Holiday Inn Darlington - A1 Scotch Corner by IHG

Our two boys, aged 15 and 12, loved the swim, and afterwards the bar team looked after us so well for the rest of the evening. Every member of the staff made us feel comfortable and genuinely cared for. It felt more like being looked after by family than staying at a hotel, which made the whole experience extra special. The welcome and service from the moment we checked in were brilliant, so friendly and warm, and set the tone for our recent stay. Please thank everyone involved. You’ve got a fantastic team and should be proud of them. We’ll recommend you and would love to come back soon. Thanks again, and all the best.

There’s a bar and retardant on site, and parking is easy. Our bedroom was spacious, with a bathtub in the bathroom. The hotel is great, in a good location next to the motorway to Scotland, and the staff were very good and gentle.

We’d booked an executive king room, and the breakfast was just okay. There were a lot of dodgy characters around again, and not enough fried eggs for everyone. I wouldn’t book this place again or recommend it. When we arrived, there were a lot of dodgy characters hanging around outside and in the hotel bar, shouting about nuclear bombs and WW3. A stern woman from reception marched off to quiet everyone in the bar. We had to walk through a maze, up stairs and along corridors to get to the room. The carpets were so threadbare they didn’t even meet the wall anymore. And the room, my god. If this was executive, I’d hate to see a basic one. There was no heating and it was freezing, so we wheeled the two oil filled radiators out of the corner and plugged them in. The TV was really small, there were two bottles of water in a mini fridge, and the shower controls were hanging off the wall.

This was my first week at the hotel without the iconic Penny on reception. I’m still getting over losing Lisa, too. Penny was a rock for me during a rough time, showing kindness and compassion and constantly going above and beyond her duties for people. I’ll never forget the help she gave me in my most critical hour. It’s a real loss for the hotel. A shout out to the stars still here: Steve and his morning staff make an immaculate breakfast, and Carol, Christine, David and Emily are awesome in the bar. Freya brings humour to reception, and her smile and laughter are infectious. I’m here for work, and wish the menu had more for working people. Where’s pie chips and gravy? Maybe a special would be nice, something that fills the plate more.