Rendez Vous

The North East has transformed from an industrial centre to one of Britain's favourite shopping and short break destinations. Newcastle was once the country's shipbuilding powerhouse and it is now, a tourist destination proud of its heritage and culture. The Town Moor is bigger than Hyde Park and Hampstead Heath put together; you may even see cattle grazing there, under an ancient right enjoyed by the Freeman.

The Victorian listed Thistle Newcastle is one of the oldest hotels around, and like the city, blends in the old and the new. There are over a hundred bedrooms as well as seven meeting rooms, the largest of which seats a hundred and eighty in theatre style. Their recently refurbished bar and lounge called Rendez Vous is open all day and you cannot help but notice their signature etched glazing depicting local scenes including the Tyne Bridge, Angel of the North, Sage Centre and other places of prominence in the North East.

Light snacks and meals are available throughout the day and there are fixed price options for lunch and dinner. The modern British menu might start with pan-fried mushrooms, smoked bacon, garlic and cream on a toasted ciabatta or tian of pineapple, lychee, passion fruit and melon with a mango sorbet.

Meat eaters might be drawn to the braised lamb shank with mashed potato, green beans, rosemary and red current sauce while their fillet of salmon, prawn risotto and lobster sauce is another popular main. The wine list offers a good mixture of reasonably priced numbers. After that, you could consider sharing chocolate tarts, orange syrup and crème Chantilly or settle for the rhubarb and ginger crumble with crème anglaise.

The hotel's central location provides easy access to shops, museums, theatres and Newcastle's vibrant nightlife.