This hotel confirms that they used to be!!
It does the job it was built for and although it can't be that old it feels dated in a strange modernish way!!
The beds to me are quite uncomfy, the lighting in the room is extremely poor, quite depressive and useless if you want to work in the room, because the electric doesn't work until you put the card in the slot and it's electric heating the room can be very cold on arrival, that apart its ok, very average.
The friendliness of the staff and the ease of the location do make up for some of the hotels faults but I will be looking for somewhere else in the area and I suspect if I come across a new or refurbished Premier I won't be coming back here.

We booked a room for three, my wife and my youngest son and I, for a trip to see Newcastle Utd v's Manchester Utd at St James Park. We drove down from Scotland and the hotel was very easy to find being only a few hundred yards off of the A1. My wife wanted to shop at the Metro Centre whichis around 1/2 a mile away and she dropped my son and I off at the Metro Centre Bus station where we got a 100 bus into the city centre, only a short walk from the Stadium. The buses run every 10 minutes or so for most of the day.
The hotel is within walking distance of TGI, KFC and a nice bar / restaurant (cant rememember the name but not part of a big chain) The hotel istelf is a good example of the HIE brand, very clean, well laid out, rooms clean and ideal for the three of us with a fold down sofa bed as well as a double bed in the room.
At only £43 for one night it really was excellent value and we had a great stay.

I travelled down from Scotland,with my boyfriend and his son age 12..The room is clean,coz,free parking.Staff are friendly..The breakfast was good :)

Its ideal for going shopping at the Metro

stayed two nights ,ideal location for metro centre, hotel spotless and service first class.
room was warm, shower great. great deal for bed and breakfast with dinner voucher for frankie and bennys. will definately do this again.