Best Western Plough & Harrow Hotel

I had a good stay at the hotel, but getting a receipt afterwards to claim business expenses was a struggle. I called three times and emailed three times, and nobody replied. I can't work that out. I'd like to make my original review more negative because of this, but I won't. Here's what I wrote then: The room was sparkling clean and smelled fresh, with a new, comfortable bed. The shower had great pressure. It was quiet and peaceful, about a 40-minute walk from the Bullring, with a Morrisons and a pizza place on the same street nearby. The guest can't adjust the room temperature, only reception can. The receptionist was friendly, though, so asking for more heat wasn't a problem. Parking is £15 a day if you don't book through the hotel's website. I felt caught out when I arrived, especially as I hadn't noticed the £7-a-day car park next door. The hotel's own parking is probably safer, I think.

The staff at reception and in the restaurant were friendly and attentive, and they dealt with a problem during my stay professionally. At 5am on my second night, someone in the next room had a very loud phone conversation. I could hear it clearly through the bathroom vents, as if they were right beside me. Reception handled it with care, which I appreciated. Breakfast was a real highlight, with lots to choose from and made-to-order food brought out hot and promptly. My room was clean and as expected, though a bit chilly. Booking direct also got me free parking and breakfast. One thing that concerned me was a car that looked like it had been broken into. There are plenty of signs saying the hotel doesn't accept responsibility for damage or theft from vehicles. The hospitality and breakfast made a good impression despite those drawbacks.

The building is beautiful, but service was poor. I waited around 10 minutes for someone to show up at reception, even after asking the waiting staff for help. When I finally got to my room, it was freezing. I asked about the radiators and was given a small fan heater. Only two lights worked, the toilet seat was attached on one side, and there were problems with the TV stations. I was told to report the issues the next morning. No one was at reception then either, so after another 10-minute wait I left a note on the reception desk keyboard. When I came back, nothing had been checked. The rooms need major renovation. If you need to stay in Edgbaston, there are better options in the area.

They first put me in a room with no working heat, then moved me to another where the heating still couldn't get the room warm. I spent two nights cold. It was a horrible stay and not worth the price.