NEW REVIEW: Hotel Indigo Newcastle

Welcome to the Hotel Indigo Newcastle

Forget the future being orange, the future of hotellerie is most definitely indigo. I had no intentions to write a review on this trip. After all, I am in the midst of writing my MBA dissertation and starting my final module of ‘Entrepreneurship’. My spare time currently is spent researching what makes Sergey Brin, Larry Page or Jeff Bezos tick, not writing about hotel rooms. However, the Hotel Indigo Newcastle is too good to pass up, I simply must share it with you.

Location

The Hotel Indigo Newcastle is tucked away on a quiet back street, just minutes from the train station. From the rooftop balconies, it is possible to view the steel columns of the domed station, town spires and the bustle of pedestrians below. Frankly though, what lies within in much more fascinating.

Arrival

From the outside, it looks like any other hotel, with a hint of seventies style concrete and more modern glass work. Walking through the double doors however, is like entering an Aladdin’s cave of treasures. Brightly coloured, funky chairs adorn the reception, modern photography the walls and I am tempted to rush and throw myself into a huge black and white chair, reminiscent of Alice in Wonderland.

IHG Rewards

An hotel employee appears from nowhere, as though waiting for me to arrive, and checks me in with the usual Geordie charm. I receive thanks for my IHG loyalty by way of an upgrade to a fourth floor balcony room and a note providing Geordie translations and advice on Geordie dress etiquette. For anyone unfamiliar, Geordies pride themselves on being ‘hard as nails’ and it is not uncommon to see girls on a night out, wearing little more than hot pants. Yes, even on the coldest winter nights!

My room

I am wowed by a large feature wall showcasing local architecture. This is an hotel that celebrates its cultural roots and the architectural splendour of the area. Black and white photography, depicting detailed features from local buildings and structures, add intrigue to mustard and white walls. The piece de resistance is however, the large spacious balcony with table and chairs to admire the panoramic views of the skyline. Sadly, it is a little too cold to linger, but in any case, I have work to do.

The room isn’t just dramatic, but functional too with plenty of work space and ample plug sockets. I’m happy to discover sockets by the bed so I can continue to play with my gadgets even after retiring to bed. On the subject of the bed, it passes the test being firm but not uncomfortably so.

Bathroom

The bathroom is modern and sleek and continues the bright theme throughout. It has a great rainshower head and robes are provided in the wardrobe.

Hotel facilities

I have to drag myself away from exploration of the hotel to focus on my to do list, but the allure of the free mini bar, the on-site fitness facility and more importantly the super cool bar is hugely tempting.

Food and drink

The hotel has a Marco Pierre White restaurant on-site serving steaks and salads and guests can enjoy a 3 course meal for just £26. I opt for room service and order a haddock fishcake with poached egg and spinach. It looks so pretty, I almost don’t want to eat it! More importantly, it tastes divine.

The vibrant bars and restaurants of the city centre are just minutes away on foot if you prefer to explore, but be sure to indulge in a cocktail in the Grainger bar beforehand. That way you can really immerse yourself in the hotel’s communal area, more reminiscent of an upmarket art gallery. You may also wish to check out the Cookhouse which is a really neat place to eat with friendly service and scrumptious food.

Any negatives?

The only negative is the painfully slow wi-fi!! I am unsure whether this is because I am on the top floor or just the sheer volume of use as the hotel is pretty busy.

That said, I would highly recommend the Hotel Indigo Newcastle as a great place to stay for business or pleasure, within a stone’s throw of the station.

Cost: £103 for the night including breakfast. Now that is a bargain and I get to earn reward points to boot!