Premier Inn Blackburn Town Centre

The check-in and breakfast staff were efficient, which I appreciated. The room condition was poor, though: it looked run down and filthy, and the sheets were dirty and stained. The parking details were misleading. The car park isn’t clearly marked or directly opposite the hotel as advertised. Before you reach the council car park, look for a sign in the hedge. There’s also space to park outside the hotel door for 10 minutes if needed.

The car park took a bit of finding. It’s outside Blackburn Youth Zone, reached by a small lane just past it on the left when coming from the railway station. Register your car at reception. I’m pretty sure there’s a flat, wheelchair-friendly route from the car park to the front desk. The room was decent, with good facilities and temperature, and the blackout curtains worked really well. It was quiet despite being in the town centre, and I had a great night’s sleep. Breakfast was decent too. Reception had trouble setting up the key cards because the equipment was temperamental, I had to ask for another towel, and the paintwork in the room was worn and could use a refresh. Still, things were fine overall.

The view takes in Blackburn Cathedral, Checks and Greys Café. Inside, the twin room was spacious and laid out in a practical way, with good soundproofing between rooms.

Just across the road from the train station, this is in a great spot. The staff were friendly and helpful, the rooms were clean and spacious, and the buffet breakfast was what you’d expect from a modern Premier Inn. We stayed four nights. The bathroom dehumidifier ran constantly, though closing the door helped a little. I don’t think it’s meant to do that. At the Premier Inn I’d stayed in the week before in Newcastle, the almost identical unit only ran when the bathroom light was on. Our first night had very noisy neighbours. The receptionist offered to move us straight away, no questions asked, but the family making the noise was checking out that day anyway.