Advantages: Excellent Food, Central Location. Disadvantages: Poor Bar Service, Limited Parking.
When one of my best friends got married yesterday (Sunday 19th December 2005) the location that she chose was the Novotel in Sheffield. This location was chosen for the entire day, which included the Civil Wedding at 2.30pm, the meal afterwards at 4pm and the evening reception which started at 7.30pm.
The first thing that I will say before I begin this review is that I live less than a 5 minute walk away from this Hotel, which is conveniently situated right in the middle of the city centre, so I didn't actually stay here. This review is therefore based on my own opinions as seen from a non paying guest.
My friend was staying at the Novotel (with her sister) on the Saturday night as well as her Wedding night the following day so I first went to this Hotel on Saturday night for a pre wedding drink.
FIRST IMPRESSIONS
The Novotel ...
Advantages: Central Disadvantages: Limited parking
As my son is studying at Sheffield University we have sampled a few of the hotels Sheffield has to offer and the Novotel is one we have used more than once.
For anyone visiting Sheffield for the first time, the traffic system can be a little confusing so the situation of the Novotel makes it attractive to visitors. Once you've negotiated Park Square and actually managed to turn left into Arundel Gate you have to drive passed the hotel on the opposite side of the road, go round the roundabout and come back along Arundel Gate the opposite way to gain entrance to the hotel. Each time we've visited there have been roadworks on or near the roundabout and this can cause problems. The hotel is clearly visible when you approach but the inside lane is buses only so you have to cut across the bus lane to get into the hotel.
Parking is ...
Having had a poor meal on my first visit I decided to give Cayenne a second go. My mistake. Booked a table for 9pm on Sat 12th April 2008. Although there were many tables available my partner and I had to wait almost twenty minutes to be shown to our table. Starter of pork pot stickers was doughy but had good flavours. After waiting for well over thirty minutes after our starter was cleared, our waiter noticed we still didn't have our main courses (2 medium rare steaks). He came to tell us our main course was in the process of being plated. When it came out the food on both plates was cold (steaks, mashed potatoes, shallots and sauce). The side order of chips were hot. A waitress took our plates and side order away. The same steaks etc came out one minute later still cold but on hot plates. The steak piece I had cut into was hidden ...
