The Hobson Cambridge By Adina

For what we paid in central Cambridge, the Hobson Hotel was great value and we'd gladly return. We stayed one Friday night the week before Christmas. The new hotel feels modern and carefully designed, and the courtyard is a lovely place for a drink and food, especially in the evening. Our bedroom was excellent. The bed was comfortable, the bathroom was a good size and had all the toiletries we needed, and the kitchenette had enough room and utensils to put together a snack if bringing food in. The only small drawback was the heat. Even with it set to 18 and cool air blowing, we still had to open the window.

The location is excellent for getting around Cambridge, and my room was spotless, quiet and well equipped. Staff were friendly and keen to help, though they were still settling into some routines. I was really pleased with my stay at this newly opened hotel. It's beautifully designed, with modern comforts and a welcoming feel. Highly recommend it for a visit to the city.

The Hobson Cambridge is right in central Cambridge, near the grand arcade, where parking is easy. Queen Anne's car park is a slightly cheaper option, about a 10-minute walk away, with free overnight parking. The hotel is new, so there'll be room to grow: some front desk staff were still learning and didn't know much about the area, but that should improve with time. The building and decor are beautiful. I especially liked the restaurant, which feels like an arboretum, with restful sofas and chairs. Breakfast was amazing, with fresh food and lovely bread and yogurts in the continental selection, plus a delicious hot option. The room was stylish, with high-tech lighting and controls. The rain shower had a hand-held head too, and the temperature was just right. The windows and curtains kept outside noise and light down well. I can definitely recommend it.

Getting trapped in the bar area was a stressful experience. When we came back from an evening out, there was no one staffing the bar, so we tried to leave, but the fire door we'd entered through wouldn't open. The phone lines weren't working when we called for help. We eventually found another exit by walking through the kitchen and out to the delivery courtyard. Luckily, the gate hadn't been chained shut yet. Otherwise, we could have been stuck in the restaurant and bar for who knows how long. I've emailed several times asking for feedback and how they plan to fix serious issues like the fire doors, but haven't had a reply. We stayed soon after the Hobson opened. The hotel looks stunning, and the renovation is to a high standard, but we had other problems too. We were given wrong directions to our room, then the manager got lost trying to show us there. The rooms are lovely, but the TVs didn't work properly and had no radio channels, and the door was very difficult to open.