The Warehouse Hotel at Champion Mill

The old Champion Mills paper factory has been preserved in a really impressive way, and its industrial look and history made this much more interesting than a standard chain hotel. I was here for a two-day volleyball tournament at the neighboring Spooky Nook, so the location was hard to beat. It’s also a pleasant walk into downtown Hamilton, where there’s plenty to explore. A few things to plan for: the hotel lot is about 100 yards away, so you’ll walk a bit. We had good weather and enjoyed it, but it could be tough in freezing temperatures or with mobility issues. The front desk seemed empty whenever I passed, though it didn’t affect my stay much. The old building can be a little noisy, and the shower pressure wasn’t very strong. None of those things were dealbreakers. I’d stay here again for another tournament. It’s a cool, distinctive place for a sports weekend.

The front desk staff were great when we checked in, and I loved how they made the old factory feel modern while keeping its industrial character. Our rooms were spacious, and we had a great stay. We had a good time at inside 18, though our reservation, which we’d made earlier that day, got mixed up. Halfway through, we were moved to a side that wasn’t working very well. The employee there during our booking did everything he could to make things go well.

I was nervous about parking because of earlier reviews, but we left several times and always found another spot when we got back. It was very busy, and I appreciated that staff were watching the lot to make sure hotel guests could park. We were in town for a basketball tournament and were lucky not to run into any problems. My room was fine, and check-in went well. I also asked housekeeping a general question and got a good response. On Saturday, a young man at the counter shared extra information he thought I should know before taking my athlete to the gym, even though I hadn’t asked for it. You don’t get that kind of help much anymore.

We were very happy here. It’s a fun place to stay for the sports complex, with free access to the Nook fitness center, a nice riverside running path, and a restaurant and bar on site with local craft beer. The food was great from the staff who were working, but dinner service was slow because most of the kitchen staff apparently called in sick that evening. The breakfast buffet was limited too, which is the only reason I’d give service four stars.