Ryegate House Colchester

Breakfast was the last disappointment after an already poor stay. We found no sign showing the serving hours, and I’d checked online and seen 11am, as on my other weekend stays with Premier Inn. So we arrived at 10:15 expecting to eat, only to be told breakfast had stopped at 10. I’ve stayed with Premier Inn more than 50 times and usually had good experiences. The room was clean and tidy, and housekeeping was fine, but the service here was easily the worst I’ve had with the chain. We arrived around 10pm with a family room booked, but our daughter’s spare bed wasn’t made and there was no bedding. Reception was empty, and after waiting to find help, I was given sheets and had to make the bed myself late at night. The room also had a loud noise, seemingly from the air conditioning or ventilation, that made it hard to sleep. Despite the advertised “Good Night Guarantee,” nobody offered compensation or even a goodwill gesture. I’ve never before had to complain about sleep or ask for anything back, and I wasn’t trying to get a freebie. I’ve kept choosing Premier Inn because it had been reliable for me. I didn’t see anyone at reception when we arrived, when I tried to raise concerns, during the breakfast problem, or at checkout the next morning. The head office response was disappointing too. It suggested some issues hadn’t been raised during the stay, even though my complaint had explained there was rarely anyone available to speak to. After so many good stays, I feel let down by this visit and by the lack of care afterwards. I won’t be returning.