Gatwick Cambridge Hotel

We had such a lovely meal that it felt like the holiday had started early. The food was delicious and really good quality, and Jack looked after us so attentively. The restaurant and service were top notch. The hotel is clean and well kept, though dated. We liked its quirky period features and personality. If beige is what you prefer, this may not be the place, but it made a great stopover for us and we’ll use it again for airport trips. The shuttle was the usual swiftly driven minibus, with a bonus of the driver playing banging dance tunes at 8.30am. We’ve got a holiday playlist now! 😁

Jack made the start of our holiday a real pleasure. He was serving us in the restaurant and couldn’t have been more attentive. He barely stopped, looking after customers, cleaning tables, wiping menus and tending the bar. I’ve had businesses myself, so I know staff like him are hard to find. Whoever pays him, he’s worth double. Well done, Jack! We booked before flying from Gatwick, and for what we paid, this was excellent. Our room was really clean and the staff very pleasant. I’d thoroughly recommend it.

I had a very early flight, so I stayed the night before at The Cambridge and left my car there for the week. The value for the service was impressive, and their simple, no-fuss way of doing things made the whole process seamless. The complimentary shuttle was a thoughtful touch. They picked me up on my return as well, with no hassle. My car was ready, and I went from the airport bus stop to driving home in just 12 minutes. Genuinely impressed.

Reception staff were polite and helpful, and my car was ready to collect. I complained about the driver and then headed home. I won’t stay again, and would rather pay a bit more at a big brand hotel. I’d booked an overnight stop with 14 days parking because it was cheaper than the brand hotels nearby. Our lodge room was dark, small and basic. The passage carpets smelled of shake n vac, the freestanding wardrobe doors were uneven, and the bedside cabinets had a red varnish stain painted on them. Very basic, though the shower was modern. The check-in staff were helpful, but the bar felt like a cafeteria, with plastic chairs and table battery lights that didn’t work. No atmosphere at all. The airport transfer cost extra. They took us in the morning, but when we phoned for a return transfer, the driver arrived, opened the boot and side door, then walked off without speaking. We put our cases at the back and got inside. He threw the cases in, got in, and said, “Not his job to do cases,” before driving off in a huff.