vividventures

Hotel Review

Location

We chose the Holiday Inn for our weekend stay in Nottingham as it is conveniently located a few minutes drive from the city centre, close to the Castle Marina Business Park. We had travelled to Nottingham by train and taking the tram from outside the station, it was just one stop to Meadows Way West then a few minutes walk to the hotel. For guests arriving by car, the hotel is only a 15 minutes drive from the M1 motorway and there is ample, complimentary car parking available in the hotel grounds.

On one morning, rather than taking the tram into the city centre we chose instead to walk along the towpath of the Nottingham & Beeston Canal which is located very near the hotel.  It was a very pleasant 20 minute stroll along the waterfront to the vibrant Castle Wharf district and an opportunity to admire the colourful narrowboats in their moorings.

Arrival and Check-in

We received a warm welcome on arrival at the hotel and the friendly receptionist soon checked us in to a room on the first floor.  The lobby is open plan with comfortable armchairs and complimentary newspapers are available to catch up on the news.

The Room

We had booked a twin room and were pleased to find that our spacious room actually contained two double beds.  Rooms at the hotel have recently undergone a major refurbishment and now have a fresh, contemporary look.

Facing the beds was a large 43″ Smart television, so big in fact, that I didn’t need my glasses whilst viewing from the bed.  Broadband was extremely fast and having several USB charging points another positive feature.  Giving the Holiday Inn a local feel, walls are adorned with artwork featuring nearby landmarks such as the River Trent and Nottingham Castle which I thought was such a good idea.

On our return to the hotel after busy days of sightseeing, we made good use of the well stocked hospitality tray reviving ourselves with refreshing cups of tea.

The newly restyled bathroom was spacious featuring a large walk-in shower with toiletries and a stack of luxuriously thick, fluffy towels. Some rooms are equipped with baths and if preferred, one of these can be requested when booking.

Our room overlooked a courtyard with no traffic noise and we slept soundly on the extremely comfortable beds with their crisp white bed linen and choice of pillows.  The heating/ air conditioning worked well and we were warm and cosy throughout our stay.

The Food

Meals are served in Eaton’s Brasserie and our breakfast on each of the mornings was a perfect start to the day.  We started with yoghurt, fresh fruit and cheese then sampled some of the cooked options.  As well as a hot buffet, a selection of hot dishes can be ordered from the menu and are prepared to order at no extra charge.  These included smoked salmon with scrambled eggs and omelettes which we enjoyed.

The Facilities

Located between the lobby and the restaurant is Eaton’s, a stylish bar with leather seating and a large screen television showing Sky Sports.  On one of the evenings we enjoyed a late night drink in the bar relaxing with glasses of wine soaking up the convivial atmosphere.

The hotel also features a small, well equipped gym located just off the lobby and there are conference facilities for meetings and conventions.

Places to visit in Nottingham

There are a wide variety of attractions/ activities to enjoy on a short break in Nottingham.  In addition to strolling through the Lace Market and Hockley districts we explored The National Justice Museum, City of Caves, Nottingham Contemporary, Arboretum and spent an evening at the Theatre Royal.

Overall

The Holiday Inn Castle Marina offers a comfortable stay in its newly refurbished rooms and with its convenient location is good value for money when visiting Nottingham.  We were guests of the Holiday Inn Castle Marina, and as always all views and opinions are entirely our own.

For a detailed itinerary of our weekend in Nottingham you may be interested in the following:

How to spend a perfect weekend in Nottingham