1 Night, 2 Rounds
Tucked into the rolling Cheshire countryside just east of Chester, Macdonald Portal Hotel, Golf & Spa is a smart choice for a UK golf break when you want variety on the course and a proper resort base. The headline is the Donald Steel-designed Championship Course, a strategic test where shaping the ball and picking the right side of the fairway matters. Alongside it, the Premier Course offers a different look for your second round, while the 9-hole Arderne is ideal for a warm-up loop, a quick extra nine or a mixed-ability group.
Off the course, Portal's big advantage is that you're not at the mercy of the weather. The on-site academy, billed as the largest indoor golf academy in Europe, gives you a reliable practice option, plus there's a well-stocked pro shop for last-minute kit and essentials. Following an £11 million refurbishment, the hotel feels modern and comfortable, with a spa that's well set up for post-round recovery and dining options that suit everything from a relaxed bite to a proper evening meal. It's a strong all-in-one option for a North West golf break, and a top pick for a quick England trip when you want great courses and proper resort facilities in one place.
Who is this for?
Groups who want a straightforward North West golf break with three courses on site, a reliable practice option and a spa to keep the non-golfers happy too.
Who is it best for?
Mixed-ability trips that want variety across rounds, plus low to mid-handicappers who'll enjoy the Championship Course as the main test.
* Where applicable, the relevant promotions will be applied during the booking process. T&Cs may apply.
1 Night, 2 Rounds
2 Nights, 3 Rounds
3 Nights, 4 Rounds
The Championship Course at Portal is relatively unknown to a wide audience, but having opened in 1990, it is one of the best courses to be completed in England in the modern era. In fact, it was named ‘Golf Course Of The Year' in 1995, and is the star of Portal's golfing complex.
Designer Donald Steel has created a challenge that is characterised by unique and distinctive holes; expansive water hazards and cascading waterfalls are among the tests. The signature is typical of Steel's magnificent 7,041 yard layout - the long third tips the scales at 607 yards, with a green guarded by a beautiful lake.
Signature hole- No. 14: Par 3, 136 yards (White), SI 17 (Men), 4 (Ladies)
The Championship signature hole plays to almost an island green, with water around the front, side and back of the green and a couple of waterfalls too. The best entrance would be straight down the middle, as this would avoid two large trees which overhang either side, and could easily rebound your ball back into the water.
| Par | 73 |
|---|---|
| Designed by | Donald Steel |
| Opened for play | 1990 |
| White | 7,041 yards | SSS 75 |
|---|---|---|
| Yellow | 6,495 yards | SSS 72 |
| Red | 5,789 yards | SSS 73 |
While the Premier Course at Portal will always be in the shade of its award-winning sibling, it is a cracking course in its own right. Overlooking the Cheshire Plains, the par-71 parkland track is shorter than the Championship Course, measuring 6,582 yards, but benefits from the same stunning water and woodland backdrop.
Both courses are consistently maintained in immaculate condition, and together form the basis that has made Portal one of the best destinations for a golf break in the north west.
Signature hole - No. 15: Par 3, 205 yards (White), SI 11 (men), 17 (ladies)
The 15th on the Premier is a breathtaking hole. Playing very high up, the elevated tee is almost on a cliff face and the approach has to be judged well, due to a sheer drop to the low-down kidney shaped green. Accuracy is paramount on this hole as there are trees which overhang on both sides and bunkers to the left and right of the green.
| Par | 71 |
|---|---|
| Designed by | Tim Rouse |
| Opened for play | 1990 |
| White | 6,582 yards | SSS 73 |
|---|---|---|
| Yellow | 6,293 yards | SSS 71 |
| Red | 5,688 yards | SSS 74 |
The Arderne Course at the Macdonald Portal Hotel is a 9 hole par 30 golf course and is a fantastic test of your short game. The course comprises of 3 par 4’s and 6 par 3’s and has a total yardage of 1724. There are two sets of tee’s so this course can be played twice. The Lee Westwood Golf School use this course for practicing so you never know who you might catch a glimpse of!
| Par | 30 |
|---|---|
| Designed by | Donald Steel |
| Opened for play | 1990 |
| White | 3,472 yards | SSS 30 |
|---|---|---|
| Yellow | 3,248 yards | SSS 30 |
The accommodation consists of 85 rooms and 6 executive suites, all thoughtfully equipped for a comfortable stay. Every room comes with a minibar, internet access, tea and coffee facilities, an en suite bathroom, satellite TV and a proper work area if you need it. The executive suites take things up a notch with private balconies that look out over the beautiful estate, perfect for a morning coffee before your round or an evening drink after you've come off the course.
The £11 million investment touched every corner of the property, so the public areas feel just as polished as the bedrooms. From the moment you arrive to the moment you check out, you're in a space that's been designed with comfort and quality in mind, the sort of place where you can settle in properly rather than just passing through. The rooms are spacious enough to spread out your kit, the beds are comfortable, and the bathrooms are modern and well appointed. If you're staying for a few nights and playing multiple rounds, that level of comfort makes a real difference.
The suites are worth the upgrade if you're celebrating something or just want a bit more space and a view to go with it. Waking up to a view over the estate, especially in summer when the course is at its best, sets the tone for a good day's golf. The standard rooms are more than adequate for most trips, but the suites add a touch of luxury that rounds out the experience nicely.
The Salt Brasserie is a genuine highlight, serving some of the best food in the region. The menu focuses on quality Scottish-bred beef and lamb, alongside fish sourced from the renowned Loch Fyne Oyster Company. It's proper dining without being stuffy, the kind of meal that rounds off a day on the course perfectly. The kitchen takes the estate-to-table approach seriously, and you can taste the difference in the ingredients. If you're after something more relaxed, the Lounge Bar overlooks the Cheshire Plains and is ideal for a drink or a lighter bite in more casual surroundings.
The spa is where you'll want to spend any time you're not on the golf course. The facilities are impressive, built around a philosophy of proper relaxation and recovery. You've got a sauna, rock sauna, aroma steam bath, salt infusion suite and ice bath, all designed to soothe tired muscles after 36 holes. The 18-metre swimming pool is perfect for a few gentle laps, and the beauty treatment menu covers everything from sports massage to full spa days. It's the sort of setup that makes Portal feel less like a golf hotel and more like a full resort experience, particularly useful if you're travelling with non-golfers or just want to balance serious golf with proper downtime.
Macdonald Portal Hotel and Golf Club sits in Tarporley, 11 miles east of Chester. You're looking at roughly 27 miles from both Manchester Airport and Liverpool Airport, and about 20 miles from Winsford train station, so access is straightforward whether you're driving or flying in.
Address: Cobblers Cross Lane, Tarporley, Cheshire, England, CW6 0DJ
Rich
✓29 May 2026
Philip
✓20 May 2026
Great stay really didn’t think the food was very good there was 4 of us but there was only 1 burger left when it was finally served to me it was cold
Morton
✓18 May 2026
Excellent
Jeremy
✓18 May 2026
Had a great weekend, excellent facilities
steve
✓14 May 2026
Mark
✓14 May 2026
Geof
✓9 May 2026
Daniel
✓4 May 2026
Excellent staff very friendly and polite, waiting staff were a joy to be served by
George
✓29 Apr 2026
Simon
✓28 Apr 2026
Hotel, food, room and gym ace. Staff not that great, if it was busy id be worried about being forgotten.
Rich
✓29 May 2026
Rich
✓29 May 2026
Philip
✓20 May 2026
Much better than the pramier
Philip
✓20 May 2026
Played this course a lot of times over the years but it wasn’t in the best of conditions
Morton
✓18 May 2026
Lovely course but slow play
Morton
✓18 May 2026
Too slow
Jeremy
✓18 May 2026
Course played really well, greens were excellent. A very enjoyable weekend.
Jeremy
✓18 May 2026
Greens need work. Course played nicely. 15th is enjoyable
steve
✓14 May 2026
A very long course which didn't suit the ladies in our group. The greens were slow for the time of year, but this aside, we enjoyed ourselves and some of the views were outstanding. There were some outstanding holes - particularly the 15th on the Premier- which would lure me back again. A shame the bar at the course closed so early (4.30pm)
Mark
✓14 May 2026
Much better round as we were out early morning the course was in very good condition as they were preparing for a junior competition the next day
Check-in is at 14:00 and check out is 11:00
Yes
There is an indoor pool, gym, and a bundle of Spa packages which can be bought including thermal facilities and luxurious ELEMIS treatment.
