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| Summer 2007 |
Festival First Missed out? Don’t worry; we’re holding our second Festival from Sunday 27th April - Monday 5th May next year and are already talking to an exciting line-up of chefs. |
Time for tea ... and music |
Serious drinking Despite the end-of-course exams, there was plenty of fun, particularly the food and wine matching part of Level 1. The next Level involved a more in-depth study of grape varieties while Level 3 demanded a blind tasting. “Before, I sometimes felt guests knew more about wine than I did,” admits banqueting supervisor Jamie Wallace. “Now, I can advise with confidence. Plus, I got to taste some great wines!” If you want to broaden your wine knowledge, why not come to one of our winemaker’s dinners? Hosted by wine experts, they give you the chance to try a variety of wines matched to each course of a five or six course meal. Check the ‘Dates for your Diary’ section below or our website for further details. |
Behind the bedroom door |
New look, better service |
Dates for your Diary September October November December |
Festive party time |
| Jesmond Dene House, Jesmond Dene Road, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, NE2 2EY, United Kingdom Tel: +44 (0)191 212 3000 Fax: +44 (0) 191 212 3001 info@jesmonddenehouse.co.uk www.jesmonddenehouse.co.uk |
Eight days, 18 guest chefs, 1426 glasses of champagne - our first Festival of Food and Wine, held in April, was hectic, hard work and huge fun. We had cookery demonstrations from Hairy Biker Simon King and Irish smoothie Paul Rankin, a farmers’ market in the Great Hall and guest chef dinners from a clutch of starry names including the Galvin brothers of London AA Restaurant of the Year, Galvin Bistrot de Luxe. Highlight, undoubtedly, was the Entente Cordiale gala dinner when 99 guests enjoyed a six-course meal prepared by 10 British and French chefs. Rumour has it that some of the chefs were still recovering in the bar when the breakfast shift arrived…
Sunday afternoons are made for long, lazy teas. And we’ve made them extra special by adding live music. On August 26th, there’s a guitar duo while on October 14th and December 2nd, we’ve invited American harpist, Erica Walker, to entertain you. Growing up in California, Erica began playing the harp professionally at 13. After music college, she played aboard Cunard cruise liners, fell in love with England and, three years ago, was invited to be resident harp tutor at the Sage Gateshead which she combines with solo and concert work. Her music ranges from classical through stage musicals to modern pop. Held in the Great Hall, each Afternoon Tea at the House includes a glass of champagne as well as finger sandwiches, scones and cream, and delicious cakes. Bring your children, bring your Mum, spoil yourself.
Sniffing, swilling, slurping and spitting. There’s been a lot of that recently at the hotel - all in the name of education. Our sommelier, David Borwick, has been putting staff through their paces in a series of professional wine courses. “Our wine list is fairly complex,” he explains. “Staff felt they wanted to be able to give guests better advice plus add to their own skills.” Although the courses, designed by the Wine and Spirit Education Trust, were rigorous, and participation voluntary, 40 people signed up, from waiters to marketing staff and senior managers. Everyone completed Level 1 while some, fancying themselves as future Jilly Gooldens, studied to Level 3, equivalent to an A Level. 
Our 10-strong bedroom team, headed by Room Operations Manager, Carol Jackson, and Linda Collins, Housekeeping Manager, is never satisfied. “The best is never good enough, we’re always looking to improve,” says Carol. Recent additions to the rooms include bowls of fresh fruit, colourful plants, extra potions in the bathrooms (from the Arran Aromatics range), hand-made pomanders (each clove-studded orange takes three hours to make but smells heavenly), lavender sachets in the wardrobes and a decent pile of glossy magazines. There are Innocent Smoothies and Firefly herbal-based Tonics in the mini-bar and a replacement programme of low-energy light bulbs. A recent research trip to London’s Charlotte Street Hotel, part of the chic and forward-thinking Firmdale Hotels group, proved interesting. “They’re a good benchmark,” says Carol “but we found we were already doing the same things.” London is not always ahead of the game. 
A range of smart new brochures will shortly be available. Take a look to see what we offer and how we might be able to help you. Our Weddings brochure is a direct response to enquiries from people looking for a place which does not offer the conventional ‘wedding package’; where you can create your own perfect day. The Private Dining and Meetings brochure details the choices whether you want to hold a breakfast seminar or major presentation, an intimate lunch or celebratory dinner. Full menus and tempting treats are detailed in the Festive Season brochure while there’s every excuse to indulge yourself if you browse our Special Events brochure. We’ve also strengthened our events and reservations co-ordination team with new member Lindsey Watson joining Wiebke Rowland and Victoria Soulsby.
August
We know it’s still summer (well, sort of summer) but this is a tiny reminder about Christmas and New Year. If you’re looking to celebrate with family, friends or colleagues, our three private dining rooms can seat between 10 and 22 guests while the Great Hall can take up to 100 people for a sit-down meal or party. The earlier you book, the greater your choice of dates. Why not join us for Christmas Day lunch or to see in the New Year? On both days, we’re offering special festive menus in both the Restaurant and Great Hall. In the latter, live music will add to the seasonal atmosphere.