The Cambridge Belfry, Cambridge

The Cambridge Belfry used to be owned by Marston but now it is Q and is there any difference? Well not much but some things were worse. Not quite in the league of fawlty towers but try having a hot shower! Well you can but only in the leisure area not in the bedroom. I reported the shower as running cold only when I went out in the morning. When I came back I tried the shower, leaving it running for 7 minutes as advised to do in the hotel information sheet. Sill stone cold. I telephoned reception as was informed I was not leaving it running long enough and that it had been signed off by the maintenance crew. I said I would leave it for fifteen minutes and get back to her. While it was running I tried to log into my lap top. This had worked perfectly the previous evening and that morning so I persevered. No Internet Connection available,
I phone reception and was informed it was a hotel wide problem. I had a lot of work to get through so I was none too happy but she said she would telephone the room once it was fixed.
The fifteen minutes being more than up I tested the shower temperature. Stone cold.
I caught some in a tooth tumbler and marched off to reception with it. Now I am quite reasonable, I know things break down but I was a bit fed up by this time. I asked the receptionist to feel the water but she declined then told me none of this was her fault as it was a problem throughout the hotel. No-one was getting a hot shower!
Then I did get a bit annoyed. I said you led me to believe I was an idiot and not running the tap long enough, now you are saying it is a problem throughout. She repeated it was not her fault. Fair enough, now I knew, hot bath. However I did go for a swim first which calmed me down and the water was lovely and hot in the shower in the leisure centre.
When I came out to get dressed, no poly bags for wet swimsuits. I asked for one at the leisure reception and was told they had run out. How can you run out of poly bags is beyond me but I just dripped all the way back to my room (I mean the swim suit dripped not me)
I tried the internet again but it was still not working so justified in not having to work I ordered a meal then read my book.

If you are looking for a reasonably priced hotel near Cambridge tis is not for you. It is stuck in the middle of a business park about an hour from Standsted airport and 40 minutes from Peteborough station which is on the London-Glasgow/Edinburgh route so quite handy. I only use this hotel because that is the one the company chooses and pays for. They do get some families there but mostly it is full of business people so not much fun and nothing to do at night. One small perk is there is a dvd player in the television but it is not much of a perk.
Boring stuff now
Toiletries standard,
leisure facilities standard. (Gym, pool, Jacuzzi, sauna and steam room etc)
Breakfast - never a great breakfast here. Usually I ask for porridge which is freshly cooked for you. The coffee is always awful and the fried stuff could sole your shoes
so I have stopped asking for it. There are some choices but not a fantastic range to be honest
I paid £83 per night including breakfast. Standard rate off the street is about £140 and it is nowhere near worth that amount.
I had a meal twice in the evening in my room in both cases a salad and a glass of wine. This was about £15 each time but the restaurant would have cost nearer £30. I was not being mean, the company pays but while I quite like breakfast alone I hate dinner on my own.