Uttoxeter hotel

I’ve stay here almost every year since 2017 because I trade at a quilt show at the racecourse. This year they’ve added 13 more rooms and reduced the once spacious restaurant to about a third the size. It’s beautifully decorated but it simply not big enough! You can only book on the hour , even for breakfast, and some times we’re already fully booked when I arrived. Because the restaurant is so small, the noise is HORRENDOUS due to the amount of excited children going to Alton Towers. I think that’s always been the case, but when the restaurant was larger you could always find a quieter space. The one saving grace is the hotel’s staff- they are all lovely and friendly and helpful, and I fear they are getting grief from the customers due to the lack of restaurant space. I ate at Starbucks and a nearby pub a couple of times because I couldn’t stand the mayhem. So maybe stay here, eat elsewhere!

Despite having read several negative reviews (also good ones), we decided to focus on the good aspects whilst highlighting the room for improvement. Good aspects: Excellent location for affordable stay close to Alton Towers Rooms as expected, comfortable with everything you need for an overnight stay, or 2 Restaurant - nice environment, nicely refurbished, dinner (although long delays) quite good, breakfast, surprisingly good, especially the freshly cooked breakfast. Staff - friendly Less good aspects: Restaurant - full hotel and restaurant had to rely on 2 waiters, who were also expected to cover the bar and pour all drinks. Also, I could only see 2 staff in the kitchen. We felt sorry for the staff, they offered the best service they could, with a smile. Becky and Marnie were our waiters they were running around trying to do their best, however, part of our orders were forgotten and arrived late after the majority in our party had eaten. Premier Inn, get your act together and ensure adequate staffing, especially when the hotel is full. Lost property - I had left an item in the room after checkout (my fault, it happens). I have contacted the hotel directly 3 times, they promised to call me back with update. This has not happened. I know the item was left behind, however, no communication. This is what 'lost property' is all about, so that missing items can be returned to their owners. In an ideal world, your would expect the cleaning staff to be honest and use 'lost property' for what it was intended!

I stayed at this hotel years ago transiting for a visit to Alton Towers and vaguely remember a satisfactory stay ! For my most recent stay this was for one night whilst visiting Alton Towers again. The front of house staff were attentive, and helpful. The grounds and site clean , reflecting the quality of Premiers affordable brand. The rooms comfortable and clean, room temperature , a bit erratic in a sealed room , but once the temperature guide followed ok! I found the restaurant a disappointment ! A small corner diner and bar, which seemed overstaffed yet lengthy waiting times for underwhelming average meals. my chicken stack burger , was disappointing like nuggets stuck in a roll with a few chips followed by a berry pancake with un defrosted berries and Luke warm packet pancakes, this was the meal deal for £29:99 plus a basic buffet style hot cooked breakfast of the most basic quality. I also found confusion on what drinks are included in deal, as I simply ordered a pint of lager, as no cider was available, and was followed back to my room by a waitress to collect an extra £1:50 above the package price ? I n general a great location for a visit to the amazing Alton Towers theme park, whether you are travelling by car or public transport, unfortunately I found the restaurant let the hotel down on this occasion .

Hotel was decent enough, bit dated but did the job. Restaurant however was extremely poor, inparticular for dinner. Service ridiculously slow, small portions and food undercooked. Also waited over half an hour for drinks. Would not recommend.

Out of 6 reception staff I spoke with 5 told me they werent receptionist and were only helping out, however all were pleasant and found a way to help and fulfill their role. Restraunt for dinner was appalling both nights of the stay- first night rectpuon amended my booking to 15 minutes later at my request. I arrive 5 minutes before the booking and could hear the female behind the bar saying to the host tough they arent being seated they are ten minutes late. When the host returned to the bar the female again said I was late and it was my own fault. Openly so this could be heard by me about 15 feet away and all other around me. It was embarwssing. I was told as I was late (I wasnt) that i could sit at a table but i would not be served for at least 15 minutes. I said I would come back in 15 minutes. I passed the person who modified my booking in the car park and she said it had i deed been done. I returned and was seated. Food order was taken, and I waited over 45 minutes for fish and chips. All while the only chef floated in and out of the kitchen. After 20 minutes of waiting I was told my mushy peas werent available but I could have garden peas. I thought thats promising maybe food will be here soon, it was not, I had to wait another 25 minutes before some semi warm half cooked greasy chips and burnt fish arrived ( the fish didnt look too burnt but the full fish tasted burnt I also have a video showing the chips but cant upload that here so have tried to show the picture) i was never offered any condiments like vinegar or additional sauces and no quality check took place even when I left most of it on the plate. I asked for the dessert to go as I was tired and the restraunt was loud. In this time another couple got up and left as they had been there waiting for food around 40 minutes and their food had not even been started. One chef is not sufficient to accommodate so many people. I went to pay for extras which were £4.95 for an ice cream and a coke zero. I was asked to pay just under £18. I explained that wasnt possible and was told it's correct then when we went iver it, I was told it had been put though wrong. The bill was revised and I was then asked for just undre £12 making the cola almost £7. I again stated this couldnt be right and had to explain again. I explained how unhappy I was with the way things had gone and did not even receive and apology until I took this up with reception. Night two and I was seated promptly and the server was much more attentive. I saw two chefs in the kitchen and though this would be a positive. Wrong at one point the full restaunt was sitting with no food. A family of four all got their food at different times and a child about 6 was the fourth person to get her food after the manager went in and cooked it and they had waited an hour and twenty minutes. it didnt matter what time you ordered the food all came out sporadically and some lay semi warm on the hot plate area like rice that sat for 30 minutes and the kitchen had to be told not to serve it by the manager after the family brought it to their attention. I waited 110 minutes for the worst pizza ive ever had. It was like cardboard, actually hard to swallow. It had no flavour and was like a supermarket budget pizza with sporadic topping sat on top. I was one slice into my pizza and my dessert with ice cream arrived at the table. The waiting staff could not be any more apologetic they were embaressed and worked hard. When I brought this up eith reception I was given an email address to raise my issue with and was told I would hear back within 5 days. I still haven't heard from them but I did receive a feedback email which linked to this review. Breakfast was fine and they looked after my child with an allergy. The breakfast staff were attentive and pleasent. They must really be cutting corners staff wise which is reflecting in the service thats provided. The room was fine. Nothing fancy, could do with an upgrade and come maintenence but the bed was fine and it was comfortable enough. Great location for alton towers but eat elsewhere. Lots of places 5 minutes away in the car.