And I thought Menzies delivered papers

Destination Salford University and was time to deviate from my usual city centre outlets and opt for something a little more luxurious and expensive with a price tag and leisure facilities to match. Apart from anything else, the last time I stayed in the centre, the staff gave me wrong directions to the University and I turned up late for my meeting. This time it was me giving a presentation, and being my third day on the road I wanted something different.

LOCATION
Situated on the A62, about 1 mile from Junction 22 of the new M60, this is the preferred route, rather than the strange route that I took from Sheffield. However, if you do have to drive into Oldham, the hotel is about 5 minutes from the centre on the A62 towards Manchester.

RECEPTION
There is parking at the front of the hotel by the bar, and then more up by reception, which incidentally is situated on the third floor of the hotel. If staying on floors 1 or 2 you go down in the lift, and for 4 you go up.

I completed a registration form with home address and car registration number, and provided a credit card to take advantage of the credit facilities such as room and bar service. I was offered help with my luggage, a service which I feel is far too rare in many hotels these days, but of course, I declined, I didn’t want them detecting the true contents of my portable fridge, did I?

.MY VERDICT: 9/10 – to be fair, the reception staff couldn’t do enough for you.

Arrival at my ‘new’ room, quickly established it was ‘no-smoking’. But despite my protestations, I was given an ashtray and told there was nothing else available, don’t say you haven’t been warned all you antismoking brigade out there.

Tea and Coffee making facilities were provided, glad to see Nescafe there again (although Gold Blend would be better), but there were only two sachets. It is a good job I wasn’t thirsty. There were also biscuits, but being lemon shortbread and ginger nut they were left firmly where they were.

.MY VERDICT: 6/10 – this was effectively a double room, but with a single desk area chair and almost no room to swing a cat. Had my 6 foot 2” other half been with me, we would not have been happy. My first room admittedly was bigger, but with a ‘put-you-up’ bed and all the noise, this would have been unacceptable as well. .

The shower was on of these static affairs, and a dribble rather than a power shower, for someone with my skin condition, washing my hair was difficult. Towels were supplied in abundance, and I am glad to say they were more than sufficient to wrap around my ample frame, so full marks there.

FOOD
As usual, I took advantage of the room service facility and had Chicken Tandoori Massalla, boiled rice and fries, with a soggy naan bread. It was OK, but nothing special and the sauce was unevenly cooked, hot in places and tepid in others, ready prepared and micro waved I suspect. The bill for this with a pint of lager came to £16.95, not the cheapest place I have stayed, and if you fancied steak, this would have set you back a whopping £18. Room service is available 24 hours, although there is a restricted menu after 9.30pm.

BREAKFAST
At a rather high £13.95 if not included in the rate (beaten only by the Midland Hotel, Manchester @ £15.75), it could have been worth it had service been better. There was a lavish array of fresh fruits including honeydew melon, raspberries and strawberries, plus the more common suspects of oranges and grapefruits. There was various cereals and bread rolls and fruit juices, although I had to wait some 20 minutes for the orange to be replenished.

I have had better service at a Premier Lodge for half the price.

MY VERDICT: 4/10 – Poor quality and service, sullen bar staff, and extortionately priced drinks. A shame, because, the range of food and drinks had the potential to almost justify the cost.

Manchester and the surrounding area, except when there is an event on, is the home of cheap, good quality hotels. This hotel has something going for it in its leisure facilities, car parking and outstanding reception staff,. However, for what it is purporting to me, it needs a good kick up the backside in terms of catering staff’s attitudes to customers, and their prices could also do with a revamp. Also, the water pressure on the 4th floor is appalling.

The rack rates here are £120, £140 and £165 and can be booked direct with the hotel or through their website. You can, however, pick up rooms much cheaper through laterooms and Activehotels. I am at a loss to understand why hotels cannot just lower their prices and develop a relationship marketing strategy with their customers that means they return time after time and recommend them to friends and colleagues. Bad news spreads fast, and it would be a shame for what could potentially be a classy outlet.

OVERALL VERDICT: 6½ out of 10.
I have given 4 stars because in light of the facilities it would be unfair to give 3, but I was bordering between 3 and 4.