Britannia Hotel Manchester, Manchester > Reviews (6)

I had the misfortune to stay at the Britannia Hotel during september of last year. Having stayed in a fair few hotels in my time I was gobsmacked by the appaling way it was run and feel I would like to review the hotel to warn any potential customers of the pitfalls.

My experience

I ended up at the Britannia as the company I work for was running groups regionally and the agency we work with selected the Britannia for its reasonable rates and central location. Because I was to spend my evening watching the focus groups I thought why not book a room in this place too. I dearly wish I'd had more sense and gone to the lovely Malmaison done the road. But you can always say that with hindsite.

From the road the Britannia looks pretty good. Its a large stone clad old building, the sort of building you'd look at Architectually speaking, very large with steps leading up to an imposing looking revolving door. The steps are clad if Im right in my remembering with blue velvet so you walk into the lobby expecting something fairly impressive.

On entering the extreemly large lobby you are faced with a massive staircase leading up, a few sofas, a smokey enviornment right away and the reception desk to your left.

When I arrived there was a really long queue to check in, this was at 6pm. I queued behind a selection of other guests and eventually was seen. Took around 20 minutes queing to be seen which to me isnt acceptable. The staff were as the other reviewer notes robotic, harrassed and unfriendly. I was given my room key and very little else, no information on breakfast times, room service etc.

I tried to find my room, as I said this place is enormous and from the lobby there are only 2 lifts both with queues. I eventally manageged to get in the lift and found my way to the 4th floor where my room was. Its a maze of long corridors and smells old and worn out in my opinoin.

The Room
On entering my room I could have cried. It was just horrible. The ceiling had an awful stain on it, the furniture was really old and scratched and had the feeling of a second hand store, nothing matched and it was just horrible. Put it this way the picture of the room on their website was completlety differnent so I dont know if I just had really bad luck.
There was a large window overlooking the street so my room faced the same way that the entrance onto the street did. I was distrurbed for hours after the pubs kicked out at 11 with the sound of football fans (there had been a big match on that evening) making their loud way home. The window offered no sound proofing what so ever and I was in a lot of discomfort trying to get off to sleep.
The room did have an ensuite bathroom and shower.

Other things to tell you about, as a lone female traveller I was horrified by the state of the lock on my door. It wasnt a proper lock at all but a clasp type affair which I had to do up myself on closing my door. I spent the night terrified that someone was going to kick the door in and enter my room. Whatever the lock was I have never seen anything like it in my entire life, even travelling in hostels abroad.

Anyway I spent the evening with the other lady from work who was conducting the groups and at around 9pm went back to my room and ordered room service. The menu was awful and resembled something from the 1970s. I eventually selected a steak meal and a bottle of wine. It arrived pretty promptly, within around 30 mins of ordering and was frankly ok, steak cooked as requested, ok chips etc. Nothing special at all. Wine was ok, chilled etc.

After I had retired I tried to get off to sleep with the mixture of feeling scared about the state of the lock and the football fans in the streets below. I was keep awake by the sound of some guy who had obviously got totally pissed and was trying to find his room, he banged on my door, then the door of whoever was accross the corridor from me, he sounded as though he was desperately in need of the toilet and was begging whoever to open up and let him in. He was out there banging for at least 10 mintues at top volume and this was at least 12am by this time. No one let him in and he wandered off back along the very long corridors that definately didnt have bathrooms on the floor I was on. Probably ended up going in one of the awful dried flower arrangements within the main stairwell area.

After a terrible nights sleep I felt like crying and came down to reception in the hopes of a decent breakfast before I left for good (forever!)
The area where they served breakfast had the feel of a Little Chef, formica table and a self service area containing all the usual juice, coffeees etc.
The place looked like a bomb had hit it, there were empty tables with dirty breakfast plates strewn everywhere, 1 harrassed member of staff attempting to get around each table of new customers and failing miserably. When they finally got to me I was handed a filthy pair of cutlery that frankly I wouldnt have eaten with unless my life depended on it. The glass on my table had lipstick on it.

At that point I just gave up, I went and checked out, room was £125 plus the food I'd had the night before added another £35 and left even though my train back to London wasnt due for another 2 hours. I was just desperate to get away.

The amusing thing is as I had given my email address upon check in I did recieve a customer assessment form via email a day or so later. I filled it in VERY truthfully and said pretty much everything I've said here. However I was still sent emails from their marketing team telling me about new offers and promotions. After a very strongly worded email back to them I finally was removed from the list.

I wouldnt recommend you left your dog at this hotel for the night frankly.