DoubleTree by Hilton Nottingham- Gateway

The kids are already asking when we can return. We all enjoyed the two night Christmas stay, and it was easy to get around: we walked five minutes to catch the tram into Nottingham Town, and Sherwood pines was a great place to visit. The hotel is a handy base for places around Nottinghamshire. We preferred being a little outside the centre, where it was quieter and parking was free. There’s also a family ticket option on the tram, though it wasn’t obvious on the screen, so don’t miss it if you want to save money. The family room was a great size, with a mini fridge, an iron in the wardrobe, and a hairdryer. The children were thrilled by Christmas duvet covers, a letter from Santa, and a reindeer gift. They really thought Santa had visited their holiday hotel. The lobby decorations made it feel magical for our 6 & 4yr old, and we had a nice evening playing cards in the comfy chairs instead of staying cooped up in the room. Reception offered yummy warm cookies, and the cleaners did a great job. All the staff were lovely. One gentleman in the bar came over to chat and asked about our Christmas, which made the children smile. The hotel really does those little extras well.

Parking was easy, with plenty of wide spaces. The room was spacious, comfortable, and excellent. We ate at the restaurant so we wouldn’t have to go out looking for somewhere, and were glad we did. The food was good, service was quick, and the staff member who welcomed us was polite and friendly, a real credit to the hotel. Reception was first class too, with a thorough check-in and a cookie. I’d recommend it for a clean, comfortable stay with a friendly welcome.

The staff were incredibly polite and accommodating, and breakfast in the restaurant was wonderful. For my partner’s birthday, we were given a fantastic room upgrade and even a bar of chocolate as a birthday present. It was an incredible stay, and I can’t recommend it highly enough.

We got a good rate of £165 for dinner, bed and breakfast for three people. Free parking, early parking, and being near the tram into the city centre were all useful. Check-in was excellent, and we got free cookies. Our room was a good size, with a fridge, complimentary water bottle, large bed, and sofa bed. The TV was a great size, the bed was comfortable, the bathroom was nicely decorated and roomy, and the shower was hot. We could open the window for fresh air too. But the sofa bed was so dusty that my lad kept sneezing, the bedside lights wouldn’t switch on, and the metal light wouldn’t stay locked in place. Dinner was lovely: we each had a main course and dessert. But the restaurant staff didn’t know how the dinner deal worked, so I had to check with reception that it included £26.95 pp credit. Breakfast was the usual buffet. I asked for an emailed receipt at checkout, then got home and found I’d been charged extra for dinner, so I’m waiting for a refund. Staff need more training on the rate. It shouldn’t be offered as dinner, bed and breakfast if they don’t know how it works, and that made the visit a bit of a letdown.