BLOG

Newcastle. Heart of the North15 Jun 2015

As the latest members of the HGteam Natalie and I went on our first road trip, and where better to start than the heart of the North? Newcastle has lots to offer! With so many new hotels, restaurants, bars, great shopping and leisure experiences why go anywhere else?

Our mission was to go and visit some of the IHG branded hotels. What do you think of when you hear ‘Holiday Inn’? Do you think modern or spacious? On our tour we were able to visit the Holiday Inn properties in Jesmond, Gosforth Park and also the Express in central Newcastle. We both love what they’ve done with the new IHG image; spacious, open planned, a breath of fresh air.

Holiday Inn Gosforth is currently having areas of the hotel refurbished, the new unique layout of the hotel aims to provide space for work or leisure, ideal for both business travellers and leisure guests. The general manager took time to come and talk with us and it was clear that he and his team were excited about their plans for the future.

All guests look for something unique when staying in hotels and Holiday Inn Jesmond had the one for me! Fratello’s Italian restaurant has a display of pressed olive oil in the room, the space is open and airy with stone flooring and open wood burning pizza ovens giving an authentic Italian feel.

Surrounded by local bars and shops the Holiday Inn Express is in a great location! The city centre venue, just off the Boulevard leading to St James’s Park, has had some of the rooms recently refurbished with more following shortly. They have a nice modern feel to them with light colours.

Now for something a bit different… Hotel Indigo. With a focus on the surrounding local neighbourhood, Indigo hotels are designed to portray the local ethos. I was expecting something different to your standard reception and lounge area, and I was not disappointed! Newcastle’s hotel Indigo utilises and celebrates the areas culture within the décor, wall paper and modern prints depicting the Tyne Bridge, Castle and Grainger Streets neoclassical architecture. The Marco Pierre White restaurant is also well known within the town and is a popular venue for events. I am told the food is fantastic...maybe we will get the chance to taste on the next visit!

The trip was an eye opener covering all the IHG brands in the area, we didn’t realise how different they would all be, great locations and well looked after by all the staff who met us and showed us around the properties.

Jade Roberts