Sandman Signature Hotel Newcastle

We liked the lovely views and our clean ensuite room. It had a hairdryer, kettle for tea and coffee, a mini fridge freezer, an ironing board in the closet and a safe. The blackout blinds came in handy while our small child napped, and the manual thermostat let us set the room to the temperature we wanted. The staff were kind and welcoming. A blonde woman with a European accent served us when we arrived. I didn't catch her name, but she politely explained where to park and how to find our room. A lovely man helped us at checkout too. St. James park is right across the road, and football fans might be able to get a room looking out over st James's stadium. We had a lovely stay and would come back. 😊

The location is fantastic, very central, with parking nearby. The staff were excellent and moved us quickly when our first room had a broken wardrobe and a fridge that didn't work. We got free parking because the shower wasn't working properly. The replacement room had black mould on the walls near the bunk beds and was quite noisy, though we did manage some sleep. The shower only went from freezing to scalding, with nothing in between. The rooms feel very tired and need an upgrade. At present, it's an expensive stay for what you get.

The noise is the reason I wouldn't return or recommend this hotel. At 11.20pm, music from St James Stack opposite was still relentless and intrusive. Even earplugs couldn't block it out. I had to be up at 4.30am for an early flight and could only hope reception was right that it would stop at midnight. I could hear the lyrics clearly, and people I spoke to on my phone could hear them too. This isn't just a game-day problem, it happens every night of the week. Soundproofing needs fixing when the main thing you want from a hotel room is somewhere to sleep. I did think about asking to move after the first night, but reviews said the other side of the building had noise from the air conditioner units. I stayed five nights. The location is excellent for getting to the city and Metro, with plenty of services nearby. The staff were lovely, and check-in was very efficient. The rooms are cleverly laid out, with lots of storage, sockets by a mirror, and USB ports on both sides of the bed. There were a couple of other issues that might matter more on a longer stay. My room wasn't serviced during the five nights. I think you're supposed to tell reception when you want that done, but I wasn't sure of the deadline, and I couldn't call because the room phone had no power despite being plugged in. I can manage without room service, but I would have expected a lower rate or something like a local coffee shop voucher to make up for it. I ordered breakfast to the room, and the menu said all breakfasts came with toast and preserves. I didn't order the continental breakfast alongside my hot one because of that, even though they cost the same. The tray arrived without toast. The woman fixed that quickly, but there were still no preserves, only butter. I don't usually fuss, but with a set price and tray charge, the menu should be honoured.

The room was very comfortable, with a view of the ground across the road. The shower was comfortable too, and for once the water drained without flooding the bathroom. Staff at reception and breakfast were very friendly, and there were plenty of TV channels. Downstairs, Sharks Bar had all the sport you could want. Newcastle United's 'Shack Bar' is very close and has loud live music, but it has a midnight curfew, so you can get some sleep. Even with that downside, I had an excellent stay.