Holiday Inn Nottingham

We only stayed one night for a concert at Rock City, and I left wishing we had longer. The place looked beautiful, clean and luxurious, and the food was delicious. My partner especially loved the spicy sauce with his dinner. Everyone we met on staff, including the domestic staff, was friendly, polite and helpful. Luca (not sure of correct spelling) was a brilliant host with loads of local knowledge, especially about the cheapest taxis. We’d happily stay again if we get the chance.

The room was clean, but the shower barely worked: just a trickle of water, and it was hardly warm. On top of the £160 a night price for this expensive two-day stay, I paid another £10 for parking and still got a £100 fine. You'd think parking would be free at that rate. The parking company won't respond. Check-in was a problem too, since I was given the wrong room type. I only got the room I’d actually booked and paid for after showing screenshots, because the online booking receipt had changed that day.

The room was comfortable enough, with cotton sheets, a good bed, and an HVAC system that let me set a temperature I liked. The shower was warm, but its 'eco' setting was so restrictive that I had to stand right by the thermostatic valve to get properly wet. The gym was just about passable, with treadmills and a few light weights. If you want to do strength training like I did, there's a Pure Gym a short walk away. There's no pool either, which makes the hotel feel more like a Holiday Inn Express.

The location is great for walking to groceries and restaurants, and the staff were so friendly and amazing. Breakfast had a good range, with plenty of choices for vegetarians. A bit more attention to detail would help, though: our robe had a stain on the sleeve, and there was a small stained patch on the bedding too.