Carmelite Hotel

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Upon arriving early before our check in time, the staff were accomodating and assured us this was no problem. We found ourselves upgraded to one of the suites (for the price of a double room) because we had made a prior reservation. A very pleasant surprise.

Very attentive staff, great lounge area, excellent rooms

Bedroom window wouldn't open

The hotels proximity to the railway station and taxi rank was one of the reasons we chose the Carmelite.

The lobby and bar gave a false sense of the quality of the hotel - upstairs it was shabby, the wallpaper marked and scruffy, and the corridors did not smell fresh. Our room was clean, but the bathroom was tired, with black mould in the grouting. The most bizarre item in the room was the 3 pack of tins of tuna handily provided to prop open the sash window, which was not working properly. Not value for money in my book.

This was the second time I have stayed in this hotel with my wife. The first time I visited we were immediately up grade to their king size bed room, and we were very impressed, with the level of service, and quality of room.The second visit we with given one of the old tired decorated rooms with an on suite bath/shower room with mold forming in the grout, I complained, and asked to be up graded to a similar room as I had before. The manager explained I would be charged an extra £35pn more because of the upgrade, I asked to see the overall manager and I was able to negotiate a better rate of £85 (these rooms are £110pn) instead of the £65pn. The room was excellent apart from a stale water smell and the dark purple carpet with a large white stain (later found out it was candle wax). The smell became so bad during the weekend, I spoke to the weekend manager and she up graded us to the best room, (which was fantastic), unfortunately it was the last night of our stay. On the whole the staff were friendly and helpful but a couple of the staff were very abrupt in the way they spoke to people. The hotel wants to give the impression of a very upmarket establishment but the majority of the available rooms although are clean and tidy do not have a quality,luxury, or feel to them.

Staff were very friendly and the service was good. The food was also good. The location was very central to the main shopping areas, restaurants and bars (just a 5minute walk), yet it is situated off the main road so is also quiet. All in all a very pleasant experience

Didn't like the decor or room layout in the Laundry Suite. We were moved to the Antique suite, which was lovely.

Becoming quite a regular here. Room 109 this time - decent desk for the laptop and - with some jiggery pokery - wired broadband, comfy bed. The manager seems to be going out of his way to support staff and guests - new staff in training, potential noise from the kitchen fan warned about (there wasn't any noticeable noise).

Please Carmelite, make the television system your next priority. I'm getting by with my laptop filled with last weeks TV rather than your curious choice of out of tune channels from Sky digiboxes that keep turning themselves off just at the best bit of the show you are watching.

It's a comfortable, good hotel. Nothing special, but good place to stay.

Upgraded to the Japanese Suite - Sumptious. Food simple but tasty.

This reviewer provided a score but did not have any comments

Everything

Restricted street parking

This reviewer provided a score but did not have any comments

It is very central to the shops. The staff are helpful and friendly. We have stayed there a number of times and always been luck enough to get an upgrade to the first floor designer rooms (at the weekend). Very comfortable and fantastic value for money.

Can be noisy if in a room at the front. Pubs coming out and pubs clearing out bottles at early hours in the morning. Small complaint, don;t let that put you off!