I tried Newcastle's newest hotel fitness suite and found a whole new way to exercise

As someone who looks to keep themselves fit, I was never going to turn down the chance to try out the new fitness suite at Innside by Meliá Newcastle, which sits on the banks of the Tyne.

The hotel has paired up with fitness brand Peloton to bring two Wellness Suites to the site, which are in two of the hotel’s Townhouses, available to book from January 2024. 

The rooms themselves are stunning thanks to perfect views over the Tyne and the High Level Bridge, but also come complete with a Peloton Bike+ alongside workout mats, yoga blocks and resistance bands with the added extra of in-room content available to cast to each Smart TV. 

Every TV in the hotel is paried up to the process, allowing visitors the chance to try workouts or sessions from their room, or head to the site's gym to try a Peloton bike which has been installed.

I usually don't like going to the gym. For me playing five a side football weekly and running two to three times a week is enough to feel good and work towards any goals I have, including running my first Great North Run in 2023, but after settling into the room after checking in and seeing the space was arguably larger than the flat I rented at university, I was surprised at what Peloton was offering for a free membership.

While the bikes themselves are out of a lot of people's budgets, the free version of Peloton membership gives fitness fanatics sessions for stretching, HIIT cardio, strength, meditation, yoga and more.

After making the most of the complimentary snacks on offer and getting changed, I started looking at the Peloton workout inventory from mobility stretches right through to hard effort cycling interval sessions which were available through my new free membership.

This level of membership does not include the live classes the brand is famed for, but does include certain sessions available to watch and work alongside after their initial broadcast.

Forgetting about anything to do with warming up due to excitement about trying my new toy for the day, I threw myself into the deep end - a 30 minute session I would later find out was designed to "challenge your mind and strengthen your body inside and out."

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In retrospect, starting with something slightly easier might have been the best call, but I persevered and, thanks to an in-class playlist including Sophie Ellis Bextor and Nelly, had the leg pain to tell the tale afterwards.

However, the only workout you regret is the one you didn't do, as I'm sure I've seen a TikTok influencer say before without a drip of sweat on them.

After a much needed shower and meal outside the building which also hosts Gino D'Acampo's Tyneside restaurant, I retreated back to the hotel bar for a beer, essentially undoing all my hard work, but I had a plan.

Time in the bar flew by and after plenty of people watching I returned upstairs, ready for a way to kick start my day in a way I haven't been able to before.

With the Peloton bike looking out towards the river, waking up and getting on in my room didn't feel like as much of a chore as getting downstairs for a run or to the site's gym.

Instead I got a low impact 20 minute bike session into my legs, soundtracked by John Legend and Phoenix, a personal favourite band before getting the room's yoga mat and having a go at the traditionally Hindu practice which I had never tried previously.

By this time the sun was rising over the High Level bridge and turning the sky into a stunning mix of red and orange while relaxing tunes backed a beginners session which was a perfect way to bring my heart rate down and get ready for the day.

Some Yoga sessions remain available through the free version of the membership , and if the early morning experience of the sunrise, music and feel-good factor of knowing breakfast is coming up next is anything to go by, call me a yoga convert - and a Peloton convert at that!

The townhouses, complete with the fitness suite equipment, is available to book from January 2024.