This hotel used to be a Holiday Inn Express and changed only a couple of days before we stayed. We were travelling with cats so we were a little concerned that they would change the animal policy. They did honour our booking which was nice of them. Pity they did not let us know about the change and it was only on a Cat Show forum that we found this to have been the case.

We arrived and found the place to feel a little desserted. It seemed clean and modern so we just thought we had arrived before most of our friends. There is a pub next door in which we found some of our friends and the food was average pub grub. Nothing at all fancy.

The room was quite comfortable and we found it was just big enough for our needs. Breakfast was very poor though. The choice was very sparce with only baked beans, sausages and bacon available for the hot choice and the orange juice was like water. Some of the group likened it to what they find in their cat's litter trays.

Overall I was very dissapointed with this hotel and it was not up to the Holiday Inn Express standard we were expecting.

The room was very clean and simple, very nice shower. Stayed two nights, i would be happy stay here again. Good choices for breakfast, but the scrambled eggs were salty. Pub next door was convenient for dinner, that was only ok nothing special.

Booked this hotel when it was under the Holiday Inn Express management. Received an email from HIE a couple of days prior to travel to confirm this was now known as the Castle Bromwich Inn.
Phoned the hotel to be told they hadn't kept the franchise but everything would be just the same as my booking. Richard was verfy helpful on the phone with directions and local transport info.
Location: junction 5 M6 - if you threw a cricket ball off the roof you'd probably hit the central reservation! Dual carriageway runs outside the main entrance. This is one way but there's a roundabout a couple of hundred yards each end of the carriageway so you have easy access to the free car park and the hotel.
I didn't hear any road noise in the room which was above the main entrance 2nd floor. My mother, a light sleeper, heard the traffic but managed to sleep.
Room: usual layout - 2 single beds, hanging space, dressing table, complimentary tray. Very clean room. En suite had large walk in shower with copious hot water.
Free breakfast is more than adequate, fruit, cereals, yoghurt, toast, and scrambled egg, beans, sausage, juice and hot drinks.
For a very reasonably priced 2 night break I can't complain at all. If you want 5 star hotels, you can pay the extra and get them, just realise this is a budget alternative. Don't think I'd stay longer than a couple of nights though as not the prettiest of surroundings being so near the motorway and industrial areas.
Visited the Grand Design show at NEC - drove there and it took around 30 mins (so much traffic but still quick to get to!). Chose this hotel as it was a good half the price cheaper than hotels nearer to the NEC and I would stay there again.
Visited the Alexandra Theatre in Birmingham centre while we were here - caught the bus in to town from the stop 5 mins walk away next to the Spitfire roundabout. You'll know what that is when you see it ! Also did a bit of shopping at the nearest out of town centre - Fort Dunlop. This is only a 5 minute journey in the car from the hotel.
Summary - good budget hotel, convenient location, clean rooms & common areas, helpful staff, free car parking.

Firstly, this is no longer an Express by Holiday Inn, but has been sold and is simply called Castle Bromwich Inn. In its favour, the location is very convenient, just off the M6, near to the NEC / airport and with a reasonable pub next door for food. Our room was clean and tidy, as was the rest of the hotel. However, the bathroom's tissue dispenser was almost falling off the wall, the shower gel / shampoo dispenser was empty and the internal walls are paper thin. We couldn't hear the adjacent motorway traffic, but could easily hear a baby screaming half the night down the corridor! The breakfast was poor, with hardly any hot food and just a few other staples, but then, I guess you get what you pay for. On the plus side, there was plentiful car parking, the staff were friendly and helpful and there is free wi-fi throughout the hotel for guests. OK for a night or two but I personally wouldn't stay any longer.