Embracing the old and the new in Newcastle
IT ISN’T often that I get the chance on my travels to go back in time but that’s exactly what I did last week when I took my first flight to England for 20 months.
My journey began at Dublin Airport with a busy queue at security as to be expected on a Saturday morning but it was at duty free where the time travel started. Every passenger to the UK is now allowed to buy a litre of spirits at duty free prices — like the old days. So we picked up a boxed bottle of Crested Ten Jameson for only €19.50 and as I was travelling with my other half we couldn’t pass by the Bushmills whiskey for only €13.
We ate a delicious breakfast at Marquette Restaurant at leisure as there were no delays. And apart from the masks on passengers and staff and social distancing in lines, the experience was as normal as the flight I took in February 2020.
As the UK recognises Ireland as a common travel area) it felt like arriving in the 1990s with no passport check or personal locator forms or digital certificates needed.
Newcastle has a good metro system with direct access to the centre of the town and once we arrived at the Grey’s Monument, it was back to normal.
Shops and restaurants are open without restrictions or masks. I even spent some time in the casino with my first roulette spin since my last pre-pandemic cruise and came out £45 up!
We checked into the One Motel in a fabulous location at the heart of the city. This German hotel chain has a clever approach providing affordable accommodation while embracing sustainability.
Every One Motel reflects the host city in its décor and it’s no coincidence that the bold black and white wallpaper in reception is a nod to the Newcastle Football Club kit. Dublin’s first One Motel will open in 2022.
Our room was small but the bed was huge. It was the same for the bathroom — the shower would fit two people comfortably.
The coffee-making facility was hidden behind a slick pull-down shelf and there were handy USB ports for phone charging. We enjoyed unspoilt views of the Baltic and SAGE buildings on the other side of the river. See motelone.com/ en/hotels/newcastle/
Next morning breakfast was served in the extended lobby and bar which is all open plan. The croissants and pain au chocolat were probably the freshest I’ve tasted. Then we travelled to Tynemouth and rambled around the market at the train station, with stalls selling everything from vinyl to crystal. Tynemouth is a quaint town popular at weekends with buzzing bars and plenty of dining experiences. The old church on the main street is now a foodhall with anything from Cuban tapas to pies.
It was once the home of Admiral Collingwood, who took over from Admiral Nelson as commander in chief at the battle of Trafalgar. The Collingwood monument towers above the sea and nearby the castle and priory are reminders of the historic importance of this town positioned at the mouth of the River Tyne.
We caught the last warm rays of autumnal sunshine and took a stroll along the coast to Whitley Bay. Surfers headed to catch the waves on the endless stretch of unspoilt beaches where the past and future now blend in harmony.
The wind farms out in the North Sea mark a nod to the future, in stark contrast to this area’s once historic dependence on coal and a nod to the past.
Our time travel adventures were complete later that evening with bars open and dancing in full swing — offering hope for brighter travel days ahead.
SEE newcastlegateshead.com or thenoveltraveller.com