Premier Inn Shrewsbury North - Harmer Hill

Home safe now, thanks to Natalie, Heather, the two French lads and the local hero. I got stuck in the snow while trying to drive back to London, so ended up needing an unexpected night here. The local man and two guests from Lille helped dig and push my car out of a dangerous spot on the road and into the hotel car park. Natalie and Heather were incredibly kind too: they made sure I had a full English breakfast before setting off, then packed me lunch, gave me water and made me a cup of tea for the journey. After a couple of days that could have gone very badly, their warmth and generosity meant I had a safe, comfortable night's rest. I also realised I'd posted this on the wrong venue before, so I'm putting it in the right place now.

The views around this Premier Inn were a lovely thing to wake up to, and despite overlooking the main car park, I heard nothing outside thanks to the double glazing. I was working in Shrewsbury, about 10 miles or a 20-minute drive away, and stayed for three nights. My room was in the separate building and was great, even though I usually like to open a window for fresh air. The air conditioning supplied fresh air and was easy to set with the wall thermostat. The bed was huge, even for one person. The attached Bridgewater arms is essentially a Beefeater, which suited me fine. The food was good, and the staff looked after us well even when it was busy. A very well run Premier Inn and an easy five stars from me.

We were visiting family in a nearby village and had a lovely stay here. Our room faced fields behind the hotel, so there was no traffic noise. I was glad to find a bath with a shower over it, as some other Premier Inn stays have only had showers. The receptionist was a lovely, helpful young woman who welcomed us warmly and gave us a complimentary ultimate WiFi code. I believe that normally costs £5 for 24 hours. We'll definitely come back when we're in the area again.

The breakfast was good, but the stay left us disappointed. Our room felt shabby, tired and uncomfortable, and there were no bathroom receptacles for rinsing our mouths after brushing our teeth. The internet code only lasts 24 hours, so you need to ask for another if you're staying longer. We also had dinner in the pub restaurant, then were told to leave early in the evening because there were no other customers. Where are you supposed to go after that? I wouldn't stay here again.