Holiday Inn Darlington North

A tyre blew on the A1M, leaving us needing somewhere to warm up and sleep while it was repaired. Susan at reception was incredibly kind and helpful. The room was spacious, clean, and warm, with plenty of hot water. The bar and restaurant were adequate for what we needed. Thank you, Susan.

I was here on a work trip and would gladly stay again. The room was very well looked after, with handwritten thank-you notes, and room service was excellent. There's a good bar and restaurant on site, plus other shops less than a couple of minutes' walk away. The hotel sits just off the edge of a business park.

The staff were very helpful, but I was really disappointed by the room. There was a terrible smell as soon as we entered, which staff must be able to notice. The bathroom light flickered every time it was used, and the grout was dirty and needs replacing. We were on the second floor and the lift was out of service, a nuisance with luggage after a four-hour journey. The small, basic TV had awful volume. Breakfast was okay, but had less variety than other hotels, including other Holiday Inns.

The room itself was clean and comfortable, but there were several problems during my Sunday night stopover. After driving five hours, I asked about room service at 8pm and was told I had to order by 8.15 because the chef was about to leave. I rushed to check the menu in my room, then found nobody to take the order. I gave up and got food from the garage next door. Apparently the hotel is under new management and this is their approach, so don't rely on the in-room menu saying all-day dining. The bathroom fan was so loud it could wake anyone else in the room, and the electric car charger wasn't working. The hotel is otherwise well placed for a drive from the south to the north.