A Northumberland hotel which opened in May 2023 has been named as one of the top 100 best places to stay in the UK by The Times.
The Tempus, is a boutique hotel located within 150-acres of uninterrupted countryside within the grounds of the Charlton Hall Estate, located 8 miles north of Alnwick, Northumberland.
The recognition follows reviews of the hotel by travel industry experts, who rated The Tempus as one of the top 100 places to stay in the country, less than 12 months after it opened on 6th May 2023.
The Tempus is part of the multi award winning hospitality group, The Doxford Group, who converted 18th century farm buildings into an Alice in Wonderland inspired 32-bedroom hotel, which includes a boutique suite, two junior suites as well as king, superior king, a family room with accessible ground floor rooms and hot tub rooms available.
Every year travel experts from The Times, many of whom have been writing for the guide for more than a decade, visit hundreds of properties the length and breadth of the UK. Those in the list have caught their eye or have been recommended through scouring reader’s comments.
Every venue in the guide has been personally road-tested by at least one of the journalists from The Times, who evaluates criteria such as interiors and facilities that must live up to the marketing promises, and the quality of food on offer.
On reviewing The Tempus, Lucy Perrin’s recommendation states: “Northumberland delivers unbeatable coastline: swathes of crowd-free, dune-backed beaches crowned by castles. Staying at the Tempus, which opened last May, puts guests in striking distance of those magnificent sandy stretches as well as a ten-minute drive from the market town of Alnwick.
“The former farm’s set of 18th-century honey-coloured stone barns and outbuildings have been turned into 32 surprising bedrooms where you might find leopard-print tub chairs, fantastical House of Hackney wallpaper and bathrooms with gold-plated pelicans on the walls. The bar, festooned with disco balls, is inspired by Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, and will leave you with a grin as wide as the Cheshire Cat’s.”
Richard Shell, founder of The Doxford Group which owns The Tempus says: “Receiving the news today that The Tempus has been recognised as one of the top 100 places to stay in the UK by travel writers from The Times is an absolutely huge accolade to carry in our first year since launch.
“When we came up with the idea for The Tempus, we had an ambitious vision, but to see us recognised amongst some of the best in the country, and within 10 months of opening, is incredible, and a real testament to our team for bringing our ambitious vision to life.
“From a personal point of view, to see The Tempus listed alongside classic hotels such as Babington House and Cliveden House in the “most romantic category” is a proud moment and is a huge testament to the quality and the experience of a stay at The Tempus. This is also a great moment for North Northumberland as The Tempus was the only hotel north of the Tyne and in Northumberland that was recognised within the “most romantic” hotel category.”
Taking its name from the Latin translation of the word time, The Tempus is also home to an opulent restaurant and bar serving breakfast, lunch, dinner, and afternoon tea to the public. Menu highlights include:
The Tempus also serves an exquisite Afternoon Tea experience courtesy of its pastry chef Catherine Smith, of The Ritz and Betty’s Cookery School. Afternoon Tea at The Tempus is inspired by local influences and prepared using ingredients sourced from Northumberland and the Borders. The finest mini cakes, scones and delicate finger sandwiches will be served in the Orangery and paired with tea, prosecco and champagne.
