Darlington East (Morton Park) hotel

Having stayed at this hotel numerous times a year for the last 5 years with no issues, I am so disappointed to have to write this review. We were staying in room 15, which I see has been written about previously. The room had cobwebs and a number of daddy long legs ( 1 of which was actually in the bed!) and which multiplied during our visit. The curtains did not close adequately and we were unable to purchase wifi as we couldn't connect to the internet. A staff member was extremely defensive and dismissive of our problems. There were only 2 people initially serving in the restaurant in the evening (1 being the barman). They were rushed off their feet! Eventually someone from reception came to help out. The same happened at breakfast and I can only assume the staff are now interchangeable between the restaurant and reception. A cost cutting exercise? Gone are the lovely staff both on reception and in the restaurant some of whom we classed as friends. It's sad to see such a lovely Premier Inn with such high standards in the past going downhill like this. We were only here a couple of months before this and to see the difference is heartbreaking.

We travelled Friday 17th October it was a long journey to begin with 6 hours,(Suffolk) but there was an accident at Grantham and we didn't move for 4 hours, we were anxious we wouldn't be able to check in on time. Called the hotel and Danielle on reception reassured us. We finally got to the hotel approx 2200hrs, after a 10½ hour journey. Carpark had ample parking, disabled parking spots, well lit. Free parking, display blue badge if using disabled bays. Tablet to insert registration number inside reception. We checked in with Danielle, straight forward process. Clean bright reception area, wheelchair accessible, self check in if you wish, Danielle gave us some hotel info as in breakfast times, location of restaurant, where,to find extra beverages to replenishin room, ask for towels (2 night stay) and advise if we didn't want room cleaning. We'd booked an accessible room and was given room 28 on the ground floor. Lifts available for upper floors. The room was at the end of a long corridor through 3 doors. Room was spacious infact huge, with the usual huge comfortable bed. TV, Beverage tray, 2 chairs, bedside tables. Plenty of sockets. Heater, A/C, stand alone fan. Large light up mirror, hair dryer, 6 coat hangers, 2 extra pillows Huge wet room, shower chair, grab handles/rails, emergency pull cords, raised toilet, shower gel, hand wash, towels. Restaurant attached to hotel. Young man and lady 1st day very pleasant, checked if any allergies. Buffet style breakfast hot/cold plenty of choice, food was really good. Hot coffee machine, Staff very helpful even though they were exceptionally busy, (seems they were covering reception and other area's as bleeps were going off) but the tables cleaned immediately and replenished food constantly. Next day same young man restaurant was so so busy but he remained calm, and pleasant. So this is quite a big hotel, tired in places, stained carpets/walls in corridors could do with painting, it wasnt dirty but really bad smell in the corridors down to room 28, which was there both days. Entrance into restaurant, carpet needs replacing it does look dreadful. Room: so based on our room (28) accessible room. Difficult to navigate to if a solo traveller in a wheelchair as 3 doors to get through, impossible in a wheelchair needs auto door buttons. Bedding, towels clean and fresh. Chairs in the room highly stained looked disgusting was going to turn cushion but what was underneath was worse, wet soggy biscuits, crumbs, hair. Cobwebs in ceiling corners, carpet stained in places. Its a tired hotel in need of some TLC. Its a shame as the staff are really good so would give 5 stars on staff alone, but the interiors of the hotel let it down and some aspects of the cleaning. Danielle reception Fri pm 17th Oct, very helpful, reassuring, polite, and smiling. Young man and lady Sat 18th and Sunday 18th am, in the restaurant although extremely busy, polite, helpful, knowledgeable.

Nice main meal, followed by a melted sundea nothing offered off the bill... Premire inn are going down hill since they have cut ties with the pub's

Very disapponitec. We come here 2/3 times a year. My first room 106 had not even been cleaned but clean towels. Photos will explain..bed sheets dirty marks, food everywhere, not hoovered, cobwebs...then lady agreed and moved me to room 11 very clean tidy but duvet cover hole in it and curtains holes inso jn morn light shone through. Very sad place gond downhill. Resturant first night i told them ill get gordon ramsey in...shouting banging laughing waitress apoligised but noone would listen to her...after 5 hour drive eanted chilled out dinner. Room 15 had bad cobwebs to...

Tracy was very welcoming and helpful upon arrival - great location and lots of parking, 5/5 :)