Premier Inn Alnwick

The food here wasn't as tasty or as good value as at other Premier Inns I've visited, and the bath drain in my otherwise clean room hadn't been cleaned. I also hadn't realised that the windows don't open, since that wasn't mentioned anywhere. There didn't seem to be enough staff, and some didn't look particularly professional. One person serving breakfast wore jogging bottoms with visible stains. I understand wanting comfortable clothes, but there's a line between comfortable and scruffy. At check-in, using the machine felt needlessly complicated, especially with a staff member standing right there and insisting I use it. One staff member was abrupt and acted as if I should already know how everything worked; another was much nicer. I picked a Premier Inn because you generally know what to expect, and Alnwick has plenty of guesthouses whose quality varies. This one was okay, but not great.

Karen was cheerful and very helpful when the check-in terminal crashed partway through, and she gave us exactly the sort of Northeast hospitality I'd hoped for. She also steered us toward Sherkhan after warning us that the local restaurant we'd planned to try wasn't as good as it used to be. We had an excellent curry and a very pleasant evening. Alnwick Castle is well worth visiting, and the town itself is historic and attractive. We'd stayed at many other Premier Inn locations, but this was our first visit here, and it met the usual standard we expect.

A great stop to rest between Wales and Scotland. The room was clean and comfortable, and the staff were so friendly. I'd gladly recommend it to friends and family.

We were kept awake throughout our stay by noise in the rooms and corridors. We could hear other guests through the walls, in the hallway, and walking around in the room above. Reception couldn't move us and gave us a card directing us to claim under Premier Inn's 'Good Night Guarantee'. Customer service then refused any refund and accused us of lying about the complaint, even though reception had told us about the policy. The hotel is also in a dodgy industrial estate where people are rough sleeping, and it's a very long, unpleasant walk from Alnwick. I'd pay a little more to stay in Alnwick itself somewhere that treats customers well.