Premier Inn Whitstable

The breakfast setup was awkward, and the cooked food was slow to arrive. It’s no longer self-service for those items, and one waitress was taking orders and serving the whole restaurant. Our food sat under hot lamps while she dealt with other guests, so the bacon was very dry and the poached eggs overcooked and rubbery. The cook also seemed to disappear for a while to take a call on her mobile. The self-service counter for tea and coffee, bread, toast, cereal, fruit, juice and milk is tiny. Mugs, plates, glasses and cereal bowls are on shelves underneath, so you’re constantly asking people to move while you fumble around below waist level. I’d hate to try it when the restaurant is full. The room was basic even by Premier Inn standards. The carpet was threadbare, there was only one chair, and the only heat came from a small convector heater in the bedroom. The bathroom had no heating at all. Whitstable is a very tired hotel. It’s a shame, as Premier Inn used to feel like good value. Now it feels like you only just get what you pay for, a basic budget stopover.

Ella was a friendly face at breakfast, chatting with us and helping point us towards sightseeing around North Kent. Lisa cooked a lovely fresh breakfast to order, with fabulous poached eggs. The welcome was warm, with staff smiling and happy to help. Our first room didn’t suit the length of our stay, but they moved us straight away. Housekeeping were just as friendly and dealt with our requests promptly. We enjoyed dinner. It wasn’t fancy, but there was a nice selection, and the dinner and breakfast deal was good. It’s a shame there wasn’t a bar, as we’d probably have spent our evenings in the Social.

The hot breakfast was the highlight, and it stayed warm instead of going cold as soon as it hit the plate. Staff were engaging, and it’s only a stone’s throw from the main town, so I’d recommend it. It has more of an old-school Premier Inn feel than the newer ones near major cities, which added to its charm. There was a bit of dust and cobwebs on the ceiling. The bed was okay, though it wasn’t the best I’ve slept in at this hotel chain.

The beds were comfortable and the bedding lovely and soft, and the man at reception was helpful and welcoming. But the room was disappointing. I like staying at Premier Inns, yet this hotel felt old and neglected, and it really wasn’t clean. The shower only trickled, there was dust along the floor edges and on the walls, and the kettle needed descaling. It didn’t feel like it had been cleaned properly. We’d paid for unlimited breakfast. Since there weren’t many guests, they offered to cook eggs and bacon to order, which was nice and fresh. I prefer seeing the food and deciding whether I want another serving, though, and felt I couldn’t do that. You get what you pay for, I suppose. This won’t put me off other hotels, but I wouldn’t stay here again. Sorry!.