Beresford Hotel

We paid for two nights, though we only stayed one, because our flight from Canada landed at 10am and we’d been told there was no early check-in. We wanted somewhere to freshen up and rest after the overnight flight. At reception, staff immediately went over the check-in policy, and I had to explain that we’d booked the previous night. We were told our room was on the “first floor” and pointed vaguely through the lobby door. We then carried four suitcases up three flights of carpeted stairs, through fire doors and hallways, to a tiny, hot, disappointing room. When we asked about air conditioning, the same unhelpful staff member said they had it. Asked how to turn it on, he said they didn’t have it at this time of year. I asked them to turn off the heat instead, and they eventually did. After freshening up, we went looking for breakfast. The hotel cafe closes after breakfast and doesn’t reopen until late afternoon, which wasn’t useful for us. Staff suggested two restaurants, but neither was open when we got there, so we found an all-day breakfast cafe ourselves. Whenever we came back through the lobby, the same person called to us as if we were entering without permission, then remembered us and waved us through. On the way back down with our suitcases, we spotted an easy-to-miss elevator to the right of the desk, marked “Lift for guests only.” It would’ve been nice if the concierge had mentioned it. We hadn’t asked, since we’d been told the room was on the “first floor.” Maybe it could be worth the stay if the price were rock bottom, for the location near the train station. On our return from Northern Ireland, we stayed at the Hilton for only a little more, and the service, amenities, location, cleanliness, size, and comfort were worlds apart. Very disappointing.

The manager’s attitude made the hotel feel uncomfortable from the moment we arrived. Things got worse when she wouldn’t let my sister-in-law come in briefly to help my wife with her makeup for an event. I went down and tried to sort it out reasonably, even offering to pay extra or leave another deposit. I explained she’d only stay a short time and leave within the hour, but the manager responded in a passive-aggressive way and wouldn’t try to accommodate us. She was also quite rude to my wife. The cold, unwelcoming atmosphere and the maze-like hallways and room layout added to the frustration. We cancelled our booking and left, and it turned out to be the right call. We moved to another hotel with much better service and atmosphere, which completely turned our trip around. Based on what happened, I wouldn’t recommend staying here.

The updated rooms are lovely, and breakfast had a great range, including vegan sausages and bacon. It’s a perfect location for the 3arena and the city centre, both of which we walked to. This was my second stay, and I’d come back.

We stayed for two nights at the end of May during the heatwave, and the room was so hot that we had to open the windows. Then we could hear and smell people drinking and doing drugs in the alley below, along with constant screeching from train brakes. I know the hotel can’t control people outside, but their behaviour made me feel unsafe going out in the evening. The cold tap only gave hot water, and it got hotter the longer it ran. I reported it at reception and felt brushed off. Not a great stay for us.