For a four star hotel the guest 'experience' is po...

For a four star hotel the guest 'experience' is poor - I travel for a living and stay circa 140+ nights per year in hotels.

Arrived at noon and told the room couldn't be ready until standard check-in at 3pm, despite being the only 2 people waiting for rooms they were unable (or unprepared) to prioritize our specific rooms for cleaning (They did become available at around 2:30)

Breakfast is a disorganised mess and service is painfully slow. Tea and coffee have to be ordered individually, taking often 10 mins or more to arrive, buffet is below average. Food can be ordered from a table menu and is ok but not exceptional. Smoked Haddock and poached eggs arrived with water flooded on the plate!

Feeble attempt at 4 star style table service when volume of guests at peak times totally overwhelms a group of young, un co-ordinated, over worked girls with no apparant management presence.

Bar more often than not is lifeless with few if any guests and no atmosphere, dining in? don't bother... I had a burger and honestly a Burger King is better quality, better cooked, better value food.

Not (realistic) walking distance from town

Sadly I've stayed in better Holiday Inn Express!

Finally on a plus side the refurbished rooms are excellent (not all rooms are refurbished), the beds very comfy and the staff generally very polite and friendly, hotel grounds are beautiful.