North Stafford Britannia

My 10 year old son and I ended up living here for around 6 weeks because of an unfortunate problem with our private rental, a bad landlord and a home in poor, dangerous condition. We were sent to a different hotel first, but it was horrendous and unsuitable, so we were moved here. From the moment we arrived at about 8pm, the staff made us feel welcome and comfortable. That mattered so much given what we were dealing with and the place we'd just left. They gave us our key and showed us to our room, and the staff couldn't do enough for us. The room was clean and lovely, with all the amenities we hadn't had at the first hotel. The ensuite bathroom and shower were impressively spacious and clean, with good lighting from the large mirror surrounded by bulbs. The lifts worked, which was helpful for anyone who can't manage stairs and for carrying luggage. There's 24-hour reception help, plus an in-house restaurant for breakfast and dinner. I think there's a separate room serving alcohol, but I didn't use it, so I'm not sure. The location is great for getting around. It's directly opposite Stoke train station, near many of the City's towns, just around the corner from the University, and close to the college. The service never wavered during our stay. Really happy.

It's a shame this beautiful old building hasn't been looked after. Our basic room had broken furniture, and there was a lot of mould around the rotting windows. My husband had to fix the TV to get it working. Thick dust was everywhere, even in the mattress, which had a moth infestation. The bath was very slippery with no non-slip mat, and there was no bath mat on the tiled floor. Although the hotel is advertised as dog friendly, the only place for the dog to go was a rubbish-strewn, overgrown car park, with nowhere to dispose of the poo bag. At reception, the female staff didn't acknowledge me for quite a while as I stood in front of them. One was on the phone, repeated her message several times, then pulled a face and hung up. The other just ignored me. I was made to pay even after saying I'd already paid, though it was refunded immediately. No one gave us directions to the lift or our room. Thankfully, the male receptionists who came later were both lovely. It's centrally located and has free parking, but I wouldn't stay again. I value my health.

We booked two nights for a weekend visit to Alton Towers at a bargain price, so I wasn't expecting much. The hotel turned out to be a pleasant surprise. The rooms are dated and worn in places, but everything was spotlessly clean, including the bedding and towels. The beds were firm and comfortable, and the room was fairly quiet. Staff were friendly and courteous. It was ideal for a short stay, and I'd return. My only fault is that room wifi isn't free.

The room and toilet were clean, and the price was reasonable. But the woman at reception seemed uninterested in helping me check in, and the hallways and other shared areas smelled bad. Breakfast was okay at best, with instant coffee. It costs 11 pounds if bought separately, and in my opinion it's not worth more than 4 pounds.