Standing proud for more than 600 years, the magnificent spectacle of Lumley Castle dominates the County Durham landscape. Surrounded by stunning parklands overlooking the River Wear, it is a magnificent monument to a bygone age of chivalry and honour.

Lumley Castle dates back to 1392. Sir Ralph Lumley, a soldier and local hero was the owner of the Manor House which stood on its location. Sir Ralph played a key role in the defence of Berwick-on-Tweed in 1388 and in the same year led the attack at the Battle of Otterburn. In 1389 he petitioned the Bishop of Durham for permission to fortify his home and in 1392 the work was complete. Sir Ralph did not have long to enjoy his new home as in 1400 he was involved in the conspiracy to overthrow Henry IV and replace him with Richard II, a coup that failed and led to Sir Ralph and his son Thomas being arrested and executed.

As with any historic location, Lumley Castle has its resident ghost. Lady Lily Lumley, the wife of Sir Ralph is said to walk the corridors of her former home where she was murdered by local priests and her body dumped in the well, which you can still see today.

Accommodation

Imagine a hotel where every room is different. Where each one is filled with special touches, where you may even find a four poster bed or a bathroom hidden behind the door of a wardrobe or even a bookcase. Discover the charms of Lumley Castle and you will find that this is where the practical meets the theatrical, where elegance, imagination and comfort will be your bed-fellows.

All of our bedrooms are individually designed and decorated so that they are in keeping with the rest of the castle. We offer 59 individual bedchambers including the King James Suite, Castle Feature rooms and Executive bedchambers. Our Courtyard rooms are equally as impressive, all designed and decorated individually. All are furnished to the highest standard and whatever you choose you will have an experience which will stay with you for a lifetime.

59 bedrooms including:

• suites
• single
• double
• twin
• family
• executive/superior
• four-poster rooms


Black Knight Restaurant

The elegant setting and superb food on offer in the Black Knight restaurant make it a popular choice for diners who travel far and wide to dine at Lumley Castle.

Subtle lighting, lavish furnishings, unobtrusive yet attentive service makes the Black Knight restaurant truly memorable. The menu offers classical dishes with an original twist, and a selection so varied that all tastes are catered for. Diners can choose from the Table d'Hτte or the A la Carte menu, with a fine selection of wines from our extensive cellars available to complement meals.

Dining at Lumley Castle is a feast for all the senses. While your eyes delight in the elegant surroundings of our Black Knight restaurant or the sophisticated style of one of our private dining rooms, your tastebuds can savour the glorious flavours of Lumley's fine food. Our exquisite array of dishes is prepared using only the finest and freshest ingredients and are cooked and presented to perfection.


Weddings

Hold your ceremony and reception at Lumley Castle and your dream of a fairytale wedding will come true.

With a picturesque backdrop and service that is second to none your day will be all you have imagined and more.

Set in beautiful grounds and with hundreds of years of history, Lumley Castle provides a magical backdrop for couples to celebrate their wedding.

• The Scarbrough State Room can hold up to 77 guests for civil marriage ceremonies.
• The Garter State Room can hold up to 132 guests and its decor makes it ideal for wedding receptions.
• The newly refurbished Barons Hall can hold up to 110 guests
• We can also cater for more intimate weddings with special packages available for 10 - 30 guests.
• Beautifully landscaped gardens with views over the river Wear and Chester-le-Street.
• Popular Wedding Packages to make the whole process much easier.
• For the bride and groom, complimentary wedding night accommodation.
• Attractive preferential accommodation rates for your guests (subject to availability).


We will be pleased to offer details of the following:

• All aspects of flower arrangements for your wedding including favours, bouquets and button-holes etc. Please visit our partners' website: Blooms of Chester le Street who will be delighted to discuss your requirements.
• Recognised local cake makers and decorators
• Wedding photographers
• Musicians and discotheques for your reception or evening function
• Suppliers of wedding cars or carriages
• Local dress suppliers
• Provision of a private dining room for a pre-wedding dinner, or lunch on the following day.


Conference Facilities

Our stunning facilities and our dedicated team mean we can offer bespoke conferences to meet your every need. With our grand State Rooms or more intimate meeting rooms you can be confident that an event at Lumley Castle will impress.

We can provide a bespoke service for meetings, seminars, product launches, team builds, or simply a fun day, helping you to tailor the programme that best suits your purpose.

Facilities

Elegant meeting rooms with the facilities and the capacity to host functions for up to 150 guests make Lumley Castle a popular choice as a conference venue. The impressive state rooms date back to the 14th century and include the Garter room, designed by leading architect Sir John Vanbrugh.

With over seven rooms to choose from, including the Bede, Sandbeck, Northumbria and Scarbrough rooms, Lumley Castle is the ideal meeting venue to impress potential clients, unveil new developments or train colleagues.

Our fabulous facilities have been carefully designed to match the expectations of today's event organizer and guests.

In addition, we place at your disposal:

• a total of 59 non-smoking en-suite bedrooms.
• full range of audio-visual equipment
• fully experienced, efficient and friendly conference team
• archery and croquet
• various on-site team building activities
• 24-hour room service available on request
• ample free car parking.