Cockermouth hotel

We have stayed at the cockermouth premier inn since it opened and have always been very satisfied with the hotel throughout.

On arrival we registered our car via the electronic system, please don’t forget to do this. The staff on reception were rude and abrupt, as if we were an inconvenience to and bothering them. They treated the couple behind with the same disdain and lack of respect. A large family were checking in when we left to go out, eye-rolling and dirty looks shouldn’t be part of a check-in procedure. The family were clearly embarrassed by this treatment. The room was as you’d expect, the sheets and towels clean. There was a pedestal fan in the room and after a few minutes it became apparent why. The room was incredibly hot, far hotter than you’d expect for October. The air conditioning didn’t work and the window didn’t open. We had the fan on the whole time we were in the room and it made virtually no difference, it was just moving the hot air around. The attached restaurant wasn’t open past 9pm, we were told this was due to staff shortages, whilst I understand the reasons it would’ve been helpful to have been informed of this either prior to our arrival (via email) or by the, clearly unbothered, reception staff. After a lengthy drive to the hotel to then have to go driving around to find somewhere to eat is unacceptable. Breakfast saw an okay selection of food available. The scrambled egg was swimming in milk, it looked more like curds and whey. I watched the person bring out more fried eggs, they were overcooked with the yolks hard when they were put into the hot hold, it takes a special lack of skill to overcook 5 or 6 eggs to that degree. I don’t eat bacon, just as well because it was shrivelled up due to being cooked for too long. Surprisingly, the hash browns were undercooked and soggy. The biggest issue at the breakfast room was that the hot water urn/machine wasn’t working. It had been replaced by the smallest kettle I’ve ever seen outside of a hotel room kettle, the queue of guests waiting their turn to make a cup of tea should’ve been embarrassing to the 1 person working, she didn’t say a single word to the queuing guests. The hotel has 2 lifts but 1 is not available to guests. There are paper signs over the call buttons on 1 lift saying it is for the hotel team only. I’ve never seen this, I’ve been in hotels around the world and often seen the housekeeping team entering or exiting the same lifts as the guests, I find it inexplicable that a lift is unavailable to the guests who need it. This hotel is in a great location with easy access to the A66 and other major routes up to Carlisle and Whitehaven.

I have stayed at this hotel before and would do again. Found my room to be clean and fresh. As others have stated, the windows do not open, which could make for a hot room, but a large standing fan was provided, even though it was quite late in the "warm" season (late September). Plenty of parking. Seems like the hotel may be used by numerous truckers as there were a couple of larger vehicles parked up every night, but plenty of overflow parking aswell and never struggled for a space. Didn't eat at the restaurant at all, so cannot comment on that. Got my meals in Cockermouth town itself. Received a very warm welcome from the staff, who couldn't do enough to help, including assisting when I was checking out very early (4.30!) Even then, they were bright and cheerful, whilst being respectful to other visitors still asleep. Ideally placed for exploring both the Western and Northern Lake District, along with the coast. I would stay here again if in the area.

Premier Inn do not honour their guaranteed good night sleep. I had food poisoning from eating at the pub with them, meant I did not sleep all night but they said not their responsibility… Also said the pub hygiene was up to standard (3 weeks later) and therefore they would not pay. I have used Premier Inn numerous times and never had an issue, I will never stop at a premier inn again.

Slow check in making me late for a wedding. No record of early check in and room wasn't ready as maintenance were in so swapped about after some time. All this whilst I had my newborn son in a harness on me needing to get into a room to feed him and get unpacked. It was difficult getting up and down corridors with all cleaning trolleys out. In the room the window wasn't an opening one and the aircon was poor and didn't lower temperature making it difficult and stuffy with the baby. Lots of other wedding guests had similar check in issues and upon check out the same issues were happening with new guests. Lack of staff was blamed but when I left for wedding they were all stood out in car park on a break and there didn't look to be a shortage of them.