I would like to take this opportunity in sharing my experience in the Manchester Airport Hotel.
My friend and I had booked a room (no. 321) for one night in the Manchester Airport Hotel for 11th August 2007 at the cost of 49 British pounds.
Upon unpacking I noticed that of the two towels provided in the bathroom, the smaller one, showed a large very yellow stain running down the middle of it, the larger one was acceptably clean. One additional large towel could be located in the wardrobe. I rang reception and requested further towels from the young lady answering the phone. Within 2 minutes the night Manager rang back and suggested that I "look in the wardrobe". Having stated that I had indeed already done this, the "manager" started a debate with me. Here I quote from the hotel services hotel information brochure "An additional set of towels may be found the wardrobe" A sign in the room also states "If you need additional towels, please call the front desk and we will be happy to deliver them to your room" Further 10 minutes passed before a single large towel was brought to the room.
With all due respect, at this time of night (23:15) after a very stressful journey I do not want to be induced into an argument but expect customer service. I am paying for a room where I anticipate acceptable hygiene and cleanliness. This was certainly not the case. The tissue toilet roll was tatty and torn; the bedside table was sticky and showed numerous dirty rings of cups/glasses.
Upon descending to the bar via the stairwell we noticed that several places on the stair carpet that had been "mended" with sticky black tape. Some of these are loose and virtually flapping in the wind. This is obviously an issue of health and safety.
I can understand that economic issues might mean that priorities have to be set and a carpet might not be one of them, but overall this hotel shows itself not only as worn and shabby (which could be excused) but is downright filthy. The grime and dirt on the stairwell and at the bottom of the stair spindles is worth a photo or two. The light coloured couch and armchairs in the bar are disgusting, with dark stains running down from the headrests. The website may advertise "Britannia for Value" but our money is still worth customer service, courtesy and cleanliness. This hotel has all the attributes of Fawlty Towers. We might have found the humour to appreciate this if we had faced someone with the panache of Basil Fawlty, instead of the truculent person in charge we encountered that night. Needless to say we did not stay to try breakfast, charged extra.