Now firmly into the warmer weather, the Radisson Blu Durham offers the perfect place for a Summer staycation as discovered by my wife Lisa and I on a recent visit.
Set by the riverside, the hotel is in close vicinity to the highlights of the Cathedral City and is the perfect basecamp from which to set out and explore its maze of hilly, cobbled streets on foot.
Impressively, the hotel also combines its enviable city centre location with the best features of a destination retreat with a salubrious in-house spa and fitness centre, not to mention a modern British brasserie on site.
With seemingly so much to do, we set off early for what would be a mini-break which would live long in the memory. The hotel boasts a lovely, capacious, open-plan reception area with vast floor to ceiling windows affording much natural light on a gorgeous springtime day. We were checked in cheerily and with our rooms not ready until 3pm, ditched the bags and sampled all Durham has to offer.
Few hotels boast so many UNESCO world heritage sites on the doorstep so we enjoyed the best of the cathedral and castle palace green area with its manicured, sun-dappled lawns and rich cultural history. A pit stop for a coffee and a mooch round the city’s many interesting bookshops was also a must in this quintessentially British University city.
Returning to the hotel, we were equally impressed by the high quality of our guest suite. The hotel comprises 207 bedrooms in total which offer trademark Radisson contemporary design and mod cons. All are equipped with Flat Screen TVs, plush armchairs and high-end toiletries whilst the best (and priciest) feature panoramic river views and Nespresso coffee machines.
With a few miles in our legs, we decided to unwind for the afternoon in the hotel’s dedicated ‘Nu Spa’. This advertises itself as a “glorious sanctuary that soothes the soul from the moment you walk through the door”. Fortunately, this proved not to be hyperbole as a tranquil space bathed in neutral tones complete with swimming pool, jacuzzi, sauna, steam room and gymnasium. More conscientious guests had even booked in for a range of spa treatments with a number of spa days/deals available.
All of this lounging by the pool worked up an appetite so we had a quick change for dinner before venturing down to Collage – the Radisson’s modern British eatery. This combines British classics featuring modern inflections with a mouth-watering grill menu where the diner is free to mix steaks, sides and sauce however they fancy.
Lisa kicked off with mushroom arancini before following up with beef shin whilst I opted for chicken wings and rib eye steak. Both expertly presented and cooked masterfully. Much thought has also went into a well-curated drinks menu which matches the menu’s seasonal produce. Suffice to say, a sagely-recommended bottle of malbec set the red meat off exquisitely.
My Great North Run preparations resumed the following morning with a bracing jog along the river whilst Lisa had trouble peeling herself away from the cosy clutches of our room’s kingsize bed. We did however reunite for a customary hearty breakfast which featured a winning mix of cooked and continental fayre.
We headed home relaxed, recharged and reenergised. Or as you might say, re-radissoned!