Holiday Inn Runcorn by IHG

We made good use of the pool, gym and sauna, and they were great for tiring out our lively two-year-old. There’s also a big lobby with plenty of seating and games and toys for older kids. Travelling with a young family can be tricky, but the staff were ready to help with whatever came up, from free meals for children in the restaurant to friendly cleaning staff. They really make this hotel. Everyone we met was welcoming and kind. The rooms are small and simple, but had what we needed, including a hair dryer, iron and board, desk, TV, and their own central heating and air con. The bar and restaurant area is large, with lots of tables. Breakfast is £12 per person if booked ahead. There’s plenty to go back for, and they cater for gluten-free guests, vegans and vegetarians, though you may need to ask about meat-free sausages. Room service looked good, although we didn’t try it, and it seemed a bit pricey. It’s a useful base for Chester, Manchester, Liverpool and North West Wales, all around 30-45 minutes away by car. I’m writing this before our holiday has even finished because we’ve been so happy here.

The bar bill was the main reason for my low rating. We waited around, saw the pool table sign saying a game needed just a £1 coin and thought that sounded reasonable. Then two vodkas and a can of Red Bull to share came to £24.75. We spent ten minutes trying to make sense of it, and decided a taxi into Liverpool and back would cost less than continuing at the hotel bar. It felt like getting mugged in Camden. There are some scruffy spots around the hotel. On the way to breakfast, part of the wall was damaged and unrepaired, and some rubber matting was peeling up, which could trip someone with limited mobility. The room was otherwise tidy, but freezing. The radiator was off and opening the valve didn’t make it warm. The bathroom was so small that I couldn’t stretch out for a bath, and the pillows were lumpy and hard on my neck. The bed next door also had a connecting door to our room. It was locked, but we could hear their kids kicking off over their iPads at dawn while their dad shouted at them to keep it down. I can’t complain too much, since they probably heard us talking loudly in the early hours about our kebab and the drink price. We went down for a late breakfast around 10, once next door had gone quiet, as we didn’t want to sit beside them with our bad hangovers. There was still plenty of food, but no tea bags. I spent five minutes trying to get a brew before being told it was brought separately to the table. The eggs were okay, at least.

The staff I’ve dealt with here have all been very professional and friendly, and the bathrooms in the rooms I’ve used were renovated and pleasant. The rest of those rooms was more worn, with tired carpets, damaged furniture, torn wallpaper and radiators that didn’t work. I understand some rooms have had a full modernisation, so I’d try to book one of those next time.

The whole night was stressful, and I couldn’t wait to get home. The room smelled musty, the carpet was stained, the skirting boards were dusty and wall lights were hanging off. There was no heating on a cold November night. I tried to adjust it, but the system kept showing an error. The shower was clean, but there were odd stains running down both sides of the wall by the toilet. The bed looked like an old 1980s model on legs and felt as if it might break when we moved; the lumpy pillows felt like rocks. At 1am on 16 November, we were ready to leave and go home. The car park was full of potholes and very poorly lit at night, quite creepy. The reception and bar area was tidy and spacious, but I wouldn’t recommend the hotel or Hotels.com after this. I booked through booking.com on 15 November for one night, but the system glitched and showed 16 November. After a week of back and forth, Hotels.com and Holiday Inn Runcorn sorted it at no extra cost. At arrival, though, reception said there was a balance to pay. I showed the Hotels.com email confirming payment. At checkout, the receptionist chased us to the car about an outstanding balance again. I showed the email once more and she said she’d get it sorted. It spoiled what should’ve been a relaxing night away.