Premier Inn Nottingham West

We had a really good meal, served promptly, and it came to about £35. The spicy, crunchy prawns were tasty, and the hoisin ribs were delicious, cooked just right and a generous portion with corn and chips. I also ordered onion rings, which turned out to be too much, so I left some. The place felt friendly, and the tables were nicely spaced.

The breakfast was a disaster: nobody around to help, no bacon or eggs, and the beans, mushrooms and hash browns were cold. For an extra £20, that was poor. When we asked about the missing food, the one staff member answered sharply, as if we should know it had to be cooked. Dinner was chaotic too. The food wasn’t bad, but the restaurant was badly understaffed. We waited about 20 minutes to pay with our tired three-year-old granddaughter, then went to reception to ask for the meal to be added to the bill. They sent us straight back to the restaurant to pay, which annoyed me. We’d booked a family room for one night. The room was spotless and suited us well, and the location by the tram station was ideal. Hotel parking was good and free. If all you need is a bed, it might do.

Two weeks after my one-night stay, Horizon Parking sent me a £57 charge, saying I’d parked illegally. I’d registered my number plate with reception and filled in their form, so it looks like the hotel didn’t enter it into the system. I appealed, but Horizon rejected it because I’d deleted my booking email after checkout. Now I have to send a bank statement to prove I stayed. I called Premier Inn customer service twice for help. They wouldn’t contact the parking company and told me to handle it myself. That was extremely disappointing and unhelpful. The stay itself cost £131 without breakfast, and there was no Wi-Fi in my room; even my mobile signal barely worked indoors. Between that and the parking charge, which seems to have resulted from their mistake, I won’t stay here again.

Handy for a Nottingham visit or a stop on the M1, with the motorway easy to reach and a petrol station nearby. Phoenix Park tram terminus is right next door for getting into the city centre. There’s parking, a small kids’ play area, outdoor tables, and a Beefeater restaurant and bar. It’s a very large extended Premier Inn. It used to feel busy and good value, but prices have gone up, and some of the restaurant, bar and outdoor decor looks faded.