Premier Inn Cork City Centre

The beds were fantastic. Two of us with sensitive backs slept in them for three nights without any trouble, and I slept on the sofa bed. It may be the best hotel bed I’ve ever had. For the price, this could be the best value in Cork if you want a hotel. The location is practical, though the surroundings feel a bit grim. Our first room was in such bad shape that we had to change rooms. The bathroom smelled of urine, there were marks and smeared grime around the room, and the air felt stuffy. Air from the air conditioning smelled like it came straight from the kitchen. The staff apologised and gave us a noticeably better room, though there was an unexplained dark splash on the wall and dusty skirting boards. We wiped things down with disinfectant wipes to feel more comfortable. The room didn’t feel inviting, but the air conditioning worked and made the temperature livable. We contacted reception about the stain and it was dealt with the next day. The staff were friendly and helpful, but often busy elsewhere, so we sometimes had to wait at reception or the bar. It wasn’t too big a deal. Cleaning, though, could be much better.

The room is nice, but it’s hot inside and the air conditioning isn’t doing much. Reception told me they’d set it to the lowest setting, which you can do yourself in the room. There are no fans available, and the windows don’t open. It’s 12 Celsius outside and at least 24 in here. Training three new starters with two staff slowed down check-in. Later I waited five minutes to speak to someone at reception because they’d moved over to the bar. The free WiFi is poor, with just 0.65 mbs down, and I can’t connect to the upgrade.

The room was spotless, modern, fresh, and very comfortable, with a class bed. A smart TV with YouTube and Netflix would’ve been a nice extra for winding down, but it wasn’t a dealbreaker. The standout was the man at reception who looked just like George Russell, and seemed to work like him too. He moved between checking guests in and pouring pints at the bar with the calm speed of an F1 driver on race day, handling loads at once and making it look easy. He poured us one of the creamiest Guinness pints we’ve had in ages, with a perfect settle and head. His multitasking with reception queries, bar service, and customer chats was seriously impressive, like managing tyre wear, strategy, and wheel-to-wheel racing all at once. Top class service, a great atmosphere, and a memorable stay. We’d happily return, especially if the George Russell lookalike is on shift again.

The room was excellent, the food was really nice, and the staff were friendly and helpful. It’s a nice hotel in a great spot, close enough to walk into the centre without being in a noisy area. Thanks to everyone. I’d stay here again without hesitation.