Birmingham Strathallan Hotel, BW Signature Collection

The rooms are small and a bit dated, but for a budget night where you just need somewhere to lie down, the price was right. Check-in and check-out were smooth, service was good, and I appreciated the pet-friendly policy and secure parking. There was some noise in the middle of the night. The walls didn’t seem very thick, though noisy guests were also part of the problem.

I stayed one night while my son was recovering from an operation. Free parking was a big plus, and the woman at reception was very helpful when I arrived. The lobby and bar looked nice. My small double room was tiny, but suited what I needed, and the bed was clean and comfortable. The rest of the room was tidy too. The fifth-floor corridor was clean but rather dark and could use redecorating. Staff were just as friendly and helpful at the bar and when I checked out. It was a pleasant visit.

There was no hot water in the morning. I ran the taps for ten minutes and still couldn’t shower, so I skipped breakfast and got out of the place. On a business trip, I’d paid £80 a night for a tiny room in a mess. Broken glass on the floor, threadbare carpets, mould in the bathroom and fingerprints everywhere. After I showed reception the photos, the receptionist was pleasant, polite and understanding, and moved me to a larger room where the carpet was at least intact. That room was still very dated, with fingerprints on the switches and doors and nose prints on the windows. The place left me wanting to disinfect myself. The staff were wonderful, but the cleaning wasn’t. For half the price, I’d have been better off at a Travelodge. This place needs serious TLC, and it wasn’t good enough for 2022.

The outside looks neglected and badly in need of TLC, but the reception area was a nice surprise. The woman at the desk was lovely. Our room was small but pleasant and did the job for one night, especially for the very good price. We paid an extra £10 for a full English breakfast the next morning. It was a good all-you-can-eat buffet.