ONE of the district's most popular hotels will remain closed until March, it has been announced. 

Matfen Hall was purchased by the Walwick Estate Group, which owns the Walwick Hall Hotel, earlier this year. 

The resort temporarily closed on November 5 in line with current lockdown regulations, which are set to end on December 2. 

However, a statement on Matfen Hall's website said it would remain closed until March 2021 to enable an "incredible" refurbishment to take place. 

The statement read: "On behalf of the Walwick Estate Group, we’d like to thank you all for your unwavering support this last year, and for welcoming us so warmly into the business. With this in mind, we’re excited to announce that we’ve made the decision to carry out an exciting, major refurbishment of the Hotel.

"Because of this, Matfen Hall will remain temporarily closed until March 2021 as we work on an incredible new refurbishment.

"While we regard this as a very exciting time for the future of Matfen Hall and look forward with anticipation to our reopening, we are of course aware that this news will be disappointing to hear for many of our members, guests and supporters – for this, we can only apologise.

"We strongly believe, however, that the next few months will be worth the wait and we look forward to welcoming you back to see our magnificent new look in 2021."

Matfen Hall opened as a hotel in the 1990s with 31 bedrooms under the ownership of Sir Hugh and Lady Blackett.

In 2004, they oversaw a major expansion programme that resulted in the number of bedrooms increasing to 53 and the Aqua Spa and leisure facilities created.

On purchasing the business in August, Walwick Estate Group chairman David Harrison paid tribute to the Blackett family for their contribution to Matfen Hall over the years. 

Matfen Hall has been approached for comment.