Cathedral Quarter Hotel - Derby

We were in Room 3 for two nights, 9/10 January, for our grandson's wedding, and the stay was a fabulous experience. The place was spotless, warm and comfortable, with a fridge that was handy for my oat milk, plus a coffee maker and pods, tea and more. As we left, someone was even washing down the walls on the grand staircase. The staff were exceptionally friendly, and breakfast had plenty of cereals and juices. I don't usually want a full English, so I asked for a couple of eggs instead, which was just right. We were glad we hadn't read the reviews before booking. It seems the owners and staff have taken earlier comments on board. Great location, and we'll recommend it and come back.

The only nice thing about the room was the music. The afternoon tea itself was a huge disappointment. I booked it after seeing the lovely photos online, but what arrived looked nothing like them. Everything was bland and seemed shop-bought: sandwich fillings, scones, a cookie, mini cupcake and the tiniest brownie I've seen. Nobody asked about allergies, either. We bought afternoon tea for four through Wowcher as a birthday present for our mum, and it may have cost less than booking directly. Now we'll have to arrange tea somewhere else to make up for this poor choice. The staff were unhelpful, and the manager was openly rude when we tried to raise our concerns. They blamed a third-party provider and never apologised. From start to finish it was thoroughly disappointing. I wouldn't recommend it to anyone wanting an enjoyable afternoon tea.

We couldn't get out of our room. There was a key for opening the door from outside, but inside it had a latch, and we were unable to leave. My partner and I had been staying there Saturday night, and things seemed fine until then. We called the hotel 17 times and banged on the door with no response. I panicked and had to call an ambulance, imagining what would happen if there were a fire. The paramedics also struggled with the lock from outside, and couldn't find any staff in the hotel. After we got out and I had calmed down, we left with them. We then met a man who said he was the owner but couldn't speak English. We tried to explain what had happened to someone he brought over, and that person called the police on us, saying we were lying. We got no apology or refund, nothing. It was traumatic, and I've reported it as a health and safety issue. The rudeness and customer service were appalling. Stay well clear.

The location is great, and breakfast was fresh and really nice. Rooms are clean and spacious, and the service was good. There's free parking for five cars, with discounted parking across the road. They were very helpful with my large hen party booking. I'd stay again if I was in the area.