General: I stayed there for one night and paid the full rate of £145 for a standard double. The hotel is located close to Broad Street and the Mailbox, and approx 15 mins walk from New Street Station. Car Park is available under hotel. Location-wise the hotel is ideal for shopping at the Mailbox, Bullring and surrounding shops, and is close to the NIA and Sea-Life Centre. Taxis are bookable via reception and arrive promptly at all times of day (and night!)
Public Areas: Entrance lobby not very big for the size of hotel. Check-in desk is small and queues form quickly. Four lifts serve all floors, and apparantly there are no stairs available for public use - not great when you need to go up one floor and wait 5 minutes for a lift!
Health and Fitness: On-site gym and pool / sauna area. The fitness centre is owned by Living-Well so it does get very busy at peak times, and you may not be able to get a locker - indeed I was unable to use teh facilites andwas told to try again in a few hours!
Food and Drink: Pint of lager at hotel bar - £3.10. Dinner - reasonable, but lots of choice nearby and would rather eat out. Bar snacks seem a little fussy. Restaurant views would be nicer if restaurant was on the top floor instead of the first floor.
Rooms: The 'elegant double bedroom' as described on the six continents web-site was a joke. Admittedly, the room was big for a city centre hotel but had poor decor, not enough workspace, the bathroom felt unclean - usual grubby looking floor and mould round the bath. For a 4-star hotel, there was no in-room safe - something I find invaluable when travelling for jewellry and laptop.
I was stuck in a room right next to the lift 'colony' and did not sleep all night - the staff were unable to move me as the hotel was full that night. All in all, not worth £145.
I have stayed in Crowne Plaza hotels around the globe and this is nothing more than a 2-star hotel with a Crowne Plaza board on the roof. This hotel is badly in need of updating and a price review!! When you compare the cost to other nearby hotels, you get a lot more for your money (nice exec suite!) at hotels only a stone's throw away.
I have spoken to the Hotel Manager regarding my stay and he assures me the hotel is under going a re-furb at the moment. He also assures me that the leisure club are reviewing the locker siituation and are replacing locks where guests have taken the keys.
*update 11/05/2005 - I am staying again in 4 weeks time after discussions with the Hotel Manager - I will keep you posted*
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Property Type Full Service, Hotel01 Aug 31 Aug 2003 Swimming Pool Sauna Spa ... more
Jacuzzi Will Be Out Of Order The Gym Will Remain Open ToMembers And Residents Situated In The City Centre,The Crowne Plaza Birmingham Is Just 3 Minutes Walk From...
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Price is per double room per night and may vary depending on date booked...
May 5th, 2005
(May 11th, 2005)
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