The Dixie Dean Hotel

Breakfast was nice, but the state of the room made the stay unacceptable for the price. It was dirty, the toilet wasn’t clean, and I didn’t even want to shower there. The bathroom floor was covered in mould, and the sink leaked. The room smelled of cigarettes and damp, and the windows wouldn’t open for fresh air. We’d booked two twin beds, but found a lighter inside the sheets on one of them, so I doubt the bedding had been changed properly. There was no water in the room either. I tried calling reception and got no answer; their message option didn’t get a reply either. I stayed with my mum at the start of March, and we won’t be going back.

The entrance and food hall were nicely presented, and the receptionist was friendly. But the room decor felt tacky to me, especially the chairs. We tried the large suite with a bathtub, and it was freezing when we arrived. There was no A/C remote, just a plug-in radiator by the bed. The strong smell hit us right away. They really need better ventilation around the bathtub because the whole room stank of mould, which I suspect was coming from the carpet. Nobody offered to take our luggage up, even though there were trolleys at reception. This felt like luxury mixed with B&M tat, and it’s not my style. I probably wouldn’t stay again. I’ll admit it wasn’t my choice, and if I’d seen the photos, I wouldn’t have booked it. If your mum has “Live, Laugh, Love” tat in her house, she might love it.

The restaurant staff were welcoming, but breakfast was a real letdown: cold scrambled eggs and overcooked bacon. I’ve worked in hospitality at several hotels, and we would never have served food in that condition. It didn’t seem like anyone was checking temperature control. The chefs and back-of-house staff should be trained to keep food to the right temperature and standard. We chose The Dixie Dean for our annual girls’ pre-Christmas trip, thinking it was close to everything, including the Christmas Market. Reception gave us a nice welcome, and the room was lovely and spacious. We were disappointed by the hot tub, which we thought all of us could enjoy together, but only two people fitted. There wasn’t a slip mat either. The staff were a plus, but I wouldn’t call it a four-star hotel. The advertised listing should say how small the tub is.

We really enjoyed our weekend at Dixie Dean Hotel. The service was among the best we’ve had, and breakfast was well stocked and made with good-quality fresh ingredients. The public areas have a quirky, comfortable feel. We were on the third floor in an enormous room with exposed beams and some of the biggest lights I’ve seen. It was clean and comfortable, with two double beds and two singles, plus tea and coffee, a spotless kettle, a hairdryer and an iron. The bathroom was clean and well equipped, and the spa bath was awesome, worth the wait while it filled. It was our first stay here, and we’ve stayed in lots of hotels over the years.