The Mill Hotel & Spa

The spa was a lovely extra, and the hotel is right where you want to be for the city centre. What really made the stay, though, was Caroline at reception. She was so welcoming and professional, and went out of her way to help us. Her service made the trip memorable. Thanks for taking such good care of us.

The pool facilities were good and the location is fantastic, right in the city centre. The staff were nice too, and it was cheap, but I wouldn't stay again. At the price I paid it was acceptable, though I'd have been annoyed if it had cost more. The room was huge, but awkwardly laid out. The TV was too far from the bed, and the only other place to sit was a strange, uncomfortable sofa bed that looked as if it hadn't been cleaned in decades. It was boiling hot even in April, with no air conditioning, just a desk fan in the wardrobe. I'd dread staying there in summer. Our room was beside the dual carriageway, which was awful. The hotel feels incredibly dated, and there are lots of stairs if your room is over the bridge. I was there for my 50th birthday, which I'd mentioned when booking, but nobody acknowledged it. I wasn't expecting a freebie, but even a note or a nicer room would have been nice. Breakfast had to be booked at check-in, and the system was odd. One person checked guests in, showed them to a table, explained things, took tea orders and passed them to the kitchen before starting all over with the next guests. There was always a queue. It would be easier to let people come down when they want. The buffet was small and not very good. The crockery was scratched and old, and the whole place felt dated.

The staff were really friendly, and the location is brilliant. We even managed to park in the hotel car park at 10am, well before the 3pm check-in, which was a bonus. The room was spotless and had everything we needed, with an incredibly comfortable bed. It was a little dated, so that's why I'd give the room four stars, but I'd absolutely use this hotel again.

The staff were friendly and helpful, the spa was clean and good, and the location worked well with only a short walk to the centre. Free, secure parking on site was a big bonus. The bar food was fine, though nothing special. Still, I probably wouldn't stay again. We booked two nights at the Mill in Jan 26 and paid to upgrade to a canal side room, which left us disappointed. It was a decent size but tired and dated. The very old bed had springs you could feel, and my back hurt both mornings. The balcony also meant there was no canal view. In hindsight, a standard room would be fine unless you want to dance about. The bathroom felt too small for the door, though the bath was nice, if a little small.