Spent a few nights here at the beginning of Feb. The location is excellent and as mentioned the hotel is pretty new and in good condition.The rooms are pretty small and basic but again clean.
There was a problem with the booking and we were given a twin rather than a double, as the hotel was full the alternative was a wheel chair accessable room but we chose to stick to the twin room and push the beds together rather than take the alternative.
There is a car park very close by but sadly it is not free and shockingly the hotel asks for more than the standard rate to park there!!!! My advice would be to leave the car as Newcastle is very walkable.
Although my stay in the main was positive I would have liked my sheets changed at least once over 5 days...We were left with only 1 towel for a day and the breakfast was only adequate.
Oh and please don't expect a quiet nights sleep over a long weekend. Newcastle is my home town and I love it dearly but it's now overrun with Stags and Hens (about 15 of which seemed to by in a room near us shouting and yelling at all hours through the night).
To finish on a positive note the staff were pleasant.....

I have stayed in this hotel very regularly since the hotel opened 2 years ago . The rooms are very clean , staff are very friendly and led by good management. The Hotel is very central , near the station , local pubs and restaurants . Breakfast is continental but lots of it . The even numbered rooms face the main road and are noisey - suggest you get an odd numbered room facing inwards to the courtyard . I would recommonend this hotel to anybody , clearly the best of the city centre hotels , several of the other " older hotels " in the area need to be avoided .

The newest HI Express that I have stayed in recently.

Efficient & well equipped, the rooms and bathrooms are very clean and not in the least "worn".

The check-in staff need training and a visit to charm school!

Breakfast rubbish, but you get that in all HI Expresses!

I stayed for one night only in this hotel on a Sunday in November. I thought it a little difficult to find even though I know Newcastle Center pretty well.
The room was adequate and clean. The reception staff helpful and the breakfast adequate.Nothing cooked except the toast.
I was a bit suprised at the level of road noise from outside considering it was a Sunday night and I was on the fifth floor.
All in all a good value proposition which I would recommend particularly if you book in advance and get a good rate.