Bistro at Hotel du Vin - Newcastle

We hear a great deal about recycling these days - du Vin recycles attractive but un-loved buildings to restore real gems in the best tradition of British understated style.

Complement that with all that is best in the French bistro ethos, bars that reach out to please, and you have a setting that provides an inspirational background for people to meet, do business, get married, provide a base for golf or fishing, somewhere you can call your own for a private celebration, a spa or - most engagingly - a wine school that breaks the mould.

Think quintessential British style, elegant and unpretentious. Combine this with great spirit, wit, an unquestionable devotion to wine, and you have captured the essence of Hotel du Vin.

In Newcastle-on-Tyne du Vin has looked to the Merchant Navy for its location. Shipping Lines rarely stint on HQ's and The Tyne Tees Shipping Company long ago had built an impressive Head Office on the heart of Newcastle's historic quayside. Hotel du Vin have maximised this into one of the most luxurious and outstanding hotels in Newcastle.

The hotel has 42 stylish bedrooms and stunning suites. Every room has handsprung mattresses, fine Egyptian linen, deep baths, monsoon showers, plasma TVs, DVDs, air conditioning and high speed wireless internet access. Life?s little pleasures are by no mean neglected so there's a cigar shack, and a  Laroche tasting room where you can take a bibulous journey round the world's finest vineyards with minimal effort.

In the classy bistro a choice of nine starters might include braised ox tongue with potato salad, smoked eel, roast beetroot and creamed horseradish, a Welsh rarebit or Parma ham with pickled pear. Main courses pursue much the same line, with Hotel du Vin shepherd's pie, lamb cutlets 'Reform', smoked Craster haddock with poached egg, wholegrain mustard butter sauce, or a delightful grilled lemon sole with capers and parsley butter.

The pace is maintained through the desserts which whilst it includes several of the usual culprits for the very good reason that people enjoy them, I would single out for the robust trenchers the steamed plum pudding with custard, or for the slightly less hungry a Williams pear and almond tart with clotted cream.

Available at all time is the Simply du Vin offer of a main course, glass of Hotel du Vin wine and tea or coffee, all for the princely sum of £10.95.

Whilst one might argue that the whole point of being in a du Vin is to snuggle up to the wine list, this list is designed to march with the food and can only be described as superb. With a team who look after the bar and the cigars, there is no room for anything but the best. Service is telepathic in the best possible sense.

Click on their Website for full information on prices, special offers and tariff rates. Hotel du Vin, with fourteen options throughout Britain, awaits your call.