27/1/16 TOTALLY New…read moreReview from previous ones I submitted about the place. I wish there was a .5 option, and I would make it 4.5. The rooms were refurbished some time back, and are clean and modern. They are attempting a variation with their specials' menu or I they call it "Chefs (sic!) Menu". Two courses are now £20 per person, and an extra £4.95 for an additional course. Club Carlson "Concierge" members would normally get 20% discount, but not off this menu. The everyday RBG menu is quite varied, and there is a decent offer for two people dining, which includes a glass of wine, This is still eligible for the 20% discount referred to above. The present Chef's Menu is as follows: Starters: Chefs (sic!) Homemade Soup of the Day. Smoked Chicken and Apricot Terrine with a Chicory and Walnut Salad and Spiced Poached Pear. Thai Style Fishcake on an Avocado and Mango Salad topped with a Soft Poached Egg. Glazed Goats (sic!) Cheese and Rosemary Bruschetta with a Radicchio and Chive Salad Mains Orange and Ginger Spiced Chicken Breast on a Bed of Oregano Coconut Rice with a Ginger infused Balsamic Reduction. Pan Seared Gressingham Duck Breast on a Bed of Braised Cabbage served with a Blueberry Croquette and Raspberry Glaze. Creamy Seafood Risotto with Crispy Calamari Rings, Pan Fried Garlic Squid Tentacles and Pea Shoot Garnish. Roasted Cauliflower and Hazelnut Carbonara with Thyme and Pesto Dressing. Desserts Chocolate and Raspberry Mille Feuille with Crème Chantilly. Cointreau and Lime Panna Cotta with Citrus Granola and a Blueberry Syrup. (Cranachan) Honey Glazed Raspberries, Toasted Oats and a Whisky Cream. Hot Chocolate Fondant with Vanilla Ice Cream and a Mint Tuile. --------------------- Given the above, the quality can be variable. Last night I had carrot and coriander soup, and it was like picking out the bones from a piece of fish in your mouth. The chef hadn't strained the soup and removed the coriander stalks. His reason given back to the waiter was he hadn't had time!!! So I am only knocking off one point for the hit and miss of the evening food. The breakfast is the standard, fried eggs, scrambled, bacon, sausage, etc., but you can request: poached or boiled. Plus you can ask for porridge. The cold buffet is quite good too. There have been comments with regards to the warmth of the food, but this is down to the serving area needing upgrading, and the plate warmer spring needs replacing so that you can get a hot plate. Just be aware, and you can always ask for a hotter plate..... ------------------- I have never met a rude member of staff. The bar can sometimes be left unattended, but a nod to reception can sort that out. -------------------- There have been occasional problems with safe not working, but this very rare, and rectified fairly quickly. Has a good gym for the size of the hotel, and a swimming pool. The latter I've found to be too hot in the past, so not sure if that has changed. --------------------- There are two types of wifi available: fast (no charge), Superfast (£5.70 per day).

Used the restaurant only as I was staying at the International Hotel next door…read more The food was good, but I felt a bit pricey. I had the quail egg starter, about £5 The main was a sirloin steak, beautifully cooked, but I thought over priced at £19 A small glass of Chenin Blanc, followed by a small glass of Shiraz, then a large glass of Shiraz. All the wines were fine. Total cost £38. There was no table check, and ask if there was one normally, and was told it should be after 5 minutes. Angela apologised for this not happening. I found all of the staff very good and charming. I might think twice about eating there again given the price, but if I was visiting the International Centre (as I was this time), I'd stay here rather than The International Hotel. I was, however, able to charge it to my room in the other hotel, which I though was handy.

Useful if you are at the neighbouring Conference centre…read more Good breakfast, rooms saisfactory, bar OK, found it a little dark. Didn't use the restaurant, but friends didn't comment, so average I guess.

Got engaged here! We had the bridal suite. Amazed when I walked in. Very romantic with a modern…read moretwist. Large luxurious four poster bed and plenty of storage. Large bathroom with a great shower and accessories. We had a meal downstairs in Oscars restaurant which is very modern yet intimate and the food was more than excellent! When we told the manger that we had got engaged in our room he was very accommodating. We had one of the best meals we had had in a long time and service was impeccable. We had a few drinks in the public bar next door which was very homely and welcoming yet lively and we went to bed very happy and excited. The outdoor areas are excellent and well kept. Above all, I would recommend this hotel to anybody above any 'chain' hotel as the rooms are exceptional and the service is personal and attentive. My only problem is that they don't do weddings!

Ok. First night and this is no reflection on the staff. The staff don't deserve this environment…read more I found all the staff pleasant and accommodating as far as they could be. I have seen the owners in the hotel next door, which they own, and I can understand the problem. In this day and age I don't expect to be paying for wifi. That said, bonus point to the receptionist who gave me two free hours, whilst I write this report. The time starts as soon as you logon, so cannot spread over a given period use or lose.... 2 hours access (single log in) - £ 2.00 24 hour access - £10.50 1 week access - £17.50 As I said the time counts down from when you first log on, and continues to count down when logged off. Also the connection is via a cable. I can't do bar food, so went next door. See separate review. This hotel is tired. The most wierd shower head I have ever encountered. Aircon, most welcome in the summer, but not controllerable in this room. I couldn't change the temp., nor switch it off. Mentioned this to reception, but little they could do. Guinness - not draught, but out of a can, but chilled enough. If I have to stay near to the International Centre, stay at the Holiday Inn. Bear in mind that they are owned by the same people. Shame for the staff. When I returned from the conference centre, there was heater in my room. I hadn't requested a heater, in fact what I had said was that I was too warm. Hence I had left the window open, this had been closed. I reported the situation to the receptionist, but she could offer any explanation. So a misunderstanding with regards to the aircon. Went for a pint next door. Came back to find an envelope on the table from Elizabeth Frost (Guest Relations' Manager). Answering the points I had made. in response to the aircon she offered to move me to another room. I replied back to her letter, and said I could just open the window. There were instructions about the use of the shower, and the taps, but this was irrelevant , and I said so. I left my reply at the reception desk. When I had return later, there was another letter stating that she would pass on my comments to the facilities Manager. Also that the showerhead had only recently been installed and were of a water saving design. I'm not it was the one in my room, it looked quite old... You have to give her 10/10 for tenacity to try and please, and also provide explanations. The thing is that the hotel I usually stop at for £2 less, has free Wi-Fi, and proper cooked breakfast selection. I'll say again, the staff don't deserve to be given the problems of this hotel. Considering the holiday inn, the international hotel, the conference centre, and the grays inn (now ramada) are all owned by the same people you think that they would make some investment in the international hotel. They have great staff. -------------- I'll do a full review by the weekend, but it has been a bit of a farce being in contact with them..... Used the contact form on their website, told them that their website was wrong concerning the postcode. I included the link to their site. They wrote back and asked which hotel Ramada or International? So the response card goes to both hotels, clever.... I responded back: International, and gave them their website details again. I can't see how that could be the Ramada, the postcode, however, is the location for the Ramada. They wrote back and told me the postcode for The International. I told them that that was what I was telling them. Then it clicked and they said that they forward it on to their marketing dept. Success.... Then I had an e-mail from the Ramada telling me their postcode (which was the one on the International Site), and sent me directions.... Here's a strange concept..... How about reading the *$%&&&$$$ e-mail in the first place? All this because I was trying to help. I've just noticed this on their site too: "Should you wish for something a little more substantial, the Olive Tree Restaurant, situated in the adjacent Holiday Inn, offers both an á la Carte and either a Table D'hotè or Carvery menu every day. The restaurant is open 7 days per week for breakfast and dinner, and also for Sunday Lunch." Couple of things: Not sure if that means they do not do breakfast in the International.... I have to walk to another hotel!!!! Table D'hote should be: table d'hôte... considering they are in the hospitality business, you would think they could get it right...... I'll revise the rating after my visit.....

I don't know what was chewing the last reviewers goat, but I thoroughly enjoyed my stay here…read more The decor is very modern and classy, you feel like you're in a much more expensive hotel than it is. £50 including breakfast (more on that shortly) then £10.50 for wifi. The wifi is rapid and considering how cheap the stay is, I'm not too fussed having to pay for it - and by me pay for it I mean my company, because expenses. Only shortfall is you can only log in 2 devices at once, but I rang reception and they gave me another code so we're all good here. The room was spotless and with good facilities, plenty of room and quite modern. The bathroom was very clean and stocked with decent 'fine' soap - I now smell of sea kelp, for anyone wondering. I thoroughly enjoyed the shower too, I quite often find showers in hotels are borderline depressed or just really stingy on it's water ejection, but this shower was powerful and had a range of weird settings, like jet stream and hot mist. Staff are wonderfully helpful and polite, couldn't ask for more. Now onto the breakfast. I really like food. Like REALLY enjoy food. Considering the price, I really wasn't expecting much, but by the power of grayskull the selection was brilliant. If you're a cereal fanatic looking for some organic fruity muesli then you'll be disappointed, but aside from that the choice was really good. Buffet style, selection of lots of great tasting bacon, beans that hadn't dried up looking like chewy slug pellets in tomato paste (which I find a lot of buffet style beans end up like,) breakfast muffins, rolls and croissants as well as a couple of cereals, toast with a selection of jam, marmite, nutella and philidelphia (I know right??) plus they had a selection of FRESH fruits and yoghurt!! And I don't mean a few lonely pears and overly ripe depressed looking bananas, I mean mixed berries and melon style, with cut oranges and your standard selection of ordinary household fruits that no one is really interested in. I'm pretty sure that sort of fruit is only for decoration only. I thoroughly recommend this place if you're in the area, very very good value and a pleasant stay.

First the positives:…read more The staff are very helpful, friendly, and fantastic. It is set in lovely location. It is very quiet. The dining room, although small, is a good low lit environment. The room I had was a good size, as was the bathroom. Good selection of toiletries. The food for dinner had a good selection, and breakfast too. The negatives: The water in both the sink and the bath (whilst having a shower) did not go down the plughole very fast Making it difficult to cleans one's teeth, and have a shower. I mentioned this to reception the next morning, and they said they would get maintenance to have a look. On my return in the evening it had not been resolved. Reception then tried to find me another room. There were none available. There would be a room available the next day, which I accepted. She also offered me a free bottle of wine to compensate for the the inconvenience. I declined as I didn't want to be seen as person moaning to get something back. Nevertheless, I think it was a generous offer. (SEE FURTHER RELATING TO THIS BELOW.) The TV is too small for the room. I struggled to get a signal on my mobile telephone, and it cut out several times. I did access the WiFi, and didn't have too many problems, I had to log back on a couple of times. No ironing board and iron in the room. I had to request one, and the first iron brought was black with caked on burnt material. They took that one back and said she hoped that one was Ok as there wasn't another on the shelf. Is there really only two irons for the whole hotel? No safe in the room. Sometimes a must for me if I have my work laptop. However, I had left it securely locked away at my office. The shower head is fixed and water went everywhere when I turned on, awaiting for warm water. The latter seemed difficult control, and was sometimes far too hot. I asked what wines they sold by the glass, I asked for white, I was told there was only one, and that was Sauvignon Blanc. This is extremely strange for any hotel, let alone a bar that only servers one white wine by the glass. They have three reds by the glass. Apparently they are trying to run down stocks before changing over to new list of wines. A good idea would be to reduce those wines by the bottle; I'm sure they would still make a profit. The menu was the same on Wednesday evening as the one on Monday. I asked how often it was changed I was told every NINE (9) months!! Another said that it was seasonal, the two answers didn't add up. Extra Notes. When I was transferred to another room, I found waiting for me a bowl of fruit, a small box of chocolates, and a bathrobe and slippers. I think that is exceptional service to say sorry. The room also had a expresso coffee making machine, which I sampled and really enjoyed. The new room was situated on the ground floor, and overlooked the balancing pond. Very idyllic. That all adds up to a big thank you. A three course meal is £26.95, but there are supplements. For example, I had a starter and a main which would be £22.95, but I had the 10oz ribeye steak, which had a £6 supplement. It was succulent and delicious. A pint of John Smith's is £3.60, and a large glass of Shiraz was £6.70. I discovered another lounge area just as I was leaving. All in all, would I return? The answer is: yes.

Madeley Court is part of the Clarion Hotel Chain, it was previously an old manor house but has been…read morebeautifully restored into a hotel & restaurant. The rooms are all delightfully furnished in tasteful styles, the service is excellent & the staff are friendly & helpful. The setting of the hotel & it's surrounding grounds are lovely. The restaurant offers a good, if small, selection of well prepared & delicious food, although the wine list is rather lacking. The service in the restaurant can be hit & miss, on some occasions it has been excellent, on others it leaves a lot to be desired. Overall, however it's generally a pleasant dining experiance.

After a quite recent renovation, the old Bell looks and is a friendly, local pub…read more They have a big terrace on the back & quite often have great local live bands. The last meal I had there was so, so but it does seem to frequently change ownership. So maybe worth another shot in that department?

A basic hotel but fine for business travellers, we have used it to put up relatives at short notice…read morebefore now and its a standard chain hotel. The rooms were clean but basic, if you just need a bed for the night then you could do worse and at least the train station is right across the way and there is a bar and restaurant attached (The Euston Way). The rates are pretty good even last minute so its a good option if you are stuck for somewhere. Staff seem very helpful and apparently the rooms are quite quiet until the buses start early in the mornings.

Whoa, what a meat market!! With the Coors on tap and the girls in miniskirts who have no business…read morewearing said miniskirts, I thought I was back in America! Lots of sweaty people dancin' & grindin'....they even have some karaoke (yes, because drunks should always sing!) and a sitting area with a pool table in the back. Kinda fun cuz it's open later than the rest of the area pubs so you're probably already drunk by the time you arrive, but it's just not my usual scene.