Holiday Inn Taunton

I was there for Taunton racecourse and found the bed big and comfortable, the room clean, the food good quality and reasonably priced, and the spa swimming pool excellent. The only issue was the distance to the racecourse. It was listed online as 1.2 miles, so we expected to walk, but it's more like 6 miles away, in the middle of nowhere. We had to pay for extra taxis.

I will be back soon. The location is superb, there's easy free parking, the gym is well equipped, and the pool and jacuzzi were lovely and clean. Breakfast had everything I needed for a healthy, filling start, and the coffee was good. The rooms are large, the beds huge, and the bathrooms very nice. The reception and bar are pleasant areas too. But on arrival, the smell of wet dogs was awful, and the staff seemed rather solemn, which may point to problems further up the chain. For a four-star place, it's poor to have no biscuits, bottled water, or robes in the rooms. The walk from the main hotel to the gym and pool isn't covered all the way. A room fridge is pointless if there's not even water in it. Thank you.

The evening three-course meal was excellent, with generous portions and great value, and breakfast the next day was good quality and self-service. We stopped for dinner, bed, and breakfast on our way to Devon. Check-in was pleasant, and the room was clean with a huge bed. The air con didn't work, but an electric heater warmed the room well. All in all, a great stay.

For the £72 I paid including breakfast, I'd recommend a stay here, though several room problems spoiled it somewhat. I booked a king-size bed but got what looked like a regular double. Reception insisted it was a king when I checked, so we made do. The room was dated, the floor light and bedside lamp didn't work, and neither did the socket between the beds. I reported all of those issues. The window had a dodgy lock and was very hard to close once opened. Its child-safety catch was faulty too, so it opened all the way without stopping. The pool was lovely, but the sauna was out of order. We visited for NYE, and the staff were super friendly and helpful. Breakfast was brilliant.