Very nice and comfortable hotel. Great location near plenty of bars and restaurants. Birmingham is…read morea small city with an extensive pedestrianised downtown so everything is within easy walking distance. Stayed for two nights over the Easter weekend. Room was big enough, if not massive, for two people but the beds were excellent and the bathroom well appointed and spotlessly clean. Had breakfast only once in two days which was a mistake. Should have done it both days. Very good. While the rest of the neighbourhood heaves at night, the bar here was quiet, mostly because they only allowed residents into the hotel at night. We were grateful for the comfort. Very happy to recommend and will stay here again.

Jurys Inn is a wonderful Central Budget Hotel…read more I managed to get a good deal on a couple of nights over this easter and it was great having a hotel with such a central position in the city. Just by the canal and an abundance of restaurant. All main attractions in the city less than ten mins walk away. It actually took ages to find a decent place at the right price based on previous reviews. Everyone commented on the noise from party goers everywhere - and in particular with Jurys Inn - the noise from the maids lift. But we plumped for Jurys Inn because they had the B&B deals and the company has a good rep. We simply requested a room away from the lift. As it was on the 11th floor we had two peaceful nights sleep in the most AMAZING bed ever. It was so huge I didn't even notice the Mrs was in the bed next to me when I woke up. The rooms are spacious and so so clean. There's no faffing in the room and no mini fridge (ie temptation) which is perfect for us. The whole hotel was clean and bright and pretty. Good security at night and efficient service throughout. Negatives -Awkward moment when checking in - the guy behind the counter was a tad baffled about two women sharing a double room, bless. -Annoying heating/air conditioning in room. It's just stupid, but if you admit defeat and call reception they can adjust it from there. -Breakfast. Poor lay out, naff choice for veggies. -Paid Wifi Despite the not so goods - for the price you can't get better for Bham City Centre. I would recommend it for couples on a city break of those who are looking for a decent place to rest and refuel.

Stayed here in a £35 'family' room for 2 nights, and its a real mixed bag…read more I 'booked' the room months ago, and specifically asked for a travel cot, and if me, the wife, and our 3 young children could stay in one room. The guy on the phone was very helpful, booked me the room and the cot, and told me we wouldn't be breaking any health & safety rules. After a very long drive (100 miles) and arriving at 2230 on a Friday night, the local area is pretty intimidating, and its not at all obvious where the entrance is (one door tucked away round the corner next to a Subway shop), we checked it to be told that there was no record of needing the cot, when I mentioned that I'd booked it months ago and wasn't very happy, the receptionist delivered the age old mantra of "its company policy, we don't allow more than 4 per room" So there I was, 3 tired and upset kids, 100 mile journey, I may as well have just turned up on the off chance they had a room. Luckily I'd had the foresight to bring our own travel cot, and the 4 per room comment was plainly rubbish as they let us stay anyway. The stairwell and lifts to and from the street to the rooms absolutely stunk of Subway sarnies, but I suppose you get what you pay for in the end.

This is a very clean hotel, conveniently located near public transportation. Buses 49 and S3 stop…read moreright in front of the door and stop at Shirley and Solihull train stations. Walk around the corner past the Aldi's and pick up a bus to Birmingham. Breakfast can be added at £8.25. Kids are free, so this is a bargain if you're traveling with kids. I have special diet needs, so I generally walk across to the Sainsburys. I had to buy soap, kleenex, because the room has nothing extra. They have provided liquid soap. A couple of tips 1. If you prefer a bathtub, ask for it when you book the room. I was told that half the rooms still have them. 2. The sign on the shower wall about taking care when the floor is wet should be taken very very seriously. It's like a skating rink. Stop at Poundland and buy a mat for your stay and remain safe. 3. At the time I booked, the website was a bit hinky. It would change the dates when I got to the final confirmation page. And it dropped part of my name. I booked and then modified the reservation to change the dates. I paid on average about £65 for the room.

My first Holiday Inn experience (I think) and it was alright…read more The positives: Free wifi Breakfast was included An ice machine in the lobby Blackout curtains Comfy bed Nice shower The negatives: The room was chilly and following the air con instructions to get warmer didn't help, just made the room noisier. No bath. After I paid the bill I realised the GBP/EUR rate they used was ridiculously bad value. Normally when I'm in the UK and I use a card I'm given an option to either pay in GBP or take the rate offered but I wasn't given the option and didn't cop until it was too late. Sneaky tactic. As for the stay itself: It was better than one Travel Lodge experience I've had. But I've had plenty of Premier Inn stays that exceeded this one. And one recent Ibis stay was miles ahead. The positives do out weigh the negatives in terms of count, but not sure I can go any higher than a 3 on this one after the sneaky rate conversion.

As expected from this chain the room was basic but very clean. I had actually forgotten my…read moretoothbrush so was glad to be provided with one free of charge. The nice thing about this place is that even given its proximity to the M5 it was nice and quiet.

The food was late and dry and nasty. It felt…read morelike forever the cake was fine

I live near the Village Hotel and now and then use the spa & fitness facilities. I have to say that…read morethis hotel has a nice atmosphere. Especially the big pool which you can use as a member is very nice and clean. The fitness facilities can be quite full - but as everywhere it depends on the time you go. The spinning courses are my personal tip... Jump on a bike and enjoy a cool workout in a dark music filled disco room. Spa treatments can be booked for an extra fee and are wonderful. The staff in all departments is very friendly. My only minus point is the high member fee of ca. £45 per month. Other than that a great place to go and a guaranteed sporty time!

It's a budget hotel, it's a budget option, it's not expensive…read more I have to remind myself of this when passing judgement because I'm a bit of a hotel snob, and will usually pay for that extra level of luxury. I booked this place because A it was a 7 minute walk from the o2 academy where I got to spend the majority of my Thursday and B it was very cheap for its location. The lobby actually looks really smart of a budget hotel to be honest by that quickly departs when you get to the rooms. They are basic, your expecting that though and they are for the most part clean. The toilet is in its own little room, there is a capsule shower and the sink is in the main room somewhere between these. You have a tv, I did not check the functionality of this. To be honest I tried to spend as little time in the room as possible so it's a great way to force yourself outside. There are no complimentary toiletries, we did have a bar of soap and some towels though. Hairdryers are available from the reception area and they do seem more trusting than the Bloc Hotel who seemed to think I was out to steal it. I'll have you know I steal hotel glassware not hair dyers! I would stay here again for the o2 academy, it's so nearby and about 10-15 minute walk from new street station. I could only manage one night here though to be honest. The best thing? I can see Quarter Horse Coffee from my rooms window :3

IBIS Budger. Does exactly what it says on the tin…read more Myself and 2 friends paid £70 for a room that sleeps 3 on Saturday night as ae were going out in Birmingham. The price was great, but it really is basic. There was a double bed with a single bunk on top. When we arrived we found the to be clean but very small. The beds were all unmade. The toilet was tiny, felt like it was a broom cupboard! There was a shower but we didn't use it, again it was tiny and also offered little privacy. It was very, very basic. I had to hire a hairdryer and pay a £10 deposit, also if you need shower gel etc you have to buy it at the reception. For the price it was okay and perfect for a quick stopover. My main qualm was how come the room was. It was so cold I couldn't sleep, so i'm marking it down a star. there appeared to be no form of heating in the room - the corridors were a lot warmer than the room itself! I don't know whether I'd use the budget hotel again, I'm personally happy to pay a little extra for a warm room to sleep in!

Wasn't too sure what to expect from a hotel restaurant, usually poor food with a massive markup…read more.. The food here was okay if a little confused/fussy! There are a few bonbydazzler's on the menu; melon with griddled pineapple, coconut and basil anyone? What were they thinking there- like the worst ready, steady, cook! mystery bag ever, poor Ainsley would be spinning in his chef's retirement home. We were sent out an amuse bouché of fried risotto balls which had so little flavour they just offered an unpleasant texture. Not very amusing at all, served with a cliche of balsamic vinegar. Then we were delivered olives and bread with olive oil and balsamic, meh... I started with the Ham Hock, piccalilli and sourdough. It tasted pretty good but was presented like a raw burger with a squashed slug across the plate. Far too much meat, the balance was well off, although it seemed to be the only starter to come without a coating of balsamic. The cheddar and onion tart was apparently nice but would improve with some onion chutney not drenched in the damn balsamic! Main course was apparently coq au vin. Not as I have ever had it before though. Only one bit of the chicken was cooked in wine the other a cheffy bone in supreme of chicken that was pan fried. There were a few chunks of gammon, some enoki mushrooms some undercooked shallots, leathery leeks and passable mash. This dish was largely free of balsamic but had its trendy cousin pea shoots liberally sprinkled over. This bastardised coq au vin wasn't really to my liking- had it all been cooked together in the traditional style it would have been great, unfortunately the chef wasted his time and effort cooking everything separately. Other meals largely met with similar criticisms, the salmon came with turned vegetables which looked totally naff! I opted for the local cheese board which was okay. I can't say how local the cheeses were as there was no information so I'll just take their word for it. After all Birmingham is well known for its dairy produce... It was served with celery, chutney and walnut bread, call me old fashioned but I'll take a Carr's water biscuit every time thank you! It was balsamic free however- I can only assume they had used it all in the previous courses. Other desserts were similarly hit or miss, the fruit selection even had star fruit on it which I assumed had become extinct as I haven't seen any since the 90's. The other main gripe was it took two and a half hours from sitting down to finishing dessert which was ridiculous. I understand that we were a table of eight but it was hardly busy, if the kitchen stopped buggering around with everything it would have taken half the time! The waitresses were very pleasant, if a little disorganised. The meal would have been much improved if they simplified the meals and stopped trying to impress with outdated fads and additions. I would happily pay a premium for a quality meal but this really wasn't! On a random point the light fittings were the worst I have ever seen; a chandelier surrounded by a semi transparent tube of plastic with the colouring of the bottom of a CD. If they employed an interior designer I hope their ideas book was sealed and buried, the designer sent to Broadmoor hospital for the criminally insane.

Nice, pleasantly decorated bedrooms. Plush bathrooms and very fluffy towels…read more Restaurant expensive and a little too poncy, so opted for bar meal instead. Excellent choice! Scampi very good, and superb "signature" chips. You get a little motorway noise, but nothing to worry about. Ceiling fans in bedrooms are a bonus in summer. Not needed early Movember, though! :-)

Some friends had their wedding reception here a fortnight ago and it was just exquisite. I have…read moreattended several functions there over the years and it never fails to impress. The room for the wedding reception was elegant and the catering simple but classy. All the staff at the bar, and the serving staff were really friendly and polite. I have to say it probably brings out the best in them when you are accompanied by a 5 day old baby though!! One gripe - the toilet facilities. You would think that a complex of this sort would have baby changing facilities - but there were none in the one I used and none immediately apparent (or signposted). There are not many facilities for kids at all in fact - a small park area at the front - but nothing more. They used to have a soft play area which we used alot - but they got rid of it and built a new conference room - not helpful for me but I am guessing more profitable? We did not stay the night as we only live nearby - but have in the past and I found the rooms to be comfortable and on the larger side. Its not cheap - see website for current prices and availability. What the place has got to offer which is above and beyond your average hotel is the leisure facilities. There is a fantastic gym, sauna, 9 hole golf course and pitch and putt. I am told the driving range range is good and the prices are reasonable - especially if you block book. This is rated a 4 star hotel - and I agree.

My husband and I considered the Hotel as a wedding venue. We spoke with the Events Planner, who was…read morevery friendly and flexible, and went around on our own and viewed it. It is nice looking, all one story, and very large. It has a slightly conference-y feel, so perhaps avoid it if you want a more homey or invidual venue for your wedding. For conferences and corporate events in a classy venue, this would be perfect. I know a few corporate types who stay at Lea Marston when doing business in Birmingham, even though it's outside the city, for the great food and of course, the golf course. Unfortunately, they didn't have our date available, but it was still a pleasant experience. Buuuutttt...we still go to Lea Marston Golf Club every weekend! My husband is a natural at golf, though he hasn't had much experience at it. He persuaded me to brave the British weather once and try it, and it turns out it's a gas! Hubby and stepson have been to the full course, whilst I stick to the driving range. The range is open to all people, regardless of belonging to the club or not. It is a very economical way to practice your swing, with happy hour prices coming in at 40 balls for £1. It's a great way to relieve stress and have fun for a few hours for a fiver! Great for all ages, with very helpful staff.

We stayed at this Premier Inn during our visit to Drayton Manor Amusement Park. Premier Inn…read moreTamworth Central is 2 miles from Drayton Manor and is an ideal base. We got a family room for four with breakfast under £90 which was a a bargain. The room itself was large and tastefully done with a good size bathroom. It had two sets of pillows - firm and soft and came with a good night guarantee. The breakfast was served at the Beefeater practically attached to the property. The breakfast was a fantastic one with lots of options of hot and cold dishes. The staff were extremely friendly and distributed colouring book and crayons etc for the kids. We requested for a table of right as we had friends with us and they accommodates us inspire of being very busy. A whole raft of features including online check-in, directions as text and a 24hr reception were quite useful. Close proximity to Tamworth Town Centre meant that good access to the number of local restaurants in case you wish to eat Dinner elsewhere however the Beefeater is a pretty good option as it does have a full bar! Overall a good decision to stay here and we got what we were hoping for. 5 stars because I couldn't fault anything and we got what we were hoping for. Highly recommended if you are looking for a place to crash for a night after spending a day on your feet running after ultra-excited kids!