Sandman Signature Newcastle Hotel

We were welcomed at check-in by a lovely blonde lady whose name I didn't catch. She had a European accent, was polite, and explained where to park and how to find our room. Everyone on staff was kind and welcoming, including the lovely man who helped us at checkout. Our ensuite was clean and lovely, with a hairdryer, kettle, tea and coffee, and a mini fridge freezer. There was also an ironing board in the closet and a safe if needed. The blackout blinds came in handy for our small child's nap, and the manual thermostat let us choose how warm or cool we wanted the room. We had lovely views from the hotel. It's directly across the road from St. James park, so football fans might get a room looking out at st James's stadium. I'd recommend it, and we'd stay again. 😊

The noise is the reason I wouldn't return or recommend this place. As I write at 11.20pm, St James Stack opposite is making a relentless, intrusive racket. Even earplugs aren't enough, and I need to be up at 4.30am for a flight. Reception said it should stop at midnight, which I hope is right. This isn't just game-day noise; it's every night of the week. I can hear the lyrics clearly, right now it's “One more time” by Daft Punk, and people on the other end of my phone can hear it too. Soundproofing needs fixing when all you want from a room is to sleep. I considered asking to move last night, but other reviews mentioned air conditioner units making noise on the other side of the building. There were other problems on my five-night stay too. My room wasn't serviced at all, and I think you're meant to tell reception when you want that done, but I couldn't call because the room phone had no power even though it was plugged in. I don't mind not having service, but many hotels make up for that with a lower rate or an amenity like a local coffee shop voucher. I ordered room service breakfast. The menu said all breakfasts came with toast and preserves, so I didn't order the continental breakfast with my hot one, even though the price was the same. No toast came with it. The woman fixed that quickly, but brought only butter, no preserves. If it's promised on the menu and there's a fixed price and tray charge, it should be included. The rooms are cleverly laid out with lots of storage and handy features like sockets by a mirror and USB ports on both sides of the bed. Staff were lovely and check-in was quick. The city and Metro are close, with plenty of services nearby. On the surface, the hotel has everything you need, though the other issues might matter less on a shorter stay.

The room was very comfortable, with a view of the ground opposite, and the shower drained properly for once without flooding the bathroom. Reception and breakfast staff were both very friendly. There were plenty of TV channels, and the downstairs Sharks Bar had all the sport you could want. Newcastle United's 'Shack Bar' nearby played live music loudly, but it has a midnight curfew, so we did get some sleep. Even with that downside, it was an excellent stay.

We won't stay here again. The rooms were terrible, with holes in the carpet, no room fan, and a shower that drained onto the bathroom floor instead of down the drain. A “Stadium View” means paying to face the front of the stadium. We weren't told about the late-night music coming from across the road, and check-in was okay, not brilliant. The bar staff treated me as if I were an inconvenience. Our experience in Aberdeen was much better, with a far higher standard. Newcastle needs to up its game.