Holiday Inn Express Birmingham Star City by IHG

Breakfast came with the stay, though I didn’t try it. Star City Complex is just a short walk away, and I’d stay here again if I was in the area. There’s loads of parking in the unusual gated car park, and check-in was quick with all the information explained. The lift serves every floor. The room was what I’d expect from a Holiday Inn Express: tidy, clean and a good size, with a comfortable bed, good WiFi and a hot, powerful shower. One small bed light had a broken switch and wouldn’t turn off, which housekeeping should have caught. I covered it with a sock and reported it when checking out.

Check-in was a really good experience, the team were incredibly friendly and welcoming. The place was clean throughout, and although it’s looking a little dated now, it had a fresh coat of paint. The room cards are the old slide-into-the-door type, not NFC. Mine stopped working on the first day and had to be reprogrammed, so keep that in mind. It was a decent stay, though a little overpriced for what you get. I assume being close to Star City affects the price.

Breakfast was pretty underwhelming, especially the hot food. The beans tasted like they’d been left in a pan for 24 hours. The staff were friendly and helpful, and the location was good. The shared areas, corridors and parts of the room showed a lot of wear and felt dated. They could use a renovation, which you’d think might happen after the revenue from their other migrant hotel nearby.

The room smelled odd when we got back after being out, and I wouldn’t be in a hurry to return. There were hairs left by previous guests in the shower and bathroom. Dinner wasn’t available when we arrived because the kitchen had a problem. Breakfast the next morning was cold and mostly inedible, and the tables were sticky and not very clean. It looked like one staff member was trying to handle everything, rushing around without getting much done. What a shame.