Sandman Signature Newcastle Hotel and Shark Club Newcastle are celebrating 15 years at the heart of the city’s hospitality scene.
The 170-bedroom hotel and its adjoining bar and restaurant opened opposite St James’ Park in September 2011.
Since then, Sandman Signature Newcastle Hotel has welcomed more than one million guests and filled more than 610,000 rooms.
The property currently employs 120 people, with six members of staff having worked at the hotel since it opened.
Guests over the past 15 years have included Stephen Graham, Jimmy Carr, Rio Ferdinand, Paul Gascoigne, Chris Gascoyne and Larry Lamb.
The Newcastle site is also home to the head office of owner Northland Properties, which operates additional hotels and dining venues in Glasgow, Sheffield, Aberdeen, Dublin and London Gatwick.
The group is also progressing plans for a 240-bedroom hotel in Edinburgh.
Shark Club Newcastle has developed alongside the hotel as a sports bar and match-day destination.
Around 320 people have worked at the venue since it opened, with four original team members still employed there.
Employees have progressed from roles including bussers, hosts, servers and chefs into positions such as General Manager, Assistant General Manager, Regional Director and Executive Chef.
The venue has served more than 20 million chicken wings and poured more than 1.5 million pints during its first 15 years.
It has also hosted two marriage proposals and welcomed guests including Romeo Beckham, The Saturdays, Love Island’s Adam Collard and members of the Geordie Shore cast.
Newcastle Eagles basketball team and rugby union side Newcastle Red Bulls are also regular visitors.
Kelly Murray, Regional Director for the UK and Ireland, joined Sandman Hotel Group in 2012.
She said: “Fifteen years at Sandman Hotel Group has flown by, and I feel incredibly lucky to have been part of the journey.
“We’ve picked up some brilliant awards along the way, but what I’m proudest of is the team we’ve built – so many of us have been together for years, and that longevity says everything about the culture here.
“We’ve grown up together. I’ve watched colleagues develop their careers just as I’ve developed mine, and the company has grown alongside us. I’ve even watched some get married to each other and start families!
“Some moments will stay with me forever. Our work with Teenage Cancer Trust has been one of the most rewarding parts of the job, and seeing our 100ft flag drop for Eddie Howe on Carabao Cup parade day is something I’ll never forget.
“Of course, it hasn’t all been easy. Getting through the pandemic together tested all of us, but it showed just how much our team pulls together when it matters.
“What means the most, though, is our guests. I’ve had the pleasure of looking after so many wonderful people over the years. Here’s to the next fifteen – I can’t wait to see what’s next.”
Zoe Young started work as a server at Shark Club in 2011 and is now Regional Restaurant Manager for the UK and Ireland.
She said: “There have been many highlights over the last 15 years, but none more so than the fact we still have loyal staff and regulars who have been with us through it all, from day one.
“There have been some hugely memorable nights, including our annual Super Bowl events, which always sell out, and the night Newcastle United FC was taken over in 2021 – I’ve never seen a buzz like it.
“Winning the TripAdvisor Travellers’ Choice Award in 2020 was a real highlight too.
“Personally, I’ll definitely never forget the day I abseiled off the roof to raise money for the Teenage Cancer Trust!”
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