Mercure Doncaster Centre Danum Hotel

The first impression in the foyer was very good, but that didn't last. The restaurant was closed, so I had to eat out. The accessible parking was blocked by bins and rubbish, so I had to use the wheelchair ramp. The car park turned out to be empty and there were no bins in sight. The ramp is short and steep, making it almost impossible to hold the door and get up safely. My companion pushed the wheelchair and nearly fell backwards. The lift fits a wheelchair but leaves no room for a companion. In the room there was no heating, the mattress was so soft I couldn't move once lying down, and the quilt was thin and old. The TV was tiny for the room. The kettle was full of water, and the fridge still had someone else's items in it. In the bathroom there was hair dye on the bath, hairs on the walls, cobwebs, an unsealed floor, loose pipes under the high sink, and a loose, low toilet seat. Breakfast was overpriced, overcooked, cold and running short, with queues for the single-slice toaster and only six items. This was a very disappointing upgrade. No one explained what had been upgraded or why. I won't visit again.

The bed was comfortable and breakfast was okay, but the rooms feel basic and worn, with cheap furniture that needs attention and updating. I could hear people moving around the building, as well as all the water running through the pipes.

The location is ideal for the city centre, though noise from the nearby clubs and bars can carry in the evenings. Our stay was two nights, and the service was disappointing. We waited an hour past check-in time because the room wasn't ready. When we finally got in, it smelled of sewage and there was a half-eaten packet of biscuits on the tray from the previous guests. After I spoke to reception, housekeeping came back and sorted those problems. The next morning, I left the door sign out asking for the room to be cleaned, but nobody came. Nothing was replenished, so there was no coffee for the morning, no fresh towels and no extra toilet roll. Very poor service for a place described as a three-star hotel.

The staff were excellent, and the location was ideal for Doncaster town centre. The room, though, was tiny and dirty, with dust on most surfaces and a grubby carpet. The door was hard to close, the bathroom extractor didn't work, and it was incredibly hot even in January.