Hotel Indigo Durham - Open For Business

Durham's newest luxury hotel, Hotel Indigo, recently opened for business bringing a shiny new leisure, accommodation and business facility to the heart of the cathedral city.

The 4-star hotel, which is within easy walking distance of all major attractions, is situated on the site of the grade II listed Old Shire Hall, a magnificent red brick building which – dating back to 1896 – is a shining example of late Victorian architecture.

In a £15 million labour of love, the building has been comprehensively renovated to include 83 guest rooms yet sympathetically so which means it retains all of its Victorian charm. For a large scale hotel, it has all the style and feel of a boutique property whilst notable period features include brass etchings, stained glass windows and a simply sensational marbled staircase.

Also on site is the Tinderbox Coffee Shop – an already popular meeting place serving baristabrewed coffees and artisan sandwiches, the Rotunda Cocktail Bar with its impressive domed ceiling and of course, the sleek, celebrity-endorsed Marco Pierre White Steakhouse which is set to bring a semblance of “affordable glamour” to the city’s dining scene.

Meanwhile – for those who must – business facilities include SuperFast Wifi (which I can personally vouch for), state-of-the-art audio/visual equipment and a large meeting & events suite.

Checking in with Mrs G, our expectations were clearly high and these were matched following a very warm welcome and a helping hand with our luggage.

Hotel Indigo Durham stems from a stable with impeccable credentials and one thing which always stands out is their attention to detail. Our bedroom provided little nods to the areas rich history and heritage with book-lined shelves and clan crests adorning the walls. Many rooms have stunning views out over the neighbourhood and cathedral and we spent the afternoon just relaxing and taking in our sumptuous surroundings over a glass of fizz before heading down for dinner.

Following their unfortunate demise in the 1970s, steakhouses have seen a revival of late and Hotel Indigo evidently have their fingers on the nation’s culinary pulse by including such a prestigious one in-house. The sexy, celebrity Marco Pierre White Steakhouse aims to bring Marco’s magic touch to Durham with its signature steaks, English favourites and timeless French classics – not to mention an extensive wine selection. Oh yesssss!

Formerly a grand, circular debating chamber, the dining area has character in abundance. We got talking to a couple on a neighbouring table who both agreed that this place is perfect for networking or unwinding with friends and family.

In true 70s style (minus the flares), we kicked off with the classic prawn cocktail featuring jumbo prawns and a gloopy marie rose sauce and the tartare of fresh salmon with melba toast.

For mains, we had Sirloin steak (when in steak heaven) with pommes frites and a classic peppercorn and brandy sauce. As a true steak aficionado, this was a truly superb cut which went lovely with some supplementary bangle-sized onion rings.

Naturally, all of this was washed down with an excellent bottle of Malbec, cherry-picked from their incredible wine list by Food & Beverage manager, George Liddle – an old friend and hospitality king.

This had been a great meal and whilst replete, we felt duty bound to look at the dessert menu anyway. Unfortunately, our favourite puddings sticky toffee puddings and New York baked cheesecake did their best to derail all of our Summer diet plans. Never mind eh?

The following morning I undid (some of) the damage with a quick blast in the hotel’s fitness suite whilst Lisa stole the chance of some extra zeds.

Reconvening over a cooked breakfast, we reflected on a memorable overnight stay and both agreed on what a great addition this hotel is to the region. Hotel Indigo Durham effortlessly straddles both the business and leisure markets with the brand’s trademark style and panache. With a demand for more luxury accommodation in Durham, this hotel is sure to fit the bill with its prime location, sumptuous bedrooms and polished food & drink offering. If you’re looking for a change of scene this Summer, this venue is well worth checking out!