Jesmond Dene House is back to normal now. The only sound interrupting the tranquility of its secluded, leafy surrounds is that of chiming teacups among the elderly afternoon diners.
One year ago today, it was champagne corks, hysterical supporters, satellite trucks, jostling journalists, ex-SAS bodyguards and finally, at 5.40pm, the emergence of Amanda Staveley to tell the world Newcastle United was under new ownership, headed by Saudi Arabia’s £700billion Public Investment Fund.
This quaint, boutique hotel felt like the centre of the sporting universe that day. But while the seismic events that played out inside are all but a memory - lawyers completed the £305million deal from a ‘takeover bunker’ - the aftershocks are still being celebrated three miles away at St James’ Park.