What is your Priority Club status? Diamond

Were you (or for multi-stayers are you generally) happy with the hotel/stay? It was fine.

Which room did you book and which upgrade did you receive? We booked the cheapest entry level and received a four category upgrade to a 1 Queen standard lounge access on the top floor. This room was over double the cost of the one that we booked. In the real world it was a fake upgrade as we have free two year lounge pass.

How are the rooms? Clean and comfortable. Excellent sound proofing, with no noise from outside. Robes but no slippers. Nespresso machine and kettle with plenty of hot drink supplies. Minimally stocked free minibar.

Bath and separate shower. Antipodes amenities.

How is the exec. lounge? Breakfast and happy hour service only, with drinks and snacks the rest of the day. There was an adequate cooked breakfast available plus you could pay for extras from the kitchen. Usual cereal, cheese, charcuterie, fruit and pastries. Happy hour was not very well organised. Lager or wine were served at the table. Unfortunately, there was only one member of staff so this was very s-l-o-w, but a good way for the hotel to reduce their drinks bill. The food was a set meal and dessert, with a few sandwiches for those with vegan/vegetarian dietary requirements.

What was good and what was bad? Good - easy journey from the airport on the metro. We booked a massage each, they were excellent value. Proactively offered two drinks vouchers and 2pm checkout. Staff were friendly.
Bad - there was a fire alarm on the second night. We had to stand outside in the freezing cold until we were told it was a false alarm. There were only six loungers at the pool, which was insufficient for the volume of people using the facility.

Value for $ or Priority Club Points? Would you return? We spent just shy of £59 per night on the room. We are unlikely to return to Newcastle, but if we did, we would stay again as it is the only IHG hotel with a pool that is centrally located.