ibis Coventry South

It may not look luxurious at first, with its separate room block opposite reception and concrete buildings that have a 60s or 70s motel feel. For the price, though, it deserves five stars. The rooms are surprisingly quiet, with excellent sound insulation, and the whole site feels secluded among attractive woodland. It’s a peaceful place to unwind after a long day. The property seems to have been refurbished recently. The car park has fresh surfacing, and security fencing and a motorised gate around the perimeter make it feel safer. Inside, rooms are spotlessly clean and well looked after by the cleaners. They’re simple but comfortable. A few ground floor rooms have a damp smell, though they aren’t dirty or mouldy, so I’d pick a first-floor room if possible. There’s a bar and restaurant, and food is available 24 hours a day, which is a big plus. The staff I spoke with were warm, welcoming and helpful. It isn’t flashy, but the comfort, service and value easily earn it five stars from me.

The location worked brilliantly for a stop on our long drive back from France. The place is quiet, with lots of parking, and feels very secure thanks to the railings all around and electric entrance gates. We had a downstairs room for the dogs, which was ideal. The young man at reception was friendly and helpful. The beds were clean and comfortable, though the rooms looked dated and peeling, and I chose not to examine them too closely. We were happy with the prices, but the food wasn’t good. The fish and chips seemed to be some kind of flat fish in breadcrumbs, and the food was very basic. You could smell the kitchen, and the cooking oil didn’t smell fresh. The restaurant and bar were basic but clean. We skipped breakfast apart from toast and coffee, which were good. None of the room sockets worked. We were offered a different room, but we’d already gone to bed and were too tired to move. I’m not sure why the fuse couldn’t be reset, but we were told it wasn’t possible. Given the same circumstances, we’d stay again because it suited our needs, but we wouldn’t eat there.

The room was filthy. I had to clean the bathroom floor myself before using it, and there was hair in the bedding. Noise from neighbouring rooms came through constantly, and dogs left in cars by other guests barked through the night. The fencing and electric gate made the hotel feel intimidating and hostile, especially for families or anyone arriving late. I raised all of this with Ibis, but they haven’t accepted responsibility or offered any compensation. I can’t recommend staying here. If you do, bring earplugs and slippers.

The rooms looked tired, and there were white spots on the carpet. Doors squeaked badly enough to wake us when staff went into the next room. The lighting above the bed looked really dodgy, like it could fall. Very disappointing and below the standard I expect from ibis. I’d pick a different hotel next time I’m in the city.