Macdonald Portal Hotel, Golf & Spa Review

Macdonald Portal has been ranked as Highly Recommended by Golfshake members in 2018, 2019 and 2021. We sent Ambassador Rob Treanor along in May 2022 to experience the venue’s extensive facilities as well as its acclaimed Championship Course.

Macdonald Portal in Cheshire is home to three golf courses and a tremendous suite of off course amenities. The four star hotel is complemented by a luxurious spa, making it an ideal destination for a relaxing golf break. The Championship Course was designed by Donald Steel and opened in 1990, with the parkland track gaining an excellent reputation since.

Accommodation

The glorious gardens bring elegance and beauty to this luxurious hotel. From the majestic entrance to the hotel’s grounds, the boulevard leading down to the hotel is punctuated with mature flowerbeds as it weaves between a handful of holes belonging to the Championship Course. The hotel’s front entrance is the horticultural highlight with an assortment of beautiful borders significantly enhancing the arrival experience.

The hotel is home to 85 bedrooms, all of which are a very good size and many benefitting from views over the Championship Course. The rooms are spacious and well-appointed with amenities including an impressive bathroom. The entire hotel is scrupulously clean and the corridors very pleasantly fragranced adding a further sensory feeling to the luxurious experience. The finishing touch is how incredibly friendly and courteous the staff are throughout the entire hotel, making each interaction feel special and ensuring guests are very well looked after.

Food & Drink

The hotel’s lounge bar on the first floor has views across the gardens and into the distance, a view which is maximised by full height floor to ceiling windows. This light and airy space also has large wall mounted TVs that can be used for watching live events. Bar snacks are available throughout the day in this informal space that serves as a great meeting place at the heart of the venue.

The hotel has a separate restaurant called Salt, whuch is named after the region’s strong links with the rock salt industry. This impressive space shares the floor to ceiling windows that create a light and spacious aspect from which to enjoy dinner. The restaurant overlooks a grassed rooftop patio, which adds a further space for events.

The brasserie style menu at Salt serves sophisticated starters such as calamari and pork cheek croquette. Seasonal mains are offered alongside a tasty grill offering with a range of steaks and classics such as burger and fries. Afternoon tea is also well catered for as an alternative dining option.

Facilities

The generous spa is one of the standout features at this venue. Anchored around a large 18 metre swimming pool are a variety of steam rooms, saunas and treatment areas. The pool is flooded with a huge amount of light owing to the floor to ceiling windows, a typical design feature at this classy hotel. The spacious interior feels luxurious and grown up and is a great place to reenergise tired muscles.

Guests who have extra energy to expend have ample opportunity to do so in the neighbouring fitness area, which houses a full array of modern equipment. The hotel does also have conferencing and meeting room facilities meaning the venue has all of the requirements for a corporate golf day.

Summary

Macdonald Portal has all of the ingredients for a superb golf trip. Great accommodation, a luxurious spa and two excellent 18 hole golf courses, making this a destination that can amply cater for an extended break. The jewels in the crown are the fantastic spa, the very welcoming team of staff, and the memorable Championship golf course. If you are in the market for a luxurious overnight break with great golf, then Macdonald Portal delivers emphatically.

For more information, please visit https://www.macdonaldhotels.co.uk/portal.