Holiday Inn Leamington Spa - Warwick by IHG

For a big company, it was disappointing that so few people seemed to be covering every job. We could have complained, but chose not to because the five staff members were so hardworking, warm, and lovely. They made our weekend brilliant, and they're a credit to the hotel. There were 40 of us at the Leamington Holiday Inn Express. The hotel was as expected and well located, but Tyrees, the manager-in-training, seemed to be everywhere: reception, bar, kitchen, room service, and even fixing a guest's toilet. Carol cooked enough to keep us all well fed, then came out to clear tables. Abby ran around nonstop and juggled everything like a pro. Charlie worked hard behind the scenes in the kitchen. Amira served at the bar, vacuumed the floor, and waited on tables.

Getting into my room took three trips to reception before I had a key that worked. That summed up the place for me. There's barely any service, and staff seemed either uninterested or on edge, as if expecting a complaint. The bed was fine and the room reasonably clean, but the entrance is a cramped jumble of the kids' area, bar, breakfast space, and reception. Breakfast is sent out and laid out for easy cleanup, which seemed to capture the hotel's approach: no-frills to the point of feeling purely functional. Come with very low expectations.

The rooms were good, but the service was probably the worst we've had at a Holiday Inn. They could use some older staff who smile. The bar was the main problem, with hardly any choice, no Guinness, no ice, and very high prices.

The food was amazing, with generous portions, and the staff were friendly and helpful. The whole visit was a great experience. Check-in and check-out were easy, and parking was plentiful and felt safe with cameras in use. The location suits both business travellers and tourists. Warwick Castle and Warwick's old-world pubs are close by, and Royal Leamington Spa is an easy walk, with loads of restaurants. The famous pump rooms are there too, where elephants used to be washed in bygone years, not while Queen Victoria was visiting the spa to "take the waters." The train station is at the bottom of the road. The hotel also has a handy taxi setup, with a free phone that calls the taxi company directly.