Ive stayed at this hotel a few times, generally because its right beside the M6 and is good for stop overs between meetings.

Location is great, grounds of hotel and parking are first class.

However ive found the service to be patchy, sometimes waiting at reception for someone to appear, same at the bar often no one behind it unless its a busy night. On this stay the hotel seemed really quiet and there was no bar staff to be seen, but on other stays the service has been great both at reception and the bar.

The hotel layout is a two floored very long building like lots of old Forte Posthouse hotels, of which I assume this is one, on this visit I was given room 161 which was the furthest away from reception on the upper floor, got there only to find the room swipe card wasnt programmed properly so had to walk all the way back to reception, up and down stairs, with my luggage and didnt even get a "sorry" from the receptionist who was a different person to who checked me in.

Rooms are typical old holiday inn style too, wooden shutters and very small bathroom, however great power shower. The room was quite cold too, with it being the last room I can only assume the external walls it didnt help the room stay warm, but with only a small heater and the air-con only blowing cold it wasnt much use.

If your not very good with stairs I wouldnt stay here as there is no lift and no way of avoiding the stairs.

This hotel has a character of its own. Somewhat quirky with its low-rise arrangement of long corridors strung out over a large area, the hotel is well set back from the road in its own large green space. The hotel has a relaxing laid-back feel to it with an excellent swimming pool that encourages lane swimming and a gym. We regularly stay here on our visits to Stoke-on-Trent and this last visit was equally as enjoyable as those visits in the past. The rooms are spacious and include a settee that can be converted to an additional bed.

On arrival stood waiting for receptionist Eventually approached bar staff, 3 people serving and the receptionist for front desk was totting up the cash register at the bar! Actually went over and requested service, she finished the task and about to leave when another member of staff appeared at the bar with 4 half drunk bottles of wine....this needed attention. Eventually left the job that usually takes place at the end of an evening or at the very least a quiet time. On registering, the staff member asked for way beyond the sum agreed through Expedia.Asked if we would like a morning paper. Informed we may not get it as they had some problems. What's the point of asking and also requesting 55p for something they may not deliver. Asked if we would like a wake up call...may not happen as there was some problems....Attempted to eat in the restaurant but decided against this when met with 'closing in 15 minutes'. Whatever happened to the hospitality business? Believe me we're very easy to please as long as the place is clean and a little courtesy is shown. Sadly lacking on all fronts here.
Room was comfortable. Felt quite cold so rang reception at 11pm for an extra duvet....no answer. Breakfast was overall pretty good with a young lady doing the work of four people. Thank goodness someone was keen. Bar/reception area was full and noisy especially the lady behind the bar banging out the coffee dregs every five minutes. Trolleys of coffee etc rambled through to various conference rooms and amazingly 3 tables had people being interviewed for jobs. I've had more peace at Lime St. Station in Liverpool. Have these people no respect for clients? Happy to say after departure at 12 noon we spent a delightful afternoon at the Wedgwood Potteries. Never again, I'd rather pitch a tent on the surrounding farm with the sheep.

Not the welcome we expected when we checked in at reception. Receptionist advising me they were unable to take money from my account which was booked way back in November, for hotel room. I received no e-mails or phone calls to suggest this. Off course the reason they could not take money was because they were trying to charge me more for what i had booked for, thank god my account was low at the time. Receptionist on the night of New Years eve very unprofessional, did not know basic things about hotel.