Pristine white linen and sparkling glassware adorn your table in one of our individually decorated 1930s Pullman-style carriages, which have been lovingly restored by some of the country's top craftspeople, including marquetry experts, muralists and mosaic artists. Within minutes, one of our liveried Stewards will carefully pour you a sparkling Mimosa cocktail as you study celebrated Head Chef Matthew Green’s sumptuous menu.
Ahead lies a journey back to the Golden Days of rail travel, a time when nothing was too good for the pampered passengers. Our Executive Head Chef and his team will already be hard at work in the kitchen carriage preparing a sumptuous three-course brunch and six-course dinner, accompanied by our Sommelier’s choice of wine. Each course boasts the finest seasonal ingredients from the British Isles, classic and innovative dishes are crafted in our recently refurbished kitchen carriage.
En route to Hardwick Hall, a delicious three-course brunch is served as the glorious British countryside passes by. On arrival, follow the platform guides as they accompany you to our private transfer which will escort you to the hall. Spend the afternoon learning the history of the country house with a guided tour and then take time to explore on your own.
After an incredible day, we rejoin the Northern Belle for a Champagne reception, before tucking into a sumptuous six-course dinner during the leisurely journey home.
HARDWICK HALL
Hardwick Hall, situated in Derbyshire, is an architecturally significant Elizabethan-era country house, exemplifying the Elizabethan prodigy house style. Constructed between 1590 and 1597 for Bess of Hardwick, it was designed by the renowned architect Robert Smythson, known for his Renaissance style. Hardwick Hall represents an early instance of the English interpretation of this style, which gained popularity after spreading from Florence. Notably, it marks a period when fortifying domestic dwellings was no longer necessary or legal in Britain. Originally owned by the Cavendish family, including the Earls and Dukes of Devonshire, the house's ownership was transferred to the Treasury in 1956 and later to the National Trust in 1959 due to its deteriorating condition. The Hall, now fully open to the public, underwent stabilisation and restoration to address its approaching ruin. In 2019, it attracted 298,283 visitors.
