Used for a business meeting. Thought last time there was room for improvement, sadly has got worse.
Car park is a joke, far too small, and decidedly untidy. Detritus all over the place.
The room was in need of a refurb. Lamps failed in light fittings, basin in bathroom had a bit the size of my hand that had been knocked off, and poorly stuck back in. Shaver point on end of mirror light too close to shower screen, and no way could a razor be plugged in.
Despite free broadband, and 3 guest log-ons showing as available, could not get a signal anywhere in the building. Perfect on my phone through O-2 though.
Evening meal, those who ordered soup were not offered a bread roll, those that had steak were not offered veg or salad. Assume not inclusive on the menu?
Breakfast, I ordered scrambled egg on toast. Eggs cooked to perfection, and on top of un-buttered toast, no problem with that, but then I was handed a plate with butter, thought that was to put on toast with jam or marmalade, but no other toast arrived. Coffee in a pot, and a milk jug, but only enough milk to cover the bottom of the jug, and no spoon to stir the coffee. No staff to be found either.
Lunch time we had a buffet. There were bowls of salad and pasta with various plates of finger food, and knives/forks to eat with, but nowhere to sit & eat the food as there was another meeting in the dining room. No point in knives & forks, so the pasta etc was hardly touched.
Afternoon tea/coffee. NO SPOONS. Sugar lumps were in bowls which we had to use our fingers for and we all had to stir our drinks with our pens.
Toilets in public rooms, one toilet had no dryer, just a very manky & wet towel, (Remember the sugar in bowls and the lack of spoons, and imagine the possibilities) the toilet roll was on top of the cistern, and clearly it had once fallen into the pan. The other toilet the dryer would not stay on, and the lid would not stay up.
To be fair, the meals are excellent and so is the welcome. It is just a shame that there is no attention to detail, and there seems to be no ownership of day-to-day issues. They are clearly short-staffed, and it shows.
When it came to any other business in our meeting, I asked for a different venue in future. After taking 4 hours plus to get there, I would like a little something to make up for the journey.
This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC
20 February 2012
Dear Alex1706
Thank you for your comments. Having spoken to 6 of your collegues at the same meeting including the organiser, I feel it appropriate to reply to some of the points you raised as your view differs from theirs.
Like many City Centre hotels parking is limited here, however as long as guests park considerately there is ample space on most days. For days where there is not enough, like your meeting taking up around 70% of our spaces, many with vans, we have an overflow car park opposite the hotel, which I am sure had you asked, reception would have directed you to. I categorically deny 'detritus all over the place' it is tidied 3 times per week as a minimum.
All the lamps in your room worked. I took the decision on environmental gorunds that bedside lights with more than one socket, would only have one bulb of 60w equivalent fitted and this was the case in your room. I have uploaded a picture of the sink, perhaps you could point out the damage.
On the evening of your stay we had to re-boot our broadband router. All other guests reported it working fully after this. I am not sure why you compared this to your mobile phone reception.
Our restaurant offers fabulous value at £12.95 for 2 courses of freshly prepared food. All meals come with a garnish and a selection of vegetables are listed as sides on the menu. Bread rolls for those having soup were placed in the centre of your table - perhaps some not having soup also ate them.
Having checked my CCTV it appears you sat at a recently vacated table at breakfast, rather than the ready set one next to you, hence some items were not fully topped up. Our breakfast menu clearly states order any tea/coffee/toast from your server, so I am unsure why you expected some to be delivered that you did not order.
On the day of your meeting we did have 2 other meetings in the hotel. Unlike most other conference venues, we do not charge for a break-out room (perhaps you should suggest your group consider paying this), hence you had the lounge and bar areas for your buffet. Many of your colleagues ate in the bar, which I am surpised you didn't find as you walked past both open doors to it to get to the toilet.
The toilet with the towel. This is mainly our bar toilet. I can confirm my housekeeper changed the towel around 11.15 am. The only people that used it that day were your group it was then changed again at 3.26pm.
Our other toilets hand driers are set to eco mode which requires you to keep your hands under them for them to operate.
It does appear my conferencing manager missed some teaspoons out from your afternoon break - I apologise for this and have put measures in place to prevent it happening again.
Thank you for your compliments about our meals and staff.
I would finally like to point out that, in your room, as in every room in the hotel, was a letter from me personally, saying if you have any problems during your stay I am always available to help.
Regards
Martin Reilly
General Manager
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of TripAdvisor LLC
