Whitehaven hotel

Cooked breakfast was lukewarm/room temperature on 2 of the 3 nights I stayed. This was despite me attending within 5 mins of the breakfast opening time. On the other morning, chef did not attend - still awaiting for the promised refund. No black pudding - despite prominently showing in advertising in the room. Gave more extensive feedback direct but not received any response. Room relatively comfortable, but corners have been cut in terms of maintenance. I will not be going back in a hurry.

Room itself was clean and typical of what you would expect for a premier inn. No towels had been left so first job was to return to reception, no apology given so maybe this is the norm. Hotel very very tatty from the outside, paint work awful, rusty bannisters outside. Brewers Fayre was terrible, depressing inside. Breakfast cold and no butter for days. Feel sorry for the staff. In the evening its a wait to be served, only one person taking both food and drink orders. Whitbread needs to sort this place out asap! On a positive, plenty of parking and it was dirt cheap…you certainly get what you pay for!

Staff were excellent, very warm and accommodating. The room was cozy just right on the size for what we needed on our break away. Food was enjoyed every time catering staff were wonderful also.

We tried calling at least 10 times the day before our stay and on the morning of our stay ti notify them that it would be after 10pm when we would be checking in . I ended up emailing and did get a response at 9.30 pm an hour before we checked inn . Waited over 10mins for someone to check us in depite pressing the buzzer several times . Stayed in room 15 was very noisy with what sounded like elephants stomping up and down above us until the early hours and again from 7am on the Sunday morning . Some of the breakfast was just warm

I'm basing this review on my last 2 experiences at the Premier inn Whitehaven AKA The Howgate, first time I was put upstairs from reception in the old block, the room was dated and in desperate need of refurbishment, bathroom was the same with stains and smells that shouldn't be in a bathroom. I went to the bar for a drink and a snack before leaving for the town, the bar staff couldn't have been more rude if they had tried, however the young girl who served my food was lovely. I should have learned my lesson however I booked again when visiting family, I honestly believed check in was 2pm, as it was when I stayed in the past, so at 2:30 I asked to check in and without any hesitation was told sorry check in is at 3pm, oh i said, I thought it was 2 , no it's 3 and were very busy. The car park was empty, and there were only 4 cars parked at the neighbouring Brewers Fayre, so there was not much evidence of an influx of guests. End result I drove home and slept in my own bed. I was once a regular guest here in my time working at Sellafield and back then the reception and bar staff would bend over backwards to make your stay as pleasant as possible, It's a huge shame that those people have moved on and been replaced. My tip for staying here is don't stay here, there are a few locally ran hotels in the town, and if not try Workington, failing that the travelodge at Cockermouth is far better.