Beautifully reimagined spaces, exciting new dining destinations and luxurious stays mark the beginning of a new chapter for Rockliffe…
There has been a quiet sense of anticipation around Rockliffe for some time. We’ve watched the transformation unfold, followed the plans and admired the first glimpses of what was to come.
Now, the wait is over.
This September, Rockliffe entered a new chapter following an ambitious multi-million-pound transformation.
Rockliffe has always been somewhere to escape to for all the right reasons. There’s the food, location, golf and spa, alongside a calendar of special events. That familiar sense of place remains, but there is now something distinctly different to discover.
The newly refurbished East Wing suites have opened alongside new dining and drinking destinations Rialto and Ro. Hotel and spa reception spaces have also been beautifully refreshed.
Afternoon Tea has returned to the reimagined Morning Room, while ATLAS James & Maria Close has welcomed its first guests.
It feels less like a refurbishment and more like a reinvention.
A new era of dining
At the heart of the transformation is a significant new culinary chapter, led by Rockliffe’s Culinary Director James Close and his wife, Maria.
Four new concepts bring a different rhythm to the resort, each with its own personality and purpose.
Rialto is the new all-day restaurant and social heart of Rockliffe. Inspired by Italian-American hospitality, it moves from leisurely breakfasts and relaxed lunches to aperitivo afternoons and convivial evenings.
Sharing dishes and handmade pasta feature on a menu designed to feel generous and welcoming.
Then there is Ro, an intimate new cocktail bar with Japanese influence. Here, precision, craftsmanship and a little theatre come together.
Guests can expect considered cocktails and Japanese-inspired small plates in a grown-up setting made for lingering over one more drink.
For one of those wonderfully timeless Rockliffe rituals, The Morning Room has also reopened for Afternoon Tea.
Traditional British favourites receive a refined modern treatment, with Champagne and English sparkling wine alongside speciality teas. It all takes place within a beautifully restored Grade II-listed setting.
Discover ATLAS James & Maria Close
Perhaps the most anticipated arrival is ATLAS James & Maria Close.
The intimate 36-cover restaurant offers an immersive, chef-guided experience inspired by James and Maria’s travels around the world.
Guests begin in a dedicated Champagne and aperitif lounge. From there, they move through a carefully curated sequence of dishes.
Three open kitchen islands bring the chefs and their craft into the centre of the experience.
For the North East, and for Rockliffe, it feels significant. This is dining designed not simply to feed you, but to take you somewhere.
The art of staying
The transformation extends well beyond the dining room.
Rockliffe has designed its refurbished East Wing suites around comfort, calm and a strong sense of place. The result is somewhere that invites guests to settle in rather than simply sleep.
Across the resort, the intention is clear. Luxury feels considered rather than excessive, with thoughtful details and plenty of room to breathe.
And, of course, the beauty of Rockliffe has always been that you don’t necessarily have to do very much at all.
There are spaces to explore, riverside walks to wander and bikes to borrow. Guests can discover the Kitchen Garden or head to the tennis and padel courts for something a little more energetic.
Then there is the award-winning spa and thermal suite, offering the perfect place to retreat as autumn draws in.
An autumn escape
For golfers, autumn brings its own particular appeal.
The Autumn Fairways stay combines an overnight stay with two rounds on Rockliffe’s championship course. It also includes spa and thermal suite access, dinner and breakfast at Rialto.
It’s the sort of autumn escape that makes a convincing case for putting the diary down and heading for the countryside.
Discover the new Rockliffe
The Art of Discovery stay has been created for those wanting to experience Rockliffe following its transformation.
Guests can stay in a newly refurbished suite and dine at ATLAS James & Maria Close. Breakfast at Rialto is also included, alongside use of the spa, gym, tennis and padel facilities throughout the stay.
It’s an opportunity to experience Rockliffe refreshed, reimagined and ready for what comes next.
We’ve loved following the journey, from the first whispers of what was planned to watching the spaces and experiences take shape.
Now, we can’t wait to see it for ourselves.
