The Vermont Hotel

About The Vermont Hotel

The Vermont is the tall pale block that rises immediately behind Newcastle Castle, built in the 1930s as county hall and converted into a hotel in the 1990s. It is one of the more distinctive buildings on the skyline and the art deco bones are still visible in the proportions of the lobby, the sweep of the staircase and the metalwork. It has stayed independently owned throughout, which gives it a slightly different character from the international brands nearby.

Rooms run across a dozen floors and vary considerably. The standard rooms are straightforward and comfortable; the ones worth booking are the higher river-facing rooms and the suites, which look directly over the castle keep, the High Level Bridge and the Tyne. There is also a separate aparthotel wing with self-catering apartments in the same building, useful for families or anyone staying several nights. Air conditioning, safe, tea tray and decent bathrooms come as standard.

Eating and drinking is spread across several outlets. The Redwood Bar and the Blonde Barrel handle the ground floor, but the reason people know the Vermont is Livello, the rooftop bar and terrace, which has one of the best views in the city and gets busy on summer evenings. There is a fitness suite, and the hotel has a long history of hosting weddings and conferences, so expect the public rooms to be lively at weekends.

For sightseeing the position is close to ideal. The Castle, the Black Gate, St Nicholas Cathedral and the Quayside stairs are all within two minutes, Central Station is a five-minute walk, and Grey Street and the Theatre Royal are just up the hill. Parking is available on site, which is rare this close to the middle of Newcastle.