the castle you can see amazing sights as far as you can see. Great options for dinner and a sleep over too! Food is awesome!

Looks a bit tired in places, like it last had a soft furnishings and signage update in the late 90s. Something of a maze to navigate too, and the bar just serves naff beer on draught. Nice buildings and friendly staff though the service isn't quite 5

Sure the location and how it looks is STUNNING, but don't let that be the reason you go "oh wow it's wonderful! " and give it 5 stars. Rate it on the bar (expensive) the food (average) and the experience — dark rooms, basic signage, and the overall feeling that they rely on it being an amazing location to justify the prices whereas it could be so much better if someone with hotel experience came in and gave it a shot in the arm. Oh, and female staff only wearing period costume for some reason …

We both enjoyed a lunch for two, taking up the offer they had online. Being vegetarian I was unsure how many options we would have. Unfortunately I was proved right. There was one option in starter as well as the main course. The main course was a rice filled stuffed pepper. Which with the reputation of Lumley Castle was a bit of a let down. It was nice, but such a predictable, safe option for them. Overall a nice place to have a meal. Bit disappointing if you're a veggie though.

Rooms in desperate need of up dating. The atmospheric lighting covers up a multitude of sins but can not cover the smell of stale beer in the lounge. No surprise as the beer selection is from the 1980's. The down pour on arrival accentuated the unsuitable lay out of the hotel as my room was in the courtyard making the journey to the restuarant very difficult to negotiate with two sections in the open air via a maze of rooms and dark corridors. The uneven surfaces did not allow the water to run off an stepping over and through puddles proved very treacherous. Breakfast was disappointing, the bacon was over done, the black pudding was cremated and the one mushroom as very lonely. Pale eggs never look good and lived up to the colour, tasteless. The rates charged are for a five star stay, unfortunately the over all service and facilities fall way below.

Booked in for afternoon tea. Nice friendly staff, food served quickly and the variety was spot on. The castle was easy to find and park, but could get lost within the castle itself are there are a few corridors to the Black Knights restaurant. Thankfully the receptionist instructions were clear and I remembered them. The castle inside is amazing and even the staff dress up in medieval costumes which added to the ambience! I would love to return and have a tour or even eat again in the restaurant. I recommend a visit. Amazing. Toilets clean but ladies were upstairs and a fair walk from the restaurant!

Great castle which is has been converted into a hotel and restaurant. Was fun to look around followed by a pleasant afternoon tea.

The castle bedrooms are a bit quirky and the female staff are dressed to match the castle theme. Food average but staff very friendly and there are wonderful views and a quiet location. Worth trying.

Incredible venue, a picturesque 14th-century castle in Chester-le-Street. I attended an IT event here recently and thoroughly enjoyed it. Friendly bar staff with a good range of drinks. Haven't dined in the restaurant but I did enjoy the very tasty buffet on offer. Will definitely be back soon to try the restaurant.

Fabulous castle really authentic and well maintained. We had a lovely time, good service, good food highly recommended. The piper was added to the atmosphere. The Elizabethan Banquet was a great birthday treat.

I bought a nights stay in this hotel as part of an anniversary gift for my partner. It was a brilliant idea. I had looked at many hotels, however, the rooms that were offered looked like every other hotel room — modern etc. Lumley Castle, on the other hand, have kept their rooms as original as possible — you really feel like you're spending the night in a castle (we stayed in the Castle Feature Room). We were so impressed by the attention to detail. If there was any sort of criticism of the room, it would be that the size of the bed. It wasn't as wide as your typical double bed (due to it probably being an original four post bed) meaning it was a snug fit for both of us (but hey, that's not always a bad thing *wink*). Thank you Lumley for a memorable stay.

Amazing room in the courtyard, lovely place and very helpful staff. Easy to find, and though it's not far from the main road it was very quiet. Had no problems and enjoyed a wonderful overnight stay.

Previously I would have given them a 5* rating, but on our last visit we arrived at 3.10pm (10 mins after check in opens) to discover that our room was right next to the banqueting hall where there was an event, but that we could not move rooms! There was also a wedding that night so I'm sure there were plenty of guests who were attending either event, who had not yet checked in yet, but apparently we could not be moved. We had booked there for a quiet night before visiting my mother at Christmas time less than 1 month after my father died. Instead we were kept awake by the disco til after 12.30am despite numerous complaints to management. This really spoiled a gorgeous place with a lot of happy memories.

Lovely place. The staff were all in period dress. The castle is steeped in history and is beautiful. We were in one of the banquet halls and had a great time.

Went for a wedding reception, lovely rooms and food. Drinks a bit pricey, but overall very nice.

We came in very late, but the hotel was incredibly helpful. Lovely service, lovely rooms. My only complaint is the shower hit my tall fiance on the head! He had to stoop to shower. He is 6'4" (193cm) so if you're a few inches shorter than that you should be okay. It gets very hot on hot days. Overall fantastic. Want to go again.

Went with my family for afternoon tea. The setting was beautiful and the food was lovely but the staff we all weirdly infomal.

Visited for a wedding, the castle was extremely impressive throughout and the room where the reception was held looked like it had been pulled directly from Game of Thrones! The staff were excellent, the food and drink was expensive (as you would expect) but nice. Certainly somewhere to consider for a wedding venue or romantic getaway.

We attended the Alice in wonderland tea party on Sunday. It was very enjoyable although we assumed the tea would have been at the beginning and so was rather hungry by the time we ate. The tea was good although not terribly child friendly (having a kids sandwich selection and cake selection would have been better) but staff and venue were brilliant as always.

Lumley Castle is a great hotel, good location, easily reached just off the A1 beside Chester le Street. We stayed in a feature room within the castle, a large comfortable room where the bathroom was accessed via the wardrobe, which was different. Service was excellent, from the porter showing us to our room and giving us a guide to the castle, to the restaurant staff. We dined in the Black Knight restaurant within the hotel, and the food quality was excellent. Breakfast the following morning was good, with a good selection and fast service from the staff.

Went as a wedding guest… venue is beutiful disgusted with bar prices 2pints of coke and 2 half cokes. £10.70! I didnt ask for shares in coca cola. Food great staff need to learn to smile.

Love it, fourth time we have been for the Medieval Banqueting night, and even though marred by the other attendees (some just don't know when to stop talking), it was still a great night. We can't wait to visit again, this time it is for the Mad Hatters Tea Party, down the rabbit hole we go!

Living social discounted room. Really enjoyed our visit staff were friendly attentive and knowledgeable. Room great and food excellent, highly recommended.

Attended a wedding here as a guest/photographer. The atmosphere atmosphere nd decor within were fantastic. The staff were very helpful and all atmosphere not ending had atmosphere not ending fantastic day. Would recommend a visit and will be gaining back even just for an afternoon tea.

Absolutely spot on the staff were totally professional I would definitely recommend it ideal for peaceful getaway.

Booked afternoon tea for myself and my wife we were told that the setting would be in the library rooms with log fire etc. We arrived and were advised we would be attended in the black knights restaurant it was 3 pm and lunch appeared to be finishing we were placed on a small table up against a wall with no log fire in sight we waited and waited and then some the staff were milling around and resetting tables we were eventually served and the whole thing was then rushed through two other guest were sat very near to us on another small table and there language was foul which only added to the already unpleasant experience. The grounds and building itself are beautiful but the service on our day left a lot to be desired.

Beautiful castle in the Durham countryside. Great atmosphere, including staff dressed in period clothing. Would vote higher, but I've only stopped here for coffee, as opposed to staying the night, so I'd like to try that before awarding any more.

We were here for a wedding. The food was just OK, a bit dry and took a long time in coming. Service was good though. The bar prices were really expensive, £4.50 for a pint of lager. Having said that the castle is full of charm and character and in a great setting. It's really easy to get to and parking seemed ample.

Terribly disappointing meal for a major family birthday meal — expensive steak which was offered to be cooked 5 different ways and then just all came medium well despite customer requests. Staff inattentive and some rude and ignorant. Basic food and not great service at far to high a price to pay.

For the most haunted hotel in the UK I had one of the best nights sleep in a long time. This hotel is full of history. Everywhere you turn you are reminded of it. The restaurant is excellent with a fantastic choice. I have found over many years of staying in hotels that breakfast is a good reflection of the hotels catering. Lets just say I was not disappointed with the quality or the quantity of breakfast available. When you hear you get what you pay for, this place exceeds all expectations.

Absolutely fantastic, been few times for Halloween, murder mystery, afternoon tea and for an elizabethan banquet and they've all been amazing! great food, excellent rooms and good entertainment! staff are so friendly too. Overall a great place to visit even if just to have a coffee in luxury.

Everything that you would expect from the setting — rooms are good and the food is really top quality.

Who even wants to feel Felix Karo can come at any time around the corner is right here. Astonished guests expect friendly, slightly quirky waiter, a library as a bar, etc. The rooms are totally plushy in the style of Victor Campana set up time. Was once something completely else.

Brilliant place to go, learning about the history of the castle etc, they offer some stunning food too.