Hotels Near Doxford Lake in Newton-by-the-Sea

We stayed last week for 3 nights - bed breakfast and evening meal. We had a sea view room with balcony. Every member of staff we encountered was friendly, polite & welcoming. The food was top quality - highlights were the hot, freshly cooked buffet breakfast, big fresh croissants and one of the best currys we've ever had (chicken narpiaza). The room was modern, well furnished, clean and very warm (appreciated considering it was freezing outside). The shower temperature could be a bit variable but the power was good. We sometimes got in the pub carpark, sometimes had to use the public one, but at just over a fiver for 24 hours and being just across the road, it wasn't a concern. Highly recommended.

The seats are very good, very close to the castle, also in the city center, very close to the Morrison supermarket. There is a free parking lot, just turn left for two consecutive times, see the hotel name written on the white sign on the left, and then turn left. The aunt at the front desk has taught in China and also has grandsons of mixed Chinese and English, so I see Chinese people are particularly enthusiastic, the hotel restaurant is great, breakfast is a combination of buffet and order, which is relatively high-end. But the room is a bit old.

My wife and I have just returned from a stay at The Whittling House, having taken advantage of the winter 3 nights for the price of two deal. Overall, our stay was excellent - I cannot think of a better place to stay during the cold and dark winter months. With log fires burning in the bar and restaurant areas, the whole place has a cosy and welcoming ambience. Also, the staff are friendly and efficient and their enthusiasm became almost infectious. We booked a Deluxe King Room on the first floor - very large and airy, although it did not have a sea view. The room was generally well-equipped, with its own little sitting area, and the bed was huge and very comfortable. I have noted previous comments about the weight of the duvets, and I would agree - ours was very heavy and, even in winter, was too warm. We also found the pillows to be a little too firm - next time we will bring our own. It is a shame that only one room in the hotel has a bath (and it wasn't ours!), but I appreciate the physical constraints of an old building. Nevertheless, the shower was excellent. I wish there had been a few shelves in the bathroom for personal items - this is a perennial problem in many hotels, especially for the ladies. There were excellent tea/coffee making facilities and, instead of a wardrobe, there was a small dressing room - another shelf in there would have been handy though. The TV was large and well-positioned, but there was a rather annoying delay of around several seconds when changing channels or altering the volume - I am being picky now. Breakfast at The Whittling House was superb! I love being served everything rather having it buffet-style, and the choice and quality of the food was faultless. From Craster kippers, eggs Benedict, smoked salmon, full English etc. to the fresh orange juice, lovely coffee and superb granola with yoghurt and fresh fruit, every taste (and appetite) was catered for. And the friendly and efficient serving staff enhanced our morning experience. We ate two evening meals in the restaurant. On the first evening my wife and I had soup and the fish & chips. Best fish & chips ever and the cup of clam chowder was out of this world. The draught beer and the selection of wines was also excellent. On the second evening we decided to dispense with starters, as the previous evening's meal had certainly been filling. My wife chose the lobster linguine with monkfish - it looked fabulous and she loved it. I had the belly pork, but was slightly underwhelmed. My meal looked rather like a starter portion and the pork belly itself, although crispy on top, had not been rendered down sufficiently for my taste. The plate looked very attractive and the other ”elements” were tasty, but the whole thing was a little too ”nouvelle cuisine” for my liking. Having said that, we both had another wonderful evening in the hotel bar. I have read comments about the lack of parking, but it really isn't a problem. There are around six priv