Aristocratic history of England’s finest B&B

Jun 13 2009 by David Black, The Journal

AMAGNIFICENT country house which was once the family home of the current Duke and Duchess of Northumberland has been chosen as England’s best bed and breakfast in a prestigious awards scheme.

Chatton Park House near Wooler – a 250-year-old Georgian property set in four acres of gardens and boasting its own tennis courts – has won the accolade in the AA Bed and Breakfast Awards 2009.

Owners Paul and Michelle Mattinson, who opened the business in March last year after carrying out renovations to the house, attended a ceremony in London’s Langham Hotel this week to collect the coveted award.

The winners were chosen by the AA’s panel of inspectors from a shortlist of 20 bed and breakfast establishments all over Britain.

Paul, 44, and Michelle, 43, who are originally from Gateshead and Newcastle respectively, won the best in England category after Chatton Park House was twice visited by AA inspectors, once without them knowing about it.

It is the latest in a series of awards and accolades they have earned since buying the property in August 2007. At one time it was the family home of Ralph and Jane Percy, before he became the Duke of Northumberland in 1995 when his brother died suddenly.

Last October the AA gave Chatton Park House its top award of five gold stars and an Excellence for Breakfast award. It was also voted top destination by the prestigious Shires magazine.

Visitors to Chatton Park House can choose from three bedroom suites to stay in, and Paul and Michelle’s breakfasts are cooked using the best in locally-sourced food.

Yesterday Paul said: “This AA award is the pinnacle of what we have achieved so far. It is nice to have and we are very proud of it, but the customers are the most important thing to us.”

Chatton Park House is such a stunning and unique property that people would not expect it to be a B&B. We draw an awful lot of people from London.”