Malmaison Newcastle is housed in a Grade two listed converted warehouse set in the heart of the Quayside on the banks of the River Tyne, this striking building really has a wealth of character from the outside, upon entering from the hotel through the rotary doors your lead into a warm spacious lobby area in which you are surrounded by scattered high back chairs and sofas that are screaming with character, the lighting is low and seductive, the signature Malmaison chequered carpets are used here and followed through on the walls adding its own stamp to this building.
After a prompt check-in we are shown to the 7th floor, this is the suit level and the highest level in the building; we are taken to our suit named the 'HMS Ark Royal Suite' known as the suit for people who really want a taste of the high life, the suit is enormous and is bursting with colour and style, the high level ceilings add great depth to the room, the large arch shaped windows flood the room with light and are nestled behind some lavish thick hanging curtains. The main focal point has to be the twin baths in the centre of the room, adjacent to the baths is a large wall mounted plasma TV, this is 1 of the 3 plasmas in this suit, another is located in the lounge area and the other is at the end of the 4 poster bed. The room also boasts a fantastic Bose sound system and a Mac computer with free internet access. The 4 poster bed with its purple organza canopy was picture-perfect and provided the perfect night's sleep, the plump pillows, scattered cushions and Egyptian cotton duvet made this the type of bed you just want to run and jump onto.
The slate-floored bathroom provided a monochrome space for pampering, and also included my favourite Malmaison drench style shower along with their lush smelling signature shower gel's, the bathroom was always at the perfect temperature with its chrome heated towel rail also providing warm towels to indulge in after a shower.
The only slight draw back about this hotel is the gym known as 'gymtonic' with a creative name like this along with the frosted windows then you do expect something quite good, upon entering this small room you are presented with 3 pieces of equipment, a stepper, treadmill and an exercise bike, all of which were quite dated although there is enough here to have a quick work out but no more than that, the Malmaison does however provide running routes around the city which is a nice touch for any keen runner.
Breakfast is severed on the mezzanine level, entering through a dark theatrical curtain and greeted with a warm welcome, we are swiftly shown to our table, and we have a large booth style table. Our breakfast started off with a bowl of cereal and fresh orange juice, the continental buffet includes a selection of cereals, fruits, French pastries, cheeses, yogurts and muesli which are all nicely presented. This was followed by eggs benedict and smoked salmon, my colleague decided to order a poached egg, grilled tomato and a slice of bacon, the breakfast was very enjoyable and the food tasted freshly prepared making this a wonderful breakfast experience and adding to the hotels ability to please.
The brasserie at Malmaison continues the opulent character personified by the rest of the hotel. The room is modern with a traditional twist and the purple leather booths were both comfortable and intimate. There is a mixture of light and dark throughout the building that you will either love or hate. We loved it as it added to the intimate atmosphere that we enjoy.
The restaurant was busy and we had to book, after tasting the food we knew why. We shared a rustic baguette with unsalted butter and tapenade while we perused the menu. That whetted out appetite for the starters, which were roast citrus salmon marinated in cucumber with beetroot essence, and roasted crown prince pumpkin and beetroot salad. Both were perfectly prepared, flavourful and well worth trying.
Our main course consisted of a butternut squash and sage risotto, and the Donald Russell aged entrecote. The menu stated that it had been naturally reared, grass fed, and dry aged. Well I’m glad they spent as much time preparing it as they did marketing it. It was succulent, fell off the bone and was a real delight.
To accompany the mains we ordered sides of root vegetable gratin and baked new potatoes. They went well, and did what a side should do, accent the main meal without overpowering it, or filling you up too much for dessert.
That dessert consisted of marmalade pudding with custard and a rice pudding with fudge ice cream. This unlikely pair contained a lot of flavour. Flavour that worked surprisingly well, and we were both glad we tried them. Our wine, the Nanette English Rose from 2009 was the perfect partner for a rich, but finely balanced meal.
Service was fast and efficient. There was no hovering or hard sell on the wines. We asked for recommendations, which were given and a little background on our bottle of wine, which was also rendered without missing a beat. Overall it was a pleasant experience that we would hope to repeat next time we are in town.
This hotel really excels due to the courteous nature of the staff, the staff really do go out of their way to make you feel welcome and nothing is too much trouble. I would like to add that after visiting a number of Malmaison’s, the Newcastle Malmaison is certainly one of the better locations and would highly recommend a visit here.
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The Bill: £375 per night
