WE'VE all been waiting for the return of indoor hospitality and so has Spain's leading hotel chain which has just opened its first in the North-East.
With a stunning backdrop of Newcastle's iconic bridges, the impressive INNSiDE on the quayside stands proud as does Gino D'Acampo's name advertising its in-house eatery.
Hoping to offer something for everyone paired with its breathtaking views, the hotel has been described as a "long-awaited" arrival - and it's not hard to see why.
Just the second INNSiDE hotel run by Meliá Hotels International in the UK, the four-star hotel opened last Monday after more than three years in the making.
We stayed the night and this is what we thought.
In arguably one of the best locations and just a stone's throw from the bars, INNSiDE Newcastle sits near the High Level Bridge and the Wetherspoon pub, Quayside.
With 161 bedrooms priced between £77 up to £125 (normally £118 to £193), the hotel has rooms ranging from a twin right up to a 'Townhouse' with its own sitting room.
We checked into a 'Studio' on the very top floor (£109 for the basic room and £167 normally) of the seven-storey building and got to grips with what was on offer.
A selection of mod-cons, a huge king-size bed, masses of storage and an unusual yet practical (and very European) bathroom - complete with an enormous walk-in shower.
Your eyes are drawn to the floor-to-ceiling windows which gives Newcastle's quayside the viewing space it deserves, and rightfully so.
Detail is clearly key here as the room is bursting with little treats, of which included a selection of homemade fudge and a handwritten note from the manager.
Guests are treated to slippers, robes - and even a yoga mat, while tea-making facilities extend beyond the usual sachets with a complimentary Nespresso machine.
With enough quirks and comfort to enjoy for hours, it's a wonder that anyone makes it out of their room - but for those that do and are looking for food, they aren't spoilt for choice.
Despite being in the middle of a city centre destination, guests don't need to look far when wanting that fine-dining experience.
That's because the in-house eatery is actually run by TV chef and I'm a Celeb star, Gino D'Acampo.
Understood to be just his second-ever partnership with the worldwide hotel brand, we expected the restaurant and menu to live up to its reputation.
Seated with a view of the Tyne Bridge and views spanning right down the to the Baltic, our tastebuds were alive at the food on offer. As you'd imagine, it's a twist on Italian.
It's important to know that right up until its opening, INNSiDE had touted this restaurant as THE destination, so we were feeling confident.
We opted for a freshly-baked garlic bread with smoked provola cheese (£6.95) for the table while we eyed-up the menu for our favourites.
Confirming our choice, we went for a delicious starter of genovese mussels with pesto and olives and bruchetta (£9.50) and a mouthwatering calamari starter (£8.95).
For our mains, we were tempted with the juicy, 225g chargrilled rib-rye steak complete with fries and a homemade peppercorn sauce (£24.75).
We also ordered succulent lamb cutlets with grilled pancetta, honey, lemon and rosemary sauce (£20.75) - paired with a portion of sea salted-courgette fries (£4.50).
For the table again, we opted for a tasty side of grilled red and yellow peppers finished with cherry tomatoes and capers (£4.50), and a simple side of fries (£4.25).
To round off, we chose the handmade patisserie chocolate fondant with chocolate truffles bursting with flavour (£6.95).
We also went for a fabulously presented and well-equipped cheese board, with flavours including gorgonzola, taleggio, buffalo ricotta and pecorino with crostini (£9.75).
After our very satisfying meal, we were invited to continue the evening at the hotel's lively bar in the buzzing foyer for a taste of its thirst-quenching cocktails and spirits.
Difficult to choose just one from a dozen-strong list of cocktails, we settled on a toothsome Gin 'N' Juice (£8.85) consisting of Bombay, kiwi, pear nectar, apple and lemon.
After soaking up the atmosphere, which the hotel seemed to strike up a perfect balance of safety measures and sense of normality, it was time to hit the pillow.
Well-rested after an evening of rich food and fine cocktails, the feeling of drawing back those curtains to see a crisp and clear Newcastle morning was spectacular.
The bed had proven to be just as comfortable and capable of sending you to the land of nod as it first looked, while the room was perfectly silent and free of neighbouring noise.
INNSiDE offers guests the option to have breakfast delivered to the room or downstairs back at the Gino D'Acampo restaurant - we headed down to see the full selection.
To cater for all guests, there is a comprehensive selection of full english including freshly-baked breads and a mouthwatering selection of continental bites.
The buffet is self-serve, but a selection of 'extras' including the likes of Eggs Benedict can be cooked-to-order at an additional cost.
We opted for a freshly-cooked breakfast followed by a fruit selection, a pain au chocolate and blueberry for good measure, and because we could.
Everything we tried down from the pork sausage to the morning-baked patisserie selection, and freshly-brewed coffee hit the spot and set us up for the day, and our departure.
It was finally time to say goodbye as we checked-out INNSiDE Newcastle at the rather generous time of 12pm with our first proper taste of a holiday since the pandemic began.
As we headed up towards the city centre, we looked back at the hotel fading into the distance and made the guarantee that we would be back to sample it all over again.
HOTEL FACTS
Located on Bridge Court, River View, Newcastle.
Check-in for guests is 3pm and check-out is 12pm.
Breakfast is served between 6.30am and 10.30am.
The gym is included in the basic room rate.
Parking is very limited, although there are council car parks nearby.
For more information visit the hotel's website here or call 0191 338 7710
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