- Rockliffe has reopened in Hurworth-on-Tees after a multi-million-pound transformation.
- The resort’s Hawtree-designed course extends to 7,879 yards from the back tees.
- Rooms start at £550 per night, while suites begin at £1,200 on a bed-and-breakfast basis.
Rockliffe has reopened in Hurworth-on-Tees after a multi-million-pound transformation that adds new accommodation, dining venues and leisure facilities to its championship golf offering.
Set across 375 acres of private parkland, the North East resort now has 43 individually designed rooms and suites, a 50,000-square-foot spa, tennis and padel courts, plus a state-of-the-art gym.
The project also includes the restoration of the estate’s Grade II-listed buildings, with the East Wing reworked to combine historic features with contemporary interiors. The former Old Hall has been converted into suites and public spaces, with design details referencing the region’s industrial heritage, wool and linen traditions, and North East sandstone.
Hawtree course receives further investment
Golf remains central to Rockliffe’s plans. The 18-hole championship course was designed by Hawtree and measures 7,879 yards from the back tees, making it one of the longest courses in the UK.
The layout has five tee positions on every hole, allowing players to choose a suitable level of challenge. USGA-specification creeping bent grass greens provide the putting surfaces, while extensive drainage and year-round conditioning are intended to support play across the seasons.
A major bunker renovation is due to finish later in 2026. The resort has also invested in new machinery and its greenkeeping team, while the enhanced Clubhouse now provides dining and informal hospitality overlooking the course.
James Close leads new restaurant
The resort’s new restaurant is ATLAS James & Maria Close, a 36-cover pavilion led by Culinary Director James Close, the former chef-patron of the two-Michelin-starred Raby Hunt.
The experience starts in a Champagne and aperitif lounge before moving into a dining room arranged around three open kitchen islands. The restaurant also includes a six-seat chef’s table, visible ageing fridges and a spice wall.
James and Maria Close have assembled a team including Executive Chef Adam Molloy, Head Chef Shaun Hurrell, Restaurant Director Jack Adams and Head of Wine Manuel Ghezzi. The menu draws on the couple’s travels and personal influences, with dishes served through curated sequences.
Rockliffe’s wider dining collection now includes Rialto, an Italian-American restaurant running from breakfast through evening service; Ro, a cocktail bar influenced by Japanese precision and industrial design; The Morning Room for afternoon tea; Café TERRA, a café and bakery; and The Clubhouse, which offers relaxed classics, globally influenced food and live sport.
Spa and outdoor facilities
The resort’s spa has also been expanded. Its facilities include a Spa Garden, hydrotherapy and thermal areas, 11 treatment rooms, a 20-metre indoor pool and outdoor wellbeing spaces.
Guests can also use the tennis and padel courts, landscaped grounds and nature trails beside the River Tees. Helicopter landings are available within the estate by prior arrangement.
“This reopening represents a defining moment for Rockliffe,” said Shauna Robb, Group Chief Operating Officer. “We have reimagined the resort to celebrate our regional heritage while introducing a new standard of English luxury. Our ambition is to create a destination where championship golf, exceptional gastronomy and genuine North East hospitality come together to deliver one of the finest resort experiences in the UK.”
Rooms start from £550 per night, with suites from £1,200, both on a bed-and-breakfast basis. Rockliffe is 12 minutes from Darlington railway station, around two hours and 30 minutes from London King’s Cross, and 14 minutes from Teesside International Airport.
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Simon Bale
Simon Bale is the publisher of Golf Today. A low single-figure handicap golfer, he was previously a major shareholder and course reviewer for Top100GolfCourses.com for over a decade, starting in 2010. Through this role, he developed extensive knowledge of golf course design and architecture while playing more than 300 courses worldwide.