Copthorne Hotel Newcastle, Newgate

We stayed as part of a coach party, the staff were excellent, the food okay but only had 4 choices for dinner, would have rather paid extra for something of the main menu, the breakfast although okay the bacon tasted like cardboard and the scrambled eggs were watery but had a good varied choice. The room although comfy was on the second floor and had no windows you could open only 2 small vents, and no air conditioning in the room, if it was hotter it would have been unbearable, we did ask to be moved to the 1st floor where the rooms had a small balcony with an opening door but none were available, if I stayed again I would insist on a balcony room. The windows in the room were also dirty where the seagulls had dive bombed them .

This is, and always was a good hotel and we've stayed here many times; the rooms are fine and the breakfast is excellent. The location is ok too, with a short walk along the river to the Quayside or up the hill to the city centre. However, they've now brought in a car parking company so there are parking charges each day (2.50 per hour for anyone, or a "special rate" of 12.50 for a day for guests - so non-guests e.g. relatives would have to pay 60 pounds for a day!). The signs and machines all over the reception were pretty large and I felt they really affected the ambience of the reception. I think 4-star hotels should be better than this.