Set as it is in acres of woodland, adjacent to Newcastle Racecourse and about 4 miles north of Newcastle city centre, the Marriott Gosforth Park's location is unrivalled for space and sheer greenery. Literally 30 seconds' drive from the A1, it is nevertheless so far removed from hustle and bustle that you could be in the middle of the Yorkshire dales.

Inside the hotel is a wholly different matter; the marble floors of the reception area are elegant and beautifully polished - likewise the dark wood of the fittings. The adjacent lounge is much the same and is a perfect spot for a coffee - or in my case, a beer and two double vodkas - while you wait for your room to be ready. The drinks are expensive here, but that's to be expected - any hotel that sells Remy Martin Louis XIII cognac at £clawyoureyesout.00 per measure is hardly likely to have neon BOGOF signs hanging outside. On the plus side, it's hardly likely to have legions of screeching, staggering chavs clutching bottles of blue WKD either, which is a welcome bonus.

Having decided to eat dinner in the hotel restaurant, we were immediately struck by how formal it was when we walked in. Called simply The Park Restaurant, it has what I call a Mayfair gentlemen's club feel to it - not that I've been to a gentlemen's club, but I'm sure you get the picture. Pillars, brass fittings, silver cutlery; no hearty welcome from a teenage waiter here, more a brisk smile from the maitre'd, a terse "This way please, sir" and lots of pomp and splendour. The food itself was delicious and French based, just as you would expect from a restaurant like this. I had Monkfish with scallops which was beautiful, my girlfriend ordered the fillet steak with peppercorn sauce which was also considered a winner. At around £20 per main course the menu is reasonably expensive, but you do get what you pay for and the restaurant is AA-rated - this is hardly Michelin star food, but it is of an excellent standard all the same. Expect to pay upwards of £20 a bottle for any decent wine here - we didn't partake but I did have a glance at the list which is quite comprehensive, though there is little in the way of truly expensive wines. The service was excellent and unobtrusive; apart from a perfunctory "Is everything alright, sir / madam" we were left alone, which is just how I like it.

Before we left we also paid a visit to the Gosforth Park Leisure Club which is free for all guests to use; this is very well equipped with gym, swimming pool, sauna, steam room, cold plunge pool, squash courts, outdoor tennis courts, sunbeds and snack bar.