Holiday Inn Northampton

The room itself was fine, with good beds and an updated bathroom. Breakfast was just okay, and some of the hot food looked as if it could have cooked longer. But checking in with two young children and being told there was a Christmas party that night, with noise expected until midnight, was worrying. Then we found our room was directly above the conference room hosting the party. I can’t understand why the hotel would put a family with young children there. Nobody slept well, so I definitely wouldn’t recommend this hotel to families.

Roshan and Bob were fantastic hosts when we came to view the property for a second time. We appreciated seeing the ceremony rooms dressed up to show what they’ll look like. The bar and restaurant staff were great too, and the food was good. The specials were a nice touch, and the lasagna was delicious. The scores don’t reflect the staff, they’re more about the property overall. The rooms were clean and functional, which is all you really need, but they felt dated. A few things on top of the wardrobe were broken, and the pillows were rock hard and need replacing. Some TLC wouldn’t go amiss. Check-in was a bit all over the place: they gave us a time but weren’t sure whether the room was ready, and the woman at the front desk couldn’t reach housekeeping to check. We were happy with the visit, just felt a few things need adjusting.

The music was the biggest letdown at the Christmas party on 20/12. It was terrible, and people made several requests for more upbeat songs to improve the atmosphere, but the DJ ignored them. The roast was disappointing too. Mine arrived somewhat cold, which was frustrating. There were only two bartenders, and they seemed disengaged and unhappy. Service was very slow, with unreasonably long waits to get a drink. For the high price of the event, the experience was a real disappointment. I hope these problems are addressed at future events.

I’d stay here again. It’s quiet enough around the hotel and handy for Northampton centre, with plenty of parking. My room was roomy and clean, and the staff were very helpful. The restaurant menu is fairly limited, though the prices are reasonable and the portions decent.