Just returned from a Friday and Saturday stay and quite honestly could hardly fault it. The staff are excellent. We ate in the restaurant on Friday and had the carvery. It was fine, nothing startling but good honest grub! The breakfast was one of the best I've had in a chain hotel.

We had a problem with the heating in our room and phoned reception, they sent someone up within 5 minutes to show us how to operate it and it was fine from then on.

Yes it is a distance from the centre of Newcastle, a taxi only cost us £13.50 so reasonable, but it is ideal for exploring the area and only a short drive from the Metro Centre for shopping.

We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves and will be going back. Highly recomended.

I was here for a conference, so had no choice. Location is isolated and between main roads. If you don't have a car, you've nowhere else to go. Hotel is tired and decor unappealing. Bedrooms adequate, but no biscuits. All rooms double glazed, but they have to be kept shut because of traffic noise.The staff are very friendly and helpful. Dinner is the restaurant was poor. I had the carvery - beef chewy, vegetables cold. Certianly not worth the money charged.

Overall, the building, furtniture were OK, but what made this place really special was the staff. Very attentive, nothing was a problem.

I booked this Holiday Inn as you are generally guaranteed a certain standard of hotel room. I should of booked the local travel lodge instead. Ok - here goes

(1) Check inn - was ok, but had to ask the receptionist, where the dining room was, where breakfast would be served and between what hours. You shouldn't have to ask these questions as far as I am concerned and should automatically be told this by whoever is checking you in.

(2) Bedroom - ok, bed comfy, needs upgrading as the furniture is well dated and the heater wasn't working properly. However, the big thing for me was the cleaniness, empty tea bag wrapper on the floor, bath was chipped and need grouted badly. But the show stopper which will mean that I never stay in this hotel again is THE TOLIET SEAT WAS DIRTY AND HAD A BROWN MARK ON IT. This in my book is inexcusable. I have complained to the hotel and am awaiting their response. The receptionist did say she would tell housekeeping but basically seemed completely uninterested.

(3) Room service - took ages to get through on the phone. When the food did arrive, my glass of red wine had been spilled all over the tray. The guy delivering it didn't have a pen for me to sign the chit. The tray also came with no salt/pepper. When I finally got through to room service again it took the 20 minutes to deliver the salt/pepper by that time I had eaten what was edible of my food. My chips hadn't been cooked properly and were hard in the middle too.

(4) Breakfast - everything was self service, I at least expect tea and toast to be brought to my table. I am paying £95 for this room and expect a general level of service. I expect this in a holiday inn express but not a holiday inn. The food was over -cooked and disgusting. The coffee came out a machine with the milk already in it. The "waiters" barged past me to show other guests to their table rather than let me walk by twice.

All in all this a horrendous hotel - avoid it at all costs.