Premier Inn Darlington Town Centre

Check-in was off to a good start: I wasn't left standing around for 5-10 minutes, which feels unusual at a Premier Inn these days. My room was comfortable, but it was a link room and I could hear a lot from my neighbour. The shower had strong pressure, though the temperature kept changing badly. I didn't eat at the restaurant, and there are other places a short walk away. Parking is run by a private company with a poor reputation. I had no trouble paying within five minutes of arriving.

Had a great stay, but parking was a pain. It took trying three meters before I got the wifi working. Cash is fine if you have it.

The staff were the best part: polite, very helpful and efficient. The hotel was clean, but as someone visiting the area for the first time, I found it really hard to locate. My room stayed very cold even with the air conditioning turned up. I didn't eat there, and was surprised there wasn't a bar area.

The rooms and the fairly new building were clean, and the location is excellent. Just keep in mind that parking isn't free. The staff on our arrival night were lovely and helpful, and the tea service was very nice. They couldn't have been more welcoming. Breakfast was a different story. We came down at about 9:30, with plenty of time before it ended, but there were no plates or pastries, and the cereal milk was gone. Nothing was replaced while we were there. The staff member running breakfast seemed focused on chatting with two families she appeared to know. We tried to get her attention, but she stayed caught up in the conversation. We eventually gave up and left unimpressed. There were still around 50 minutes left, but unless you wanted hot food, there was nothing to choose from: no bread, milk or pastries, and no small plates either. It was very disappointing to see someone so uninterested in doing the job.