Holiday Inn Portsmouth by IHG

The £100 Parking Charge Notice arrived in the post a week after my May 2026 Bank Holiday stay, and it left a really bad taste. I’d registered my number plate and paid the car parking fee at check-in. The desk may simply have missed entering my details because it was busy, and I don’t blame the clerk for that. But Holiday Inn seems to have let its Parking Control Agency issue the fine automatically without checking first. Now I have to prove my innocence. It feels like the system treats guests as cash cows, and management should be ashamed of the process.

We paid £150 for two people to stay two nights, including breakfast, and I thought it was a bargain. The hotel is a budget place, so don’t expect full four or five star treatment. The room was plenty big enough, the bed was comfortable, and the shower was excellent. We parked on the road outside for £10 for the two nights, paying at reception for a ticket. We were visiting our daughter, who serves in the military and lives nearby. The staff were very friendly and breakfast was great. Some people were complaining about the queue, but breakfast starts at 7, so I’d suggest getting up earlier instead of arriving at 9:30 and expecting the same service as at 7 or 8. Thanks to all the staff for making our stay great.

The room was cold, dark and dirty, and the heating didn’t work. I was in room 208 and reported the missing TV remote to reception three times. They said housekeeping would replace it, but nothing happened, even after I left a clear note on the television. There was only half a curtain, so anyone could see into the room, and the building sign above it stayed lit at night and kept me up. The hotel feels very outdated and poorly maintained. Dirty room service plates were left across the floors throughout my stay. I also wasn’t told that the restaurant would be closed on Friday and Saturday evenings for Christmas parties. I wouldn’t be surprised if there were rodents. Poor service, quality and standards. Avoid this hotel.

We had a premium room on the fifth floor with amazing views of Spinnaker Tower. It came with biscuits, drinking chocolate, tea, Pepsi, kit kats and bottled water, plus a coffee machine and mini fridge. My family and I really enjoyed staying here, and this was our third visit. We’ll definitely come back to Portsmouth. The staff were very friendly and helpful, and gave us good suggestions for local excursions. There’s a swimming pool, gym, sauna and jacuzzi. Overnight parking costs £5 and can get busy, but they provide permits for roadside parking if the hotel car park is full.