Where to start? Ok, firstly it is fronted by a bus lane and is bounded by roads on the other two sides that have double yellow lines; the net result is that there is nowhere to set-down or pick-up unless you want to risk the traffic wardens. The nearest NCP Car Park is approximately 100m away across a dual carriageway.

On arrival we were hit by two things immediately - the smell of deep fat frying and the free-standing electric heaters spread arpound the lobby with four Spanish guests huddled around the largest one trying to stay warm. Looking behind the desk at check-in the leather-look wall looked loke it had suffered the attention of a glacier moving downhill at its peak! Oh, and the restaurant was closed until the New Year, something nobody had bothered to tell us about despite having booked in October.

The room was ready even though we were some two hours early but this was probably due to there being very few people in residence rather than any efficiency on the part of the staff (more later)!

Lifts were good and speedy. The room was large, smelt of something vaguely unpleasant but was well equipped though quite tired. The bathroom was very nice but let down by the fact that there were only three towels with no hand towels at all, no heated towel rail so damp towels were the only choice in the morning and a broken holder for the secondary shower attachment (for washing hair whilst having a bath). In the bedroom there was only a single pillow (small) per person and no other pillows or other supplementary bedding as is usually found in a 4 star hotel.

Following some sales shopping we arrived back at the hotel at around 4 p.m. The young girl on the desk was 'covering' for the duty receptionist and could not tell us where the bar was!!! When the receptionist did arrive we were then told that the bar was closed though we could sit in the lobby, with previously mentioned heaters, and enjoy a limited service; we declined.

Finally, after having dinner out and a show, we returned to find the reception unmanned and with no means of summoning a receptionist/concierge/security.

Breakfast was bland and warm rather than fresh and hot and the chairs in the restaurant were designed to be contemporary rather than functional resulting in me slipping constantly (60's retro shiny plastic egg-shaped).

The icing on the cake was that we had to pay £101 for the pleasure despite the fact that the cost had subsequently reduced to £81 since booking.

Having stayed in the Crowne Plaza Nottingham previously, I can only regret booking the Park Plaza on this occassion and hope that others will avoid.

The cost of this

I have stayed at many hotels throughout the UK and this is one that delivers a high standard everytime. I stay here approximately 2 nights every 3 months and the rooms are always excellent with excellent beds and good service form the staff (with only one or two very small exceptions).

Great Restaurant!!

Very nice hotel with nice rooms and bathrooms are better than average to. My favourite part of it is the Cocktail bar and Asian restaurant next door that was simply sublime and although was expensive was well worth the money. Cannot wait to find myself there again.