Radisson Blu Leeds City Centre

The breakfast buffet was good, though we'd have liked more vegan choices. The staff in the breakfast area were friendly and approachable, and Oana at the front desk was especially kind when we checked in. The bed was comfortable enough and the room was clean, but it could use a refresh. The bathtub's textured non-slip surface made sense for safety but didn't look great. Getting the shower temperature right was a real pain, it swung from freezing to burning with the smallest adjustment. That wasn't a problem for someone travelling with us in another room on a different floor. Our phone and the TV's Chromecast weren't working either. For a four-star hotel it felt just okay, especially after a much better stay the night before at Radisson Glasgow.

Breakfast was the one thing that partly redeemed the stay, it was nicely cooked and the service was good. The room itself was okay, reasonably clean but nothing special, and no better than cheaper hotels. We came for a concert at the local arena, and the location was perfect, with a car park nearby. Before the 3pm check-in we tried to get a drink, but ended up waiting around at the bar for 45 minutes. Then check-in took another 50 minutes before we finally got a key. The bar and reception were massively understaffed. The place badly needs more staff and better cleaning, or someone to supervise it. Disappointing.

The location was the only saving grace, the ruined night wasn't worth it. The air conditioning in our original room didn't work, leaving it at 26.5 degrees and giving us an awful night's sleep. They moved us to an “upgrade” room that looked like something from an 80s porno and smelled as if it had been used for one. We went back to the first room and made do with a fan, but the stay was completely spoiled. Breakfast the next morning was in a bad state too. There was hardly any food out, no clean cutlery or orange juice glasses, and people had to eat at tables still covered with the previous guests' plates and leftovers. I stay in hotels regularly for work, and this was the worst experience I've had in years. The women working there were obviously understaffed, so I can't blame them.

We had booked four nights, but our flight was cancelled because of the ongoing circumstances in the Middle East, so we had to cancel. It took a week to get a proper reply, and the customer service felt poor and inhumane. They were adamant about refusing a refund. I'm not sure what they expected me to do, I couldn't teleport, and there were no flights available. After many attempts to persuade them, they eventually processed the refund without replying or showing even a little empathy. I don't recommend this hotel at all.