’Allo Vera! Blyth spirit inspires us to pound the beat of TV detective
Chris Page pays a visit to picture postcard Northumberland to enjoy a COVID-secure staycation at The Commissioners Quay Inn
Blyth spirit moved us to make Northumberland’s biggest town our short staycation choice. Sorry, Sir Noël Coward! But we make no apology for bigging up this seaside escape’s great getaway credentials. Not just any port in a COVID-19 storm, this harbour is home to the finest family-friendly accommodation.
Coronavirus-safe The Commissioners Quay Inn proved impressive on more levels than the historic High Light towering 18 metres nearby, peace of mind assured with a ten-step safeguard programme, protecting guests while ensuring an enjoyable environment.
Jewel in the crown of an impressive maritime development, the site stands pride of place, pole position affording second-to-none aquatic views. Waterfront-facing nautical but nice en-suite rooms are the next best thing to cruise cabins ... but without the kinetosis!
Winter warmers – breaks bookable online or by calling central reservations 0191 580 3610 quoting promo code WINTER20 – beckon from November to March.
The deals are ideal for those
wanting to take advantage of a twocourse dinner, bed and breakfast from £85 per night – single occupancy starting at £55 – complete with the assurance of no advance payment and free cancellation, also available across the Inn Collection Group’s 14 sister sites covering the Lake District, County Durham and Yorkshire.
Welcome awaits as warm as that extended to Princess Anne when she bestowed right royal patronage on the spectacular Spirit of the Staithe sculpture, celebrating times past when coal was king in the region. Blyth boomed when railways ruled and fishing flourished, seafaring heritage also awash with submarines and ships, including the 1914 launch of the Royal Navy’s first aircraft carrier HMS Ark Royal.
Harpoons were honed here for Greenland’s whaling industry. And any sodium chloride manufacturer worth their salt traded through these waters.
Neutral footie fans nationwide recall with fondness non-league Spartans’ 1978 giant-killing cupset that saw the green and whites win their way through to the FA fifth round.
Favourite sons include Dire Straits guitar guru Mark Knopfler, every bit the Local Hero as his 1983 debut film soundtrack album, whose anthemic final track Going Home still stirs Newcastle United match day crowds. The star singer-songwriter was a cub reporter on our Yorkshire Evening
Post before finding fame, “money for nothin’ and chicks for free”. Bolstered by Belly Buster breakfasts, we employed detective work to explore coastline just as rich in character as North East award-winning author Ann Cleeves’ crimecracking heroine.
Vera buffs can explore the area’s TV filming locations, following in the footsteps of formidable law enforcer Stanhope – named after a
County Durham village – brought to life on our prime time screens by the brilliant Brenda Blethyn.
Ten series of the popular programme have also showcased spectacular CSI scenes from Alnmouth and Blyth to Tynemouth and Whitley Bay.
Back at our briny bolthole, we dined on whitebait and seared salmon fillet, followed by sweet treats including crumble and cheesecake.
A short walk away, we found Wetherspoons’ The Wallow, a grade two listed building restored to its former glory after a £2 million facelift, which was formerly a 1,440 capacity cinema and playhouse where genial Geordies Ant and Dec tentatively trod the boards for the duo’s stage debut. Whatever happened to those Likely Lads?
This thirsty traveller toasted this superior stay with a locally-crafted Chasing Everest’s Fred’s Got Slacks nightcap ahead of the local lockdown curfew.
But not even the 9.30pm premature last orders were able to dampen our Blyth spirit.