Holiday Inn Preston

After our long drive, we arrived late and had a first-class meal with a beer in the restaurant. The food was great, so credit to the kitchen team. Jawad welcomed us and was attentive and very helpful while bringing our lovely meals.

The bar and restaurant staff made our stay such a happy one. I can't remember ever being looked after by staff who were so genuinely friendly and helpful. Dyan, Fekri & Jawad, thank you so much. You're outstanding ambassadors for the company and worth your weight in gold! We were here for a couple of nights of work meetings, and the hotel was close to the venue. Check-in was welcoming, informative, and professionally friendly. The room was comfortable and clean, though a little warm, and the pillows were only okay.

The location worked well for us since it's fairly central, though that does bring some city noise. Parking was limited, so we left the car at the multi-storey by the bus stop across the road and paid for it, then moved the car quickly when a space opened the next day. The hotel was nice, with friendly, helpful staff and all the essentials.

I stopped at Holiday Inn Express Preston South only to use a Tesla Supercharger in its car park for a quick 30-minute top-up. I wasn't staying or eating there, and didn't even look at the vending machines. I was charging my EV at what I understood to be a legitimate Tesla site. Then came a £100 ParkingEye fine. Apparently drivers have to go into reception and enter their registration on a tablet, even if they're not hotel guests. I couldn't see any large, clear signs at the chargers. If signs are there, they were hidden, obscured, or unreadable in the dark. It feels like a trap for people just trying not to get stranded on the motorway. I contacted the hotel to explain, appeal, and ask if the fine could be cancelled, as many EV drivers do in these situations. I spoke to Jordan Sutherland, their Guest Service Reception Manager. He was rude and dismissive, and didn't offer basic customer service. He refused to help or escalate the issue, and showed no concern that the setup was fining Tesla, Polestar, MG, and other owners using the chargers and potentially bringing business to the hotel. There was no empathy or flexibility, just a robotic “rules are rules” response while they pocket the fine money. If this is how they treat non-guests charging outside, I wonder how they treat paying customers. The hotel itself felt soulless, dated, and overpriced for what it is. Staff, with Jordan Sutherland as an example, seem trained to deflect and deny instead of solving problems. The Superchargers work, until the punitive invoice lands and ruins your trip. EV drivers, avoid this site like the plague. There are dozens of other Superchargers without attached parasitic parking enforcement schemes. Holiday Inn Preston South is basically a fine-print extortion racket run by people who clearly hate their customers. Jordan Sutherland in particular should be ashamed, though clearly isn't. One star because negative stars aren't allowed. If you're thinking of charging here, don't. Your wallet will thank you. And if you're Jordan Sutherland, sort out your attitude. Customer service isn't optional.