Premier Inn Cheltenham Central - West/A40

The bed was so comfortable and the room quiet, and they brought extra pillows when we asked. Breakfast was hot and nicely cooked, with eggs made to order. We were in a newly refurbished Premier Plus room, with brand new appliances and fittings, plus a great coffee machine and capsules. The small team worked hard and stayed kind and smiley all weekend. Thanks, Joel and Cynthia.

The railway noise was impossible to ignore. My room, like many others, faced the tracks, and the trains were so loud that even earplugs didn’t help. I’m a light sleeper, so I asked to move, but was told no because my first room would need cleaning, even though I hadn’t slept in it. The only other rooms available were Premier Plus rooms, or whatever they’re called. The room looked nice after the refurbishment, but thicker windows on the Railtrack-facing side would have made more sense. Also, the air con kept turning itself on, even after I pressed the power button, and I couldn’t switch it off at the wall. If you can, ask for a room away from the railway when you check in. They might all be taken, but it’s worth trying.

The staff were the saving grace here. The receptionist was friendly, attentive and helpful, and so good that I didn’t complain about the noise or demand a refund at 1am. The breakfast lady was pure sunshine and helped me feel human again, and the chef was a gentleman who made a perfect poached egg and held the door for us as we left. The room itself was spotless. But I barely slept on Boxing Day. From 11pm to 7am, it sounded as if the ceiling and rooms next door had been booked by elephants charging around. The bed was comfortable, but the duvet and mattress protector felt like plastic insulation mixed with cactus fibres. They didn’t breathe at all, and I felt shrink-wrapped on a bed of nails. If you can sleep through a stampede in a prickly thermal suit, you’ll love it. The team is amazing.

The breakfast team clearly put real care into the buffet. The chef kept everything hot and topped up, and paid close attention to how it looked after each customer. The serving staff were just as attentive. It’s a small area, so you can see how much effort goes into the food and service. Everything was well stocked, cooked and presented. Astounding work.