The Chronicle (South Tyneside and Durham)
Living the high life
What it’s like to live in Newcastle’s tallest building
HADRIAN’S Tower has been billed as a luxury apartment block where residents can enjoy a hotel experience every day in the tallest building in Newcastle city centre.
With 360 degree views of the city – some tenants can even see St James’ Park from their bedroom window – and a champagne bar on the top floor, a host of millennials have rushed to snap up the apartments since they went on the market nearly a year ago.
Would-be residents were promised the ‘lifestyle of living in a hotel’ when the 159 apartments were built.
The flats were available from £1,000 a month to rent or £139,999 to buy so we spoke to those living in the tower to find out whether it is really as glamorous as it seems.
Ciaran Barr, 22, moved to the city from Edinburgh and has been renting a two-bedroom, furnished apartment on the 19th floor since March.
Ciaran lives with his friend, Kyle Menzies, 23, and the pair are setting up a marketing company in Newcastle with three other pals, who are renting the apartment next door.
Ciaran and Kyle ‘wanted the biggest and the best place to live’ and were blown away by the views.
“It’s cool to say that we are young guys living in the tallest building in
Newcastle,” he said. “I think that’s why a lot of people do it, to say, ‘That’s where I live.’
“It is a flashy thing to do. It’s like buying a Ferrari. It’s cool.”
He added: “It is a hotel lifestyle. When you wake up and see the view of Newcastle, it never gets old.
“When I first moved in, I thought, ‘this is ridiculous.’”
Tenants first moved into the 26-storey tower block last November and all floors were fully let within five months.
But it’s not just the views that make Hadrian’s Tower a little different; residents can take advantage of perks ranging from beauty treatments to room and cleaning services via a resident’s app. The tower also has a cafe as well as concierge and maintenance staff on site at all times.
Residents can even enjoy free food at the building’s 3SIXTY bar and restaurant during ‘residents’ nights’ as well as discounts at city bars The Purple Peacock and Bar52.
It has been a ‘surreal’ experience for Northumbria University Masters student Lois Wright, 24, who moved to the city from Corbridge.
Lois has been living in a fully furnished, one-bedroom apartment on the 22nd floor since January with her boyfriend, John Moscrop, 27,