Crowne Plaza Basingstoke

The children’s evening buffet was brilliant. They could choose what they wanted, eat without a long wait, and change their minds easily. The grown-up food was tasty too, though personally I found it a bit poncy for my taste. That’s just my preference. It’s a lovely hotel with friendly staff who welcomed us and the children so warmly and made things a lot easier. I’d definitely consider staying again if I’m in the area.

The breakfast was lovely, and the pancake machine made tasty pancakes. Although work had booked me a single room, the helpful staff gave me a double. The reception and bar are lovely, and the website shows an attractive room, but I found that only half the hotel had been upgraded. The room I got looked nothing like the pictures online. Would I stay again? Yes, and I hope to see what the new rooms are like.

The food was brilliant. I had the trout, and the pudding was good too. The only letdown was the limited choice of beers on tap. The room was cosy, with a very comfortable bed and a clean bathroom with a big bath. The outside doesn’t look great, but my daughter and I were greeted with smiles when we arrived. Everything was explained clearly, and the receptionist had a goodie bag ready for my daughter. Overall, I’d stay again.

I’ve stayed here once a month for the past five months, but haven’t been put in one of the newly renovated rooms. When I’ve asked to move, reception says the hotel is fully booked, even though I could still make an online booking. The older rooms are dated, smell a little unpleasant, and make creaky noises, though they’re clean and the beds are very comfortable. Restaurant service can take a long time, but the food has been decent.