A Grown-Up Festive Weekend in Ouseburn

Ouseburn is one of my favourite areas of Newcastle. I would say it's where all the cool kids go but if I'm honest, I don't think that's true. I think it's better to describe this area of Newcastle as somewhere those in their 30s and 40s like to come to pretend they're cool. So in celebration on my 35th birthday, we decided to spend a child-free weekend here and pretend we were one of the cool kids.

First stop was The Cluny. Steve and I had one of our first dates here or it actually might have been a works night out before we got together - it was WAY back in 2001/2 which seems like forever ago. For those who don't know, Steve and I met when we worked at Tyne Tees Motor Auction. I was still at sixth form and helped out on Friday nights/Saturday mornings and it was Steve's full-time job. Anyway, one of our colleagues was playing here so we all went along to show our support. It feels mad that we're still visiting over 15 years later. We'd never been for food but my friend Nyomi always speaks highly of it so decided to pop in for a quick bite.

Everything is so cheap here and on a Saturday afternoon the place was packed with kids and grown-ups enjoying a catch up with friends. There are lots of craft beers/ales for sale and Steve went with one of the weirder options while I stuck with Prosecco.

We ordered our food and then someone placed this leaflet on our table. How good do the festive specials sound? Definitely a reason to return. As it was a Saturday afternoon it was busy and there was around a 40 minute wait for food but they warned us about this and we weren't in a hurry so it was fine.

I ordered Northumberland Cheese on Toast which was a steal at £5.95. Look at all this cheese! They were so generous with the portions. Steve opted for the Philly Cheese Nachos which again were a massive portion and utterly delicious. If you're looking for a decent cheap bite to eat with generous portions in a child-friendly pub, the Cluny is worth checking out.

We'd pushed the boat out and booked a suite at the Hotel du Vin for the evening. As soon as check-in time of 3pm hit, we walked over. It seems like this weekend was a little bit of a walk down memory lane for us as we last stayed in this room 9 years ago when I was pregnant with Heidi and always vowed to go back. I honestly think it's the best suite in Newcastle and perfect for a romantic break. It was expensive, but so worth it for a treat. I'll share a full tour of this room soon so keep your eyes peeled. We spent a blissful couple of hours completely chilling out, drinking Champagne and making use of the suite's incredible Bose sound system before getting ready for our evening out.

Outfit details: Dress from Evan's (affiliate), Boots from M&S (affiliate)

Outfit details: Jumper from Jacamo (affiliate), Jeans from Jacamo

The bar in Hotel du Vin is perfect for a festive drink. There are twinkling lights, a real fire, comfortable armchairs and a nice range of seasonal cocktails. I went with the fireside and would 100% recommend - especially if you like your drinks on the savoury side. You can visit the hotel bar without staying over too.

It's a little bit of a tradition for us bloggers to get together for a fancy meal over the festive period. Last year we dined at Jesmond Dene House and this year it was the turn of Artisan in The Biscuit Factory. They have a private dining room which is free to hire and was perfect for our group. If you're dining as part of a group, it's worth asking if they can put a deal together with a set menu. Artisan did just that for us and we enjoyed three courses, coffee and a bottle of wine for £75 per couple which considering this was in a private dining room on a Saturday night in December was such a great deal. What really stood out for us at Artisan was the fantastic service. We were really well looked after and can't wait to return soon.

Here's a peek at what we had. All utterly delicious.....

Northumbrian Game Scotch Egg

Beetroot Cured Salmon 

Double Baked Cheddar Cheese Souffle

Breast of Turkey

Apple and Almond Tart 

Buttermilk Panna Cotta 

After dinner we walked over to The Tanners Arms which is a classic boozer on Byker Bridge. It was a pretty bizarre and eclectic mix of old men drinking at the bar, younger locals drinking alcopops and a live DJ blaring out Drum 'n' Base in the corner. As there was such a mix of clientele we didn't feel too out of place AND we managed to grab a seat so it suited us just fine. As the clock struck midnight we were done though and it was back to our room for a blissful night's sleep.

Breakfast at our hotel was priced at a rather expensive £17 per person and after splashing out a lot of suite, we weren't really keen to spend more. After a lazy morning we checked out and walked along to KILN instead which seemed like a much better option. I LOVED it here and was very happy to indulge in warm seasonal fruits over sourdough by the Christmas tree. The food here is healthy (ish) and hearty and the staff are all super warm and friendly. The building is also home to a pottery workshop and smells like bonfires which really adds to the vibe. If you're looking for a relaxed, hearty brunch, definitely check out KILN.

And just like that, our weekend in Ouseburn was done. We had the best time and loved pretending to be tourists in our home city. There's so much more of Ouseburn we still need to explore and it feels like somewhere new is popping up each week - let me know your favourite spot.

Disclosure: We paid for our own weekend. 

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