Donard Hotel (Newcastle, United Kingdom)

There’s a genuine, warm welcome here from staff. Then, their laid back charm kicks in and you can’t fail to just go with the flow.

No need for The Ritz to worry, this hotel is in a different league. Within that league, though, it’s a real winner and offers true value for the price paid.

Wherever possible and within reason, they’ll adapt and relax their rules so that your visit is a success. It’s just part of the natural, easy going attitude that you’ll encounter here.

It’s all a bit ‘naff’ now. Crying out for a revamp, they do their best to keep what they’ve got, clean and functionable; but it can’t continue for much longer without major capital investment.

Opinions vary but, for the main part, food, including breakfast is substantial, well prepared and hot. Not sophisticated but well worth the money. It’s a bit slow on the atmosphere front though, so at night, it’s worth stepping out to the nearby pub, O’Ha

Maginn’s Bar, opposite, can be rowdy and so rooms suffer from the noise factor. Rooms can also be very cold and this adds further to the prospect of an uncomfortable night.