Hi, Although i'm a regular here, I don't write much unless my husband is away, then i'll write revie...
Hi, Although i'm a regular here, I don't write much unless my husband is away, then i'll write reviews on things that have either amazed or dissappointed me.
Member since:08.08.2000
Reviews:8
I recently had to travel to Manchester urgently and had little time to source a good hotel. I chose The Thistle Hotel in Portland Street because it was close to the trains station and the city centre. Also, I remembered having seen it as a setting for a TV drama (only the dining room), and thought at the time that it was a lovely hotel with nice decor.
I booked a double room through Lastminute.com and paid £152.00 not including breakfast. Expensive, but hopefully worth it.
First good point : The room was ready on arrival (about 1pm)
Second good point : The breakfast was very good, a hot and cold buffet, and well worth the reasonable £12.50 each. However, the service was poor, refils were slow to appear and we had to ask for things like glasses and ketchup, which earned us a few exasperated looks. I'd probably asked the wrong people to assist, but they were the only ones available at the time.
Ok, i'll quickly move on to the negatives. My room on the 7th (and top) floor was tiny and airless. It had a window that looked out onto another part of the building and only opened a fraction, certainly not enough to let any air in. It was unbearably hot in there and I suspect they never have to heat it in the winter either. The heating consisted of a vent at near ceiling level, which had left all the surrounding wallpaper blackened and pealing. A quick check with reception informed me that none of their rooms were air conditioned, though they kindly offered me a fan. The trouser press was an empty shell. A small TV offered terrestial channels and a couple of satellite sport programmes, with the option to pay for a movie. Myself and daughter shared a towel as there was only one in the bathroom (we later found the other one hidden away!).
The lock on the door to the room had been broken and re-fixed, but it left me with the impression that one small kick from the outside would open it if I should lose my key.
My biggest concern of all, and considering I was on the 7th floor, was the lack of smoke detector or sprinkler in the room.
The hotel boasts a health and leisure club,which incorporates a spa pool and a plunge pool. We went and purchased swimming costumes only to be told that the plunge pool was all they had and it would have been hopeless trying to swim, as it was too small. On the plus side it does also have a gym and sauna. I never saw the sauna but the gym was small and adequate.
The bar is contempory style, not too expensive but no table service.
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I walked past this many times when I was in Uni in Manchester, never knew what it was like inside, until now! Cat :o)
ian4552 06.06.2005 23:41
Good review.
helencbradshaw 06.06.2005 22:01
Sheesh you should have phoned me - I manage a big CRS centre for a big chain! £152 represents our inner London rack rates for like Wimbledon fortnight!!! I'm amazed lastminute dont have anything better than that
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Jun 6th, 2005
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