Work already under way

APARTMENT Group – which also owns As You Like It in Jesmond, and Northumberland hotels Newton Hall and Le Petit Chateau – is halfway through the plans for the Collingwood Collection.

It started creating venues called Bark – Wiggle Room and Watering Hole in November last year, a month after planning permission was granted, giving a major makeover to the former outdoor terrace and neighbouring room, bringing the outdoors inside. Yew trees from Otterburn in Northumberland have been shipped down to create an indoor woodland bar.

Work was also under way on The Front Room, a more relaxed area to enjoy coffees, pastries, wine and cocktail, in the front area adjoining Bark.

The second phase was poised to create The Residence – Day lounge, late club and members’ hideout, offering a cafe bar for guests looking for daytime luxury, a private area for members and a dance floor for the nightime.

Meanwhile, downstairs, work had started on turning Madame Koo into Playpen, emulating operators in London which have injected sport into leisure venues. Plans included darts, shuffle board lanes, virtual reality pods, a tuck shop bar, pick’n’mix, sherbert drinks, sweetie inspired cocktails, retro video games and street food, with the aim of targeting group bookings, including stag and hen parties, birthdays and corporate events.

Other subterranean rooms were also being transformed into a live venue called Howlers, where Mrs Dhugga planned to showcase cabaret acts and live music.