Corner House Hotel by Greene King Inns

Good value. The room was clean and comfortable, the water was hot and the towels fluffy. Food downstairs was pretty good for the price, and the quiz was fun, even though we didn’t win.

Our bedroom had a dark lobby and wardrobe area, plus a tiny bathroom. The hotel could use a spruce up, though the staff were generally welcoming and helpful. Meals were good, the side salad was bland, and there was a good range of drinks. Staff should keep an eye on loud, unruly children who disturb other customers.

We went out in Newcastle and stayed one night at the corner house hotel. The staff were attentive, friendly and clearly worked hard. Food was good value: we shared the 2 for £13.49 deal, and my fish and chips were lovely and filling. Great bar, great hotel!

I came away with a stiff back after a bad night’s sleep. I stay in plenty of hotels at a similar price and rarely sleep badly, but the bed here did it. The shower-over-bath was fine, and the location is close to Heaton. There was noise from just about everywhere. My window faced a main road junction and wouldn’t close because the latch or handle was broken, so traffic and regular emergency sirens came straight in. The outdoor smoking and seating area for the pub below was right under the bedroom, and I could hear people and plastic garden furniture being dragged around. To be fair, I couldn’t hear the pub itself. The plumbing was loud too. Mains cold water pressure made the fittings noisy, and a toilet flushing or shower running in the next room was really loud. The walls were thin enough for me to hear conversation, and someone plugging something into a socket sounded as if they might break through the wall, especially since it was by the bed’s headboard. The fire doors slammed instead of closing softly. There was one at the landing as well as each room door, so two doors banged every time someone came or went, and the room doors barely blocked sound. The internal bathroom relied on electric light, but its small ceiling light was dim and yellow. The switch was grimy.