Huntingdon (A1/A14) hotel

Due to an incident closing the M25 we decided to give up on our journey that night. We booked the room about an hour before arriving but it was all ready and we had a lovely welcome, despite it being 1am. My son was upset about not being at his auntie’s as promised, but the receptionist kindly gave him an Easter egg (it was Good Friday) and that cheered him up! We had a comfy night and breakfast was great in the morning.

This is our 8th visit here Having arrived and paid for early check waited till we rang bell the lady who is housekeeping checked us in we were put in freezing room overlooking the building site next to the room,radiator wasn’t working ,went to reception rang bell,waited and a lady from housekeeping came again came to our room and said radiator wasn’t working faulty,went asked to move got room130 just 2 doors away we left with radiotor on low so it’s warm when we came back at night,came back at 10.30 freezing too,went to reception,lady said it was broken,we asked for a portable radiotor which was tiny and even after 1 hour was still cold in the room,having got in touch with online chat they contacted the hotel who said both rooms were checked and nothing wrong with radiotor,bloody hate liars and won’t be returning I’ll stay at holiday inn for a more honest hotel management Thank you to the housekeeping lady and lady evening receptionist who in the 48 hours we were there were the only ones we see,no management or maintenance to be seen

The location just off the A1 is probably the only good thing about this place the fact there was plenty of parking spaces arriving at 2040hrs should have been a warning. On entry there was another group checking in and and a another couple came in behind us, when the family ahead of us asked about food Gary on reception (we could all hear him say) told them the Brewers Fayre next door stopped taking food orders at 2045hrs!! He then added last orders at the bar was 2145hrs. We were allocated room 211 and headed off to the Mcdonalds' next door. Bearing in mind last orders was 2145hrs we headed back over to the pub, possibly one of the most shabbiest pubs I have ever been in, the seats were all stained, vinyl was pealing off the back rests in the booths, it was grim, if I hadn't been so thirsty I would have walked straight back out. Managed one quick pint but then they turned off the taps so only bottles were sold, last orders called at 2145hrs. Other families came in after us wanting food and drink and got neither. We then headed back to the Premier Inn, our room was the last one at the end of the upstairs corridor, when you walked through the fire door you could feel a chill, the ambient lighting was on in the room when we went in but the room stunk, it smelt like urine to be honest, a very damp smell and feeling. Unpacked and was about to get into bed when I flicked the main lights on in error and I am so glad I did. Suddenly you could see the ceiling was covered in mould, it was all over the place and more concerning it was right above the bed and our heads. I do have images but they will turn your stomach so I am reluctant to post them. I went to see Gary who came up to the room and to be fair apologised saying it was unacceptable, he found us another room on the same floor but advised it overlooked a building site, he added that as it was Good Friday Bank Holiday the next day the works would probably not be ongoing as it would be classed as a Saturday so on that basis we accepted the room, it was way after midnight at this point and we were pretty angry so didn't sleep well anyway. Yep you know what is coming next, at 0800hrs the scaffolders turned up and spent the next 3 hours taking down all the scaffolding, again I have images but it's not fair publishing images of the workmen. On route to breakfast we mentioned this to staff but what can they do, move us again? We wanted to take advantage of the 1200hrs check out but they wouldn't move us for the sake of a few hours. I have been a regular customer of Premier Inn for a long time but this is the worst by a country mile, Gary was first class and I understand his honestly held belief the building site would not be in operation on Good Friday, unfortunately though it was and as we left others were complaining about the noise too, it wasn't just us.

On arrival- We arrived at 8.45pm. On check in we were told by Gary that food was only served until 8.45pm in the Brewers Fayre advertised as the restaurant. We had to go to Macdonalds for food, as did at least two other couples we had seen at check in. Afterwards we returned to the Brewers Fayre at 9.30pm for a drink, we were informed last orders was at 9.45pm and only bottled beer was available, no draught beers. The restaurant and bar was also very tatty. When we eventually got into our room at 10.15pm we turned the light on to see mould on the ceiling which was concerning as it was even above the bed. The room was also very cold, damp and had an awful smell. We went straight to Reception and Gary was very helpful and understanding and moved us to another room by which time it was 11.00pm. He did inform us the room overlooked a building site but thought they would not be working as it was Good Friday. At 8.00am the next morning we were woken by the sound of the builders working. They were dismantling the scaffolding which was very noisy. By 11.30 the scaffolding was all taken down. At this point advertising a late check out and snoozing the alarm seemed utterly pointless when a scaffolder is outside your room.

The rooms were excellent. The breakfast was delicious. Christopher on reception was lovely. He made us laugh and made us feel very welcome. I have never experienced this before in any accommodation and it made such a difference.