City Oasis Is A Delight

When it comes to writing about a hotel, we're always very wary here at Northern Insight of pointing readers in one particular direction.

The hotel in question is Eslington Villa in Low Fell. And here comes the ‘pointing readers in one particular direction’, bit of advice. Go onto Trip Advisor. There we go; we said it.

Here’s a selection of comments from the first page of Trip Advisor. You’ll find a similar theme on other pages. Every single comment gets a top rating of 5. ”Punches well above its reasonable room rate.” ”My only complaint is that I have only just found this perfectly wonderful hotel.” ”I have been wanting to go to Eslington Villa for a while after moving to the area and this is a local restaurant. Wish I had gone sooner!” ”A lovely place to stay.” ”This small (perfectly formed) hotel gets a very easy 10/10 from me…we were delighted with all aspects of this very well run and beautifully appointed villa hotel.” So there you go.

When you arrive at Eslington Villa your first impression is of a grand Victorian house. You’d be right, because it is. Well, actually, it was two houses but they were converted into a single, very stylish property. You’ll find many of the original features inside. However, before stepping through the entrance door, pop around to the left and take a look at the grounds. It’s hard to believe that you are just a stone’s throw from Team Valley and ten minutes from the centre of Newcastle. The rolling lawns are ideal for either an outdoor party or perhaps you might fancy afternoon tea in the sunshine.

Enter the hotel and you’re met with a cosy reception area and, more than likely, you’ll bump into the owner, Nicky Tucker. Eslington Villa is a privately owned hotel and restaurant, and Nicky is plainly very proud of what she’s achieved.

”We’ve worked hard to develop and improve upon what was already a terrific reputation here at Eslington Villa,” said Nicky, ”and the fact that we’re a bit of a hidden gem works both in our favour and against us. We never cease to be amazed by how often people arrive, possibly by chance or recommendation, and then keep on returning. We’ve also become a regular ‘home’ for business people who are visiting the area for a few nights. We’ve even got a self-contained flat with a kitchen and two bedrooms that is taken by corporate folk who are staying in the area for longer periods or perhaps by people who’re waiting to move into a new house.”

Here are some figures.

There are 18 bedrooms, all of which are individually styled. You can go for vintage charm with a 4-poster bed or how about a classic Victorian bedroom with views out of a bay window into the garden. Alternatively, why not go with an über modern look. Most rooms are actually small suites with cosy tables and chairs. All have private bathroom facilities.

There is plenty of space for dining. There are 65 seats in the main dining room, 35 in the delightful conservatory or, if you want some privacy or perhaps would like to hold a meeting, there is a separate dining room which can cater for up to 40 people.

”We are becoming increasingly busy as a corporate venue,” added Nicky. ”We tend to find that firms like to have use of the private room for a meeting and then adjourn to the bar and lounge area before returning to their room for an evening meal. Many businesses have people travelling to the North East from all over the country so they also make use of our bedrooms.”

When we called in to meet Nicky, it was around 1pm and the dining room was busy with locals and visitors. It was plain to see that firms use Eslington Villa as a handy place to pop into for an informal drink and a bite to eat.

As we left, afternoon tea, which is available on selected dates, was well underway. If you fancy cakes, scones and a piping hot brew as you gaze over the lovely grounds, you’ll be in your element. It was also interesting to note that Nicky was in the throws of getting everything ready for Christmas. There can be few venues better suited to a Christmas party than Eslington Villa. Nicky has also arranged a regular series of evening events such as wine tasting and gourmet cooking.

You can get married at Eslington Villa. One of the first things Nicky did when she took over was to ensure that the hotel was licensed as a wedding venue where civil ceremonies could take place. It’s been a huge success. As we mentioned with Christmas parties, Eslington is just the right size and, when it comes to weddings, the hotel is all a bit, well, romantic. However, we’d recommend calling in to see why Eslington Villa really is an oasis of luxury and serenity.

Go on…see what the fuss is all about.