The Village Hotel at Silverlink, Newcastle is a stone's throw away from Northern Insight HQ, so when the opportunity landed in my inbox to visit recently I jumped at the opportunity.
After another frenetic day in the world of magazine publishing my wife Lisa and I made the short journey for what would be an early celebration for my birthday which fell the following day.
Upon arrival there was a bustling throng in the warm reception area with the hotel full for the night. Always a good sign. We were moving into Great North Run weekend which is always a great one for the City.
After the friendliest of welcomes we adjourned to our super comfy room which came with all the “bells and whistles” you would expect from the Village brand including drench shower, WIFI, complimentary tea and coffee and Sky TV. There was even an early birthday present of a bottle of Sauvignon Blanc from General Manager Jason Dalus, a lovely touch.
Following a swift turnaround and a pre dinner livener we moved through to the tastefully appointed Pub and Grill restaurant which offered a hugely diverse menu with a great selection of local and international dishes.
After much perusal I kicked off with a hearty plate of BBQ ribs. The smoky and savoury scents made my mouth water before the first bite and the meat was tender and succulent throughout.
Lisa opted for a very tasty baked spinach dip with tortillas, creamy pecorino and mozzarella cheese served with salsa.
After a suitable comfort break we moved onto the main event of the evening.
I demolished spicy chicken pasta rigatoni, a delightful culinary experience combining spicy and creamy flavours which was perfect for this lifelong chilli fiend.
Taking the healthier route Lisa enjoyed roasted salmon fillet with mashed potatoes and tenderstem broccoli. She pronounced this delicious with the accompaniments providing balance and contrast to the richness of the fish.
Washed down with an agreeable bottle of Pinot Grigio this had been sumptuous fayre with service also friendly,helpful and attentive throughout.
Sidestepping a delicious dessert menu we wound down a lovely night over coffee.
The following morning I dragged my now 52 year old self into the superb onsite leisure club which is unquestionably one of the best you’ll find in North Tyneside. On hand there is a state of the art Technogym, daily fitness classes as well as a huge heated indoor pool jacuzzi,sauna and steam room, all perfect to work off the excesses of the night before.
Enroute back to my room I also noted VWorks, the hotels extensive co working space which is ideal for flexible workers and complete with hot desks and private meeting spaces.
Dont forget that the Village can offer your company great value for your annual Christmas party also.
This truly is a venue that ticks all the boxes for business, pleasure or leisure.
After a hearty cooked breakfast we made the short journey home wondering why we didnt visit this local gem more often.
For further information visit the website
www.village-hotels.co.uk