Premier Inn Kidderminster

The staff were fantastic, even when they were exhausted after the breakfast rush. The cook on the first morning was rushed off her feet, and I really felt for her. The meals felt expensive for such small portions, though. Flame and Ice and Shere Punjab are better value and within walking distance. There are also shops nearby, including Tkmaxx, Boots, Pizza Hut, McDonald's, JD and Sports Direct. Keep an eye on your surroundings, as there are unruly kids in the area. The hotel is in a shopping centre, and parking is paid: £1.40 for an hour, £2.40 for two, or from £6 overnight, covering 6pm to 10am. Disabled visitors can get two hours free by scanning the barcode at a parking meter, including the one outside Tkmaxx. I made sure to have the receipt sent to my email. It's a converted old mill, with reception and the restaurant on the fourth floor. Only one of the two lifts works, and it's slow, taking about a minute to reach reception. The rooms are typical Premier Inn, but the air conditioning is slow, so it's easy to make the room too hot or too cold. The shower temperature was unpredictable, but once it settled I left it alone. The bar and restaurant are small, which can be a problem when the hotel is full. The staff were very polite throughout.

The rooms were clean, but getting around the building is a serious problem. Reception and the restaurant are on the fourth floor, and there’s only one working lift. It’s tiny and painfully slow, so you can be waiting five minutes for it. With families, older visitors and people carrying suitcases around at Christmas, it’s constantly in use. Anyone using a wheelchair, travelling with a baby, or unable to manage four flights of stairs should avoid this place. That setup is unacceptable.

We came during half term with two other families to visit West Midlands Safari Park, which is less than a 10-minute drive away. The hotel is a converted mill, with exposed brick and lots of character, and the family room had lovely big windows and decent air con. It was roomier than the usual modular Premier Inn rooms. The beds were comfortable and the quality was otherwise what we expect from Premier Inn. The biggest issue is the lift. One has been out of order for months, and the one still working is VERY SLOW, so waiting with luggage takes patience. It’s apparently known as the tortoise lift. There are 94 stairs to reception on the fourth floor. That’s a building problem, of course, not the staff’s fault. The staff were helpful and knew the building’s limitations. Parking is on the retail park. You can pay at a meter or use an app like RingGo, which is best downloaded beforehand. After 4pm until 10am the next day cost £6.60 through RingGo when we were there. Remember to leave by 10 or extend your session. Breakfast was a decent standard Premier Inn one in a nice room on the top floor, though you have to ask for the pastries to be cooked. We skipped dinner, but had a drink later. There was no draught beer, just cans and bottles, but it was fine for a drink and a game with family and friends. There are plenty of shops and places to eat nearby. Wall 2 Wall is good for a sit-down Indian or pizza meal, and Fire and Ice for burger takeaway. McDonalds, Costa and M&S are handy for food and drink too.

Jade was kind enough to find us a breakfast table on our second morning, even though my boyfriend and I hadn't booked and the restaurant was busy. She was so polite and nice to us. My grandson Oliver was getting overwhelmed and moving between tables. Tia came over and asked if it would help to give him some felts. She brought paper too and asked Oliver to draw a dinosaur, which kept him occupied while he ate. He wanted to find her after breakfast to give her the picture, and she was so pleased. She was really kind to him. The staff were brilliant with the children. We had a double room, and my daughter and her boyfriend booked two rooms because they have four children, two with ADHD, and rooms only allow two children each. When we saw the rooms, one would have been fine after all, but I'm not complaining, they were lovely. We'll definitely return to the Kidderminster Premier Inn. I highly recommend it.