Premier Inn Colchester (A12)

We have stayed in lots of Premier Inns over time. This one at Colchester had really personable and knowledgeable reception staff who answered all our questions comprehensively. Yes it was a VERY long walk to our room but it was fully air conditioned - very welcome on one of the hottest days of the year so far! Great room and we slept well.

The hotel itself was fine. We were lucky to have an air conditioned room which was very welcomed. There are no lifts which is a bit of a pain when carrying luggage. The service and cleanliness in the hotel itself was fine but the food, especially breakfast was a real problem. The restaurant is woefully understaffed and although the staff that were there worked hard, there just weren’t enough of them and evening wait times were huge. Even just to get a drink! We paid for breakfast for both mornings of our stay but then didn’t actually get to have it on the first morning as there was no chef! We did manage to get a breakfast on the second morning but they were understaffed yet again and we got it late, having to throw it down and leave rather than enjoy it. The staff that they had were lovely, there just weren’t enough of them to provide a service.

Again Lee and his excellent team warm welcome and professional attitude makes the many stays in Colchester here bearable brilliant team

Decent room, friendly. helpful staff, a good place to stop overnight on both our outward and homeward bound journeys. The staff at the restaurant next door were also friendly and helpful, but we didn't enjoy breakfast on our outward stop, so shan't bother eating it this time. I do have a gripe about the rather foolhardy decision to remove the vending machine that sold water, and, I think fruit juice, if I remember correctly. The only option now just sells Fanta, Cola or Lucozade, and poor quality snacks. Not everyone wants the sweet, sticky, unhealthy choices, and my opinion of overall management (because I doubt it was local staff) has now plummeted. To remove completely the healthier options turns a 'premier' Inn into something slightly below average, and I hope people will object loudly until the better option is replaced.

There's nothing wrong with the rooms or the staff. Unfortunately, the vending machine only sells fizzy drinks. There were absolutely no healthier options such as water or fruit juice. Sadly, having sampled the breakfast available next door, we won't be bothering with that, this time - it was most unpleasant on our trip down.

I’d like to give a big shout out to Denise, one of the kindest, most helpful people I have ever met. My wife and I were actually booked into the town Premier Inn by the castle and were walking from the station to the hotel when my wife had a terrible back pain and could hardly walk. We saw another Premier Inn just down the road and thought if we could reach it they may let ring a taxi to their sister hotel. Denise saw the trouble my wife was in and insisted that she would take us in her own car. When we arrived she helped my wife out of the car but would not take a penny for her. Thank you Denise