Ok, first things first: I didn't actually stay at the Menzies Swindon. I wanted to. My PA even booked a room there for a two-night business trip. Armed with a print-out of the booking confirmation, I marched into the hotel last week, looking forward to a good night's sleep... but the receptionist (who hardly spoke any English!) couldn't find my reservation on his computer. He did try, though I thought it was a bit rude of him to also answer the phone and take other people's reservations while he was trying to deal with my reservation...
At the end, I had to call my PA to make sure it was booked under the right name (well, it was all correct on the print-out, but the hotel guy still kept asking...)... PA then talked to hotel guy... Hotel guy hung up on her... She called again.... Hotel guy hung up again... She called me again to tell me about this, then I got really really really cross and insisted on seeing the manager. The manager did get me a coffee and apologized, but anyway, they had a major problem with their reservation system and had lost my reservation. I ended up staying in a really dingy hotel elsewhere in Swindon. .....

To sum up: NOT IMPRESSED.

I've stayed in hotels of varying grades all over the world, including Africa, and I can honestly say this is the WORST I've ever been in. I cancelled my stay after one night. The reception staff are the most ignorant, rude, apathetic bunch I've come across, the whole place should be condemned for its filthy condition, and I was too scared to eat there in case I got a case of e coli or worse! I can't believe Swindon's Health Department allow this place to remain open!
Facilities? Non-existent.

I agree with other reviews. This is a very tired hotel needing some TLC. I too experienced the grubby curtains and the stains on the bathroom ceiling. I also experienced paper towels lodged in the woodwork next to the radiator to stop some ancient leak.
The rooms are very warm despite the fan. The windows do partially open, but this just lets in the noise of Swindons finest boy racers as they race and do wheel spins on Flemming Way.
I parked my car in Debenhams car park, and was advised by the receptionist to park the car on the highest floor possible - As the car park lifts are turned off at night, most car crime happens on the lower floors. I was surprised was car was intact after two nights - Thank god for Swindons lazy hoodlums!
The location is good for visiting Swindons high street shops, but the "boutique" type stores are generally found in the old town, about 15mins walk away, uphill. There are a couple of decent curry houses within ten minutes (turn right out of the hotel, on the "island" at the top of Princess Street). Agree that the only bars in the vicinity do look rough but found homely pubs at the far end of Commercial Road (which was doing a good trade in its organic menu), and at the far end of Victoria Road in the old town.
In summary, tired, but generally OK.
As a footnote, when trying to find the hotel, I discovered the "magic roundabout" (Look it up in google). I have no idea how that particular road system works, and it is a sure fire way for out of towners to lose their no claims bonus. Avoid at all costs!

I stayed here on business a few days ago and the first thing I noticed was the greasy headprints on the headboard of the bed - yuck! My colleagues all had the same problem with theirs too so it wasn't an isolated incident. The net curtains were VERY dirty - they were dark grey and smelled bad. The bathroom was OK but very small and functional (some strange stains on the ceiling). The main problem was the heat in the room. When I arrived, there was a fan beside my bed which was switched on and I left it running all night but the room was still tropical. I dread to think how hot the room would be in the summer. If the windows opened properly, this wouldn't be so much of a problem.
The towels and bedclothes were very clean and it looked as though the room had recently been decorated (why leave those horrible curtains and headboard?). Breakfast was very greasy but we had lunch served by the hotel at lunchtime during our meeting and it was wonderful - very varied, very fresh, delicious and plentiful.