HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS MANCHESTER CC-OXFORD ROAD

Would NOT recommend this hotel . We booked well in advance of our stay but were given a room on the 8th floor which was a disabled room with a walk in shower, low hand basin and an array of alarm chords. We were told that no other room was available. The room lacked a remote for the TV, a working hairdryer and someone had left a used razor in the shower. On the second day we were moved to a better room on the second floor so were able to walk up and down the stairs easily as there were only two lifts which were always full. On our third night we were woken up at about 1am by a loud cracking from our aircon unit which we then realised was dripping lots of water on the carpet and keeping us awake. We switched it off and managed to stuff towels in it to stop the dripping. On the morning we left we thought that our troubles were over, wrong ! About 9.30am there was a fire alarm. We left the building but couldn’t see anyone telling us where to muster. We went to the front of the hotel and met others and eventually someone told us to go back in, the alarms were still sounding! Some people had not vacated the building and continued having breakfast. I really hate to think what would have happened if this had been a real fire! The alarm sounded again as we were fetching our bags down - we just left . To be fair to the staff they were polite and friendly but just overwhelmed, with just one person seeming to be on the desk for busy check in and out times. Nobody seemed to be aware of any fire training (you never should allow people back in a building with an alarm sounding)and I believe that this place is unsafe to stay in .

Awful Hotel. Stay well away from it. Receptionists who checked us in was very unhelpful and not very welcoming. Rooms very very very basic, beds are like sleeping on trampolines. I've never slept in a bed like it. Worst sleep ever. 1 pillow given per person. No remote control for TV. Fire alarms going off constantly and staff had no idea what was going on and people panicking but staff didn't seem to care. Rooms are dirty and in need of attention. Paint scratched off, carpets filthy, headboard filthy. From booking the hotel and sending an email in advance even the response was very brief and not helpful. I'd give this hotel a 1* and in fact I'd close it down.

Great location for central Manchester and local stations. I was disappointed to get a first floor room at the front of the hotel as it was a little noisy. Room was good for a budget hotel and I had managed to get a good price too. However there was an awful smell on entering the room that appeared to be coming from the bathroom. Bedroom well equipped and bed comfortable. There was a broken sofa bed with torn covering that looked dreadful. Just take it away! Sadly in the morning things went downhill. No shower gel in the shower (my pet hate as domestic staff should be checking this), the shower flow was weak and the shower tray didn't drain well at all. Breakfast is advertised as complementary being an Express product - but was very disappointing. Only 1 out of 3 coffee machines working so queues - and then that broke down. The toaster wouldn't toast. There was limited warm food and all dry and bland - mainly cold too. Maybe offering beans would have made the food less dry. The breakfast room was like a sauna and very uncomfortable and I heard many people commenting about it. Compared to its competitors, like Hampton by Hilton, the breakfast offer was poor. I don't think I will return.