HOLIDAY INN LEEDS - BRIGHOUSE

Sadly our stay was a shambles. Check in took for ever as we waited for two people to serve one group at a time even though there were two service ipoints. We were presented with a form to sign, fair enough but then the staff decided that we'd been given the wrong form so another was printed and I was asked to sign it. When I asked for the first form to be destroyed it was met with some dismissive comments although they did then tear the form up. When the party in front of us asked for confirmation of check out time neither of the staff members was sure whether it was 11 or 12 o'clock. the room was OK, nothing fancy but it smelt damp and fusty. this came from within the bathroom but made the whole space smell unpleasant. On going downstairs we passed two areas where used dishes, glasses and bottles had been left to.pile up. These were congealed and did nothing for the appeal.of the hotel. There are loose paving slabs on the stairs leading from the car park to the main entrance. This is quite hazardous as the stairs are fairly steep and not all.of them have hand rails. We attempted to order room service breakfast but the door hanger was not collected and so that did not happen...very disappointing, and yes it was placed on the door in time to meet the 1 am deadline. The coffee machines were not working, including erratic service at breakfast time and there was no one to greet and seat us when we arrived for breakfast Just one very harassed server who was trying to do everything and who said fairly casually oh just give me your room number which we did although it was not checked. I always try to look for any redeeming features in a bad review but honestly the only one was the cheerful and helpful server who provided us with a late night drink. It was an all round terrible and unprofessional performance and we will not use this hotel again. Definitely poor value for money.

Brilliant hotel. Good food, Friendly staff. Had a good sleep 😴 Very good value for 💰. Will definitely stay again. 👌👌

We stayed for three nights as a family of three and overall had a very good stay. There is plenty of parking and you enter your registration at reception. My only criticism is that numerous cars were parked on the double yellow lines close to the hotel while other guests carried luggage considerably further from properly parked cars. If parking restrictions exist, they should be enforced. Arrival was excellent and the receptionist was fantastic. In fact, every member of staff we dealt with was friendly and helpful. The main issue with the communal areas was the heat. During temperatures of around 36 to 38 degrees, reception, the corridors and dining areas were extremely warm. Air conditioning would make a significant difference, particularly in reception where first impressions are formed. Thankfully, the air conditioning in our room was excellent. Our room was clean, comfortable and well presented. We had two large double beds, which gave myself, my wife and our five year old plenty of space. The bathroom was also very clean. One lamp did not work, but that was hardly significant. Our room key stopped working after the first day despite a three night stay, which meant a long walk back to reception to have it reactivated, but mistakes happen and it was quickly sorted. Breakfast was excellent. We ate there all three mornings and there was a great selection, plenty of seating and fantastic staff. The hotel particularly impressed me with how well it caters for children. There is a play and games area near reception and a dedicated children’s breakfast section with everything positioned lower down and smaller portions so children can help themselves. Our five year old absolutely loved it. I stay in a lot of hotels and cannot remember seeing this done as well elsewhere. It is a brilliant idea. The swimming pool was another highlight and our daughter loved it. There is also a sauna and jacuzzi, and the ability to book swimming times is a good idea. Unfortunately, the gym was the major disappointment. I am a regular gym user and appreciate that a hotel gym will never compete with a commercial gym, but the equipment should still be safe, maintained and provide a reasonable workout. The two benches were ripped, damaged and had very little padding. One bench press rack was so unstable that after putting around 25 kg on it I decided not to use it. Dumbbells only go up to 20 kg despite there being plenty of room for a more comprehensive rack. The kettlebells were similarly limited. The gym itself also needs redecorating and redesigning. Its condition simply does not match the rest of the hotel. Most disappointing were the treadmills. There are only three. On my first visit one was out of order. By my second visit, two were out of order. With outside temperatures approaching 38 degrees, running outdoors was not a sensible alternative. Ironically, the air conditioning in the gym was excellent. The gym needs proper investment: new benches, stable free weight equipment, a better range of dumbbells, reliable cardio equipment and a general refurbishment. That is a shame because the rest of the hotel is difficult to criticise. The staff were excellent, breakfast was very good, our room was clean and comfortable, the pool was great and the attention given to children was particularly impressive. Improve the air conditioning in the communal areas, enforce the parking restrictions and overhaul the gym, and this would be a great hotel.