Mercure Preston Samlesbury

We had a private family dinner for my sister’s birthday and stayed overnight. The hotel is easy to find, just off the M6. Dinner was tasty, portions generous, and the service exceptional. We felt very well looked after. Our room was fairly large, though a little tired. The bathroom was good and had quality toiletries. A very good stay.

The reception team were helpful and very professional, but the hotel itself feels worn out and badly needs renovating. Food and drinks were ridiculously expensive. The worst part was breakfast: my wife ordered salmon and scrambled eggs, which cost an extra £6. That charge was fine, but halfway through the meal the waitress insisted we pay immediately or the food couldn't leave the kitchen. She wouldn't add it to the room, even though I'd already paid £22 per breakfast in advance. I had to leave my own meal and go upstairs for a card, while she waited by our table waving the card machine around. It was a very unpleasant, unprofessional experience. Never again.

The staff were pleasant enough, and breakfast was decent. But our ground-floor “deluxe double” was small and clearly due for renovation, with a view of the car park instead of the river. The cheaper rooms apparently have the better view, so I really don't understand what made ours deluxe.

Apparently it's closed for refurbishment to house migrants, which seems such a waste of a lovely hotel. When my partner and I stayed about a year ago, it was in a nice spot, easy to reach, with good facilities and friendly staff.