Holiday Inn Newcastle - Gosforth Park by IHG

The rooms are roomy and nicely decorated, with clean, comfortable beds, pillows, linen and towels. It’s also well placed for exploring the area, and close to the airport. The facilities are good and the price is fair. I chose the hotel partly because I was travelling with my kids and wanted a pool, but the water and air were both so cold that swimming or relaxing wasn’t enjoyable. The changing rooms are cramped, and the hair dryer didn’t work. Dinner was another letdown. Service dragged on, the food didn’t seem very fresh, and the staff appeared uninterested. We waited more than 25 minutes for brownie and ice cream. The staff came across as tired and grumpy to me, which made the service feel less welcoming.

I usually stay at another hotel, so this one was a nice surprise. The gym had everything I needed, the decor was lovely, and service was great. My room was spacious and comfortable, and breakfast was fresh. I’ll definitely stay here when I’m working in Newcastle again 👍

The manager and bar staff were helpful, and the meal itself tasted good, but the restaurant experience was poor. Our sharing Camembert arrived without side plates; the manager asked the waiter to bring some, but none came. The table also wasn’t properly clean, with salt and pepper all over it. Although most of the restaurant was quiet, we were seated beside a loud family and weren’t asked where we’d prefer to sit. The menu was very limited and the meal felt overpriced. Even the glasses had marks around the rims from previous customers. The room menu said food was available 24 hours, but we were told it stopped at 9pm. After dinner we wanted dessert in our room, and the manager explained that the menu wasn’t accurate. The restaurant staff came across as very unprofessional. The room was clean and had a really nice bathroom, though it felt dated overall and the TV was small. The corridor ceiling was missing. The leisure facilities were a big disappointment too: the jacuzzi and steam room were out of order, there was litter in the changing rooms, the showers wouldn’t stay on, the lockers had no instructions, and the shorts dryer was broken.

We were at the hotel for my cousin’s wedding, then stayed the night in a room with two double beds. The wedding and evening reception were held there, with a lovely three-course meal and a disco. Our side room looked beautiful during the day and later in the evening. The room was spacious, modern and comfortable, with plenty of plug sockets. It was very warm when I arrived, so I turned on the heater and opened a window. The bathroom was lovely, with toiletries and fluffy, generously sized towels. It was quiet overnight, and after checking out we had a Starbucks coffee. The only thing I’d criticise is the drink prices. My cousin and her husband paid £22 for two whiskey and lemonades, which is very expensive.