Tollgate Hotel And Leisure

At £60 a night, we weren't complaining. It's an unusual hotel or motel set within a cricket ground, with plenty of parking, though the deep potholes need watching. Reception welcomed us warmly even though the place seemed deserted when we arrived. Our room was spacious, spotless, and stocked with tea, coffee, milk, soap, and toiletries. The bed was large and springy, but we slept well. Breakfast was mega, and we enjoyed it by ourselves in the main building, where we were greeted warmly again. Don't expect luxury, but it was warm and comfortable.

The one thing going for it was being close to Alton towers, which is why I'm giving it two stars. The listing says there's a bar and restaurant on site, but doesn't mention they're being refurbished. Rooms were very dated, and the walls had smudges that I hope were just dirt 😂. The steps up to the rooms are cracked and broken, so take care. I get that you get what you pay for, but Jesus 😂

The place really needs a full refurb, even if the owners are trying. Our room had nearly everything we needed, but it still felt below standard. There was mold in the bathroom, the hand soap dispensers were empty, and the complimentary soap, shampoo, and conditioner were poor quality. The bathroom window faced a noisy main road, and the nearby cricket field gets mowed at 6:00am. These are US Motel style rooms, with doors opening straight to the outside. Reception gave us a key and a card because the card entry system wasn't working and standard Yale type locks had been fitted. The card operated the room lights. Radiators heated the room, and the gap under the door was the air-conditioning.

The room was comfortable, the place was nice, and the price was reasonable. Breakfast tasted good, though it could have been hotter on a hot plate. I'm puzzled about the £1.00 security deposit: when I checked my online banking, it looked like the payment had gone to some pub in Stoke on Trent. Bit weird.