Just returned after a five night stay at the Novotel Sheffield and have to say that this is not a place I will ever choose to return to. The renovations are very much still underway and on returning to my room in the afternoon on more than one occasion, I was disturbed for well over an hour by hammering drilling and banging, as the buiders were working on the room next door to mine.
I rang down to reception to complain after I could put up with it no more to be told it would finish in 5 minutes - it went on for another 20 minutes towards 6.00 p.m. My colleagues who were on a different floor confirmed similar disturbances - sounds of furniture being scraped along floors and carpets ripped up - and they were in rooms 2 floors above my own.

The hotel could certainly organise things much better than this. They think by putting up cheap hand made posters on the landings warning of the ongoing work will suffice. It will not. Work should take place away from guests - don't let the rooms in or around the renovations!

Bar service at night was poor - the bar staff were often nowhere to be seen so you just had to stand and wait for ages to get served and I witnessed the staff when they did appear larking about with one another. Then the bar shuts at 12.00 p.m. and they start clearing away the shelves half an hour early - making it quite clear the staff are more interested in getting away on time, rather than being there to serve the guests.

On the third night at approximately 1.45 a.m. when I was asleep in bed, I was shocked to open my eyes and see a member of staff standing over my bed - having let himself into my room with a pass key and switched all the lights on! There are no safety chains on the doors here. I was clearly shocked and the reason given for this intrusion was they could not connect a call to my room from a friend. This is way over the top behaviour by Hotel staff and I cannot say strongly enough how shocked I was at this turn of events. I wonder how any single female traveller may react if this happened to her. Single female travellers beware!

The icing on the cake was on the final morning when I was in the shower and listening to the radio (via the TV set in the room). As I have a partial hearing loss I am not able to hear as well as others, I had the radio turned up. Repeated knocking on my door made me come out of the shower - dripping wet to find a jumped - up member of staff verbally assaulting me for having the radio on too high and disturbing the next door room. I was again shocked by his behaviour and tone and wonder why reception had simply not just rung me and asked me to turn the volume down - which I would have done straight away.

His rudeness was beyond the pale and as I was dripping wet and not dressed, I shut the door and went inside to turn off the radio. I completed my ablutions went down for breakfast and returned to my room to find the electricity supply to my room was disconnected. I could not even turn a light on and I was astounded at this action! After all I had not refused to turn off the radio as soon as it was brought to my attention - and given the fact the hotel renovations had been disturbing all around I thought this was a bit rich.

Never have I been to a place like this with such appalling customer service and I was never so glad to check out of the place. My advice is to steer clear of the place.

I don't think our room was one of the newly refurbished rooms as others have mentioned. The toilet was separate to the bathroom and was very dated, overall not exactly modern accomodation, although as you would expect the reception area is very smart! On the positive side I paid the no refund rate, maybe if you pay the full going rate you get a better room, or at least I would hope that would happen otherwise you would be ripped off.
Breakfast is overpriced and you have plenty of nice cafes etc where you can go instead.
Location is great for Sheffield Hallam University and the city centre.

this hotel feels rather cramped inside but the rooms are quite modern and clean. the staff didn't really show us much interet.

The hotel has recently been refurbished and looks much more modern and spacious. We had one of the new refurbished rooms on the fifth floor which was nice and clean.

We were a bit apprehensive about booking this place given the past reviews but decided to give it a go.

Although the rates were a bit pricey especially the breakfast supplement at £12.50pp, everything was up to standard and the staff were very helpful. The breakfast spread was also good and of high quality.

I would consider staying at this hotel again.