Its all very well saying you get what you pay for...but that's no excuse for not providing clean, comfortable rooms, with functional facilities. On the face of it things look ok, but look closer and the place is in dire need of a deep clean and some of the staff need to visit a charm school. I didn't have a comfortable check-in, as a light sleeper, I asked for a quiet room only to be asked, how light a sleeper I was and whether my bag was heavy. I was told, if I come down and thump them with it, I'd get one back! What a welcome!! Onto the room...
Second floor, single room. Oppressively hot, with a scalding radiator and no means of turning it off. I had to keep the window open all night even though it was frosty outside, just for some fresh air. Quiet room? Could hear the lift going up and down and there was an extractor outside the window at the back overlooking the car park, so not exactly. Carpets? No stains but bits of paper & crumbs around the edges. Crumbs on bedside table. Single bed clean & comfortable. Bathroom? Grime and dirt around the taps, I scraped off with my fingernail. Under the sink bowl was coated in caked on soap, drips & other detritus. Brown stains on the tiles behind the toilet. The shower wouldn't work and the cold bath tap wouldn't turn. I had to run a bath and go downstairs for an hour to eat, while I waited for the water to cool down. When I eventually retired for the night, I zonked out on top of the duvet as the room was so hot. At 3.15am I wanted to use the bathroom but the door had locked from the inside. I went to ring reception, but the phone was broken. I had to get dressed and look for help downstairs. A staff member quickly came to the room, stepped back and booted the bathroom door 3 times to open it, kicking the lock off, I felt like a nuisance. The remainder of my night was restful and I did sleep well.
Bar staff were friendly and a young chap on reception was very helpful, chatty & pleasant. The car park to the rear, although large, didn't feel safe somehow and I wasn't happy leaving an expensive motor overnight. Incidentally there is a notice on the front door saying the doors are locked at midnight for security? They were open when I went down at 3.15am, so not that secure.
Having said all of this...the hotel is on a main road, in a residential area and is handy for where I was doing business. I have business next weekend and would stay again, even in the same room, if the problems were fixed and the initial welcome wasn't as rude!
- Stockport Britannia Hotel
