Ratings based on 348 Verified Reviews
4.2 Room cleanliness
4.1 Service & staff
3.9 Room comfort
3.9 Hotel condition
Expedia Verified Reviews
by A verified traveler
Strange, weird, ultimately horrible
Posted 18 Jun 2022 on HotelsBizarre hotel in good location. Whole place felt grubby and poorly designed and furnished. Staff were asleep on chairs outside the rooms, really strange. No sense of customer service.
Bed uncomfortable. Electricity and light switches hard to work out and weird. No free parking, no parking at all, even though they advertised it.
Terrible.
Comment from Hotel Management
20 Jun 2022 by EB, Hotel Management
Thank you for your review and we can only apologise for not meeting your expectations on this occasion. We have not knowingly advertised free parking, we are city centre and have recommended parking locations, none of which are free I am afraid, I will check all the online platforms to check where this information is pulling through from. Electricity & lighting are to normal UK standard & don't seem to be complicated in any way. As notified before your stay we are working with the UK government by offering temporary accommodation for some citizens evacuated from troubles in their own county, this does create a different atmosphere to normal.
by A verified traveler
Never Again
Posted 16 Jun 2022 on HotelsWhere do I start with the Carmelite? Parking - although it does say that there is parking, there's not - you have to park in one of the carparks either in the shopping centre or the train station. On arrival I actually though the hotel was closed as it was in darkness and the door was locked - when I eventually got in to the hotel I was met by 2 rather large security guards who didnt actually understand why i was there - a member of staff did appear and looked a but shocked when I said had a reservation - not surprised as the hotel seems to be a half way house for migrants/immigrants at the moment which is a shame as i can imagine it was a lovely place to stay in beforehand. Sleep was interrupted several times through the night by shouting coming from other rooms and kids in the corridors early in the morning. Not 100% sure if the security guards are to keep people out or to keep people in? On departure - no hotel staff around just the security guards so I just gave them the key and hot footed it out of there as quickly as possible, A real shame as like I said earlier, this hotel was probably fantastic but it just needs some care and attention and to get back to being a proper hotel - I really do think that there should be something mentioned to people before booking the situation regarding their live-in guests/inmates.
Comment from Hotel Management
16 Jun 2022 by EB, Hotel Management
Thank you for your comments. We do inform all guests when they book online of the current group we have residing with us temporarily. As you said we understand this is a slightly different hotel to what we were in the past and what we will be in the near future again.
by A verified traveler
Recent visit
Posted 11 Jun 2022 on HotelsStaff were friendly enough and my room was fine. Disappointed that there was no bar or restaurant facilities as this wasn’t stated in the app.
Felt a bit unwelcoming as the front door was always locked, even during the day.
Breakfast was really good though, the chef can make a good omelette!!
Comment from Hotel Management
16 Jun 2022 by EB, Hotel Management
Thank you for your review. Our bar & restaurant will be back open as normal when the large group we have staying with us depart in the near future.
by A verified traveler
Posted 17 May 2022 on Hotels
Comment from Hotel Management
16 Jun 2022 by EB, Hotel Management
Thank you
by A verified traveler
unexpected, would not stay again
Posted 28 Mar 2022 on HotelsThe place felt strange on arrival. There was a lot of randoms hanging around in the main reception area. I later realised that these were refugees/immigrants awaiting social housing and staying in temporary hotel accommodation on site.
I felt uncomfortable as a solo female traveller being what appeared to be the only paying guest on the premises.
That said, the staff were friendly and accommodate my request to move rooms to a room with a bath. Rooms dated but comfortable. Stayed on a room only basis.
Comment from Hotel Management
25 Apr 2022 by EB, Hotel Management
Thank you for your review, pleased to read we were able to accommodate your request & take your points on board.
by A verified traveler
Not as expected...
Posted 13 Mar 2022 on HotelsLooked amazing online, however in reality it's a little run down. We stayed in the Cabanel Suite which is one of the best rooms and can tell it badly needed refreshed. Paint needed touched up, loose carpet, really noisy annoying fan in the bathroom. Sleep wasnt great, kept hearing doors shut and there was a big draft at the window where the bed was so was cold. Wasn't the cleanest. The bath had a lot of brown and pink dirty marks?
Upon arrival it felt a little intimidating as there was always security guards at the front door. It turns out this hotel is currently housing a lot of refugees / illegal immigrants? We did not see anyone else there who I'd consider to be a paying guest so the atmosphere was pretty poor.
Comment from Hotel Management
13 Mar 2022 by EB, Hotel Management
Thank you for your review, we will look in to the maintenance issues you noted & have these rectified where possible. We are accommodating a group of Afghan citizens for a short time, they are awaiting permanent accommodation in the UK which will be completed over the next month or so all being well.
by A verified traveler
Posted 6 Mar 2022
Stayed at hotel on 4th march 2022 what an awful experience, full of refugess, no bar or restaurant open and no atmosphere whay so every had i know this would never have stayed
Comment from Hotel Management
7 Mar 2022 by Elaine , Hotel Management
Thank you for your comments, this has been discussed in person.
by A verified traveler
Review
Posted 8 Sep 2021 on HotelsReception staff very helpful on arrival,advised to park in car park, 5 mins walk away, as cheaper than outside the hotel, due to being in the Middle of the town centre. room very nice, bed very comfortably.
Barman couldn't do enough to help, nothing was too much trouble for him, what a credit to the hotel. Food beautiful, well presented.
Would definitely recommend,
Comment from Hotel Management
16 Sep 2021 by EB, Hotel Management
Thank you
by A verified traveler
Lovely but rather noisey
Posted 6 Sep 2021 on HotelsRoom was lovely however for the price of the room we expected a better sleep. Everything from outside could be heard resulting in not a great sleep for both nights of our two night stay. Booking a suite we expected a lovely relaxing atmosphere and the noise outside ruined this. Im aware this noise outwith the hotel cannot be controlled by the hotel but im sure there are some sound proofing measures that could be put in place. Or some way of explaining on the website which rooms are more peaceful.
Comment from Hotel Management
6 Sep 2021 by EB, Hotel Management
Thank you for your review, this is something we are looking at currently but being a listed building it can be rather challenging.
by A verified traveler
Posted 3 Sep 2021 on Hotels
Booked a room for one night. Room had the amenities we needed, however, there was a stain on the top of the duvet that looked questionable (pictured).
I was also charged twice for this room. The first member of staff I spoke to regarding this was unhelpful and rude, which was disappointing, especially considering the state of the bed. I spoke to a different member of staff the next day over the phone who was very helpful, however, and sorted out the double charge for me.
Overall, I would not recommend due to having a dirty duvet and unhelpful staff when we were at the location - it soured our visit.
Comment from Hotel Management
3 Sep 2021 by EB, Hotel Management
I can only apologise for the issues you encountered, I will discuss with the team on duty as I would have expected this to have been rectified as soon as brought our attention. Sincere apologies on behalf of the Carmelite team.
