Holiday Inn Norwich Hotel

We booked a room on line with our credit card and assumed that it was paid for when booked, as stated. When we travelled all the way up from Surrey and walked in to reception desk, we received no welcome and were asked straightaway for our credit card to be presented (the one that was booked through on line). When we asked why, we were told that it hadnt been paid for and they needed to hold the number until we checked out ! We hadnt got that credit card with us because husband was at home in Surrey with it, so had to use friends debit card which luckily she had with her. If she hadnt had this card, we were told we would have to go home to Surrey to get original card which should have been used in first place ! We asked if husband could phone and pay over phone with card and were told he could but would then have to bring card up from Surrey as they needed to see it to prove it belonged to him !!!! The room we booked was extremely cold as double lined ceiling to floor curtain covered the only radiator in room, which when found was only on low. In fact room was so cold both friend and I had to sleep with pyjamas and jumpers on. The curtain was hanging off the rail at top as well. The duvet on the bed was frayed along the outer edge and was a very thin light summer one. The only good thing about the whole experience at this hotel was when it was time to leave the following day.

This is the Ipswich Road Holiday Inn. Overpriced for a hotel that is badly located. Usual Holiday Inn services etc. Quite simply nothing special. Look elsewhere. I'd be happier with the Holiday Inn Express at the other side of Norwich. It is better, cheaper and also a taxi ride from the town centre.

I don't usually comment on 'Holiday Inn' hotels as they're all pretty much the same wherever you go. However, there seems to be a bit of confusion with reviews in Norwich.There are TWO in the area and the opinions appear to be jumbled together giving a confusing overall picture. I have stayed recently at the IPSWICH ROAD hotel and found it to be just fine. Some criticisms made just don’t seem applicable to anything I experienced, so I wouldn’t want the place downgraded unfairly. Staff are friendly, smart and respectful. Rooms are clean and well equipped and all other facilities are fine. Meals are good with breakfasts catering for all hot and cold tastes. Cereals, fresh fruit, Danish pastries, black puddin’….it’s all there. So what’s to moan about? Tariff? Does ANYONE pay the full rate these days? Why? Two miles from town? No problem – it’s a good base for the area and a peaceful nights rest. I must agree with any complaints about the bar prices though. Over a fiver for a glass of house wine is pushing it a bit but my £3.15 pint of lager wasn’t too bad….and there WAS a huge plasma TV in the bar to amuse any sporty types. (For serious drinkers who feel ripped off - you’ll be pleased to hear there’s a great pub just a few metres down the road called the ‘Marsh Harrier’…... It's one of those 'M&B' establishments with an 'Inn keeper's lodge' food menu. Friendly,clean and cheap. It's obvious some folk choose the wrong hotel for their needs when visiting East Anglia but THIS Holiday Inn will suit most.

Good hotel overall. Normal sized rooms for a 'travel' hotel in the UK. Good lesiure centre in the hotel (Spirit chain - usual stuff). Good quality restaurant food. Useful free parking - easy to find the hotel. Reasoanbly handy for a bus or drive into Norwich centre. The odd thing - our stay included evening meals (this was from the set meal or the specials- ok choices). At the end of the meal we were presented with a bill for the full cost of the meal, plus drinks -PLUS a 10% discretionary service charge on top for everything. When I queried this with the head waiter, he said that it was discretionary. When I crossed it off the bill he said 'was the service that bad?' I complained about this to the reception - they were moderately helpful. I continued to cross off the service charge and tipped when I chose to do so. I think that this arrangement is fundamentally unfair - in that I was charged approx £10 per evening meal service charge - when I had already paid for the meal. I shall be in touch with the company (having never experienced this at a Holiday Inn before)

Motel style, looking rather basic, dated and tired and giving the general impression of being run down. Our room was also tired looking but was clean and comfortable, although the bathroom was very cramped and basic. The room was very quiet though, with very effective black out curtains. The AC could only belch out cold air ,but fortunately we were blessed with good weather.A plus point was being able to open the window a little way on a secure setting. Huge rip off in the lounge /bar - unbelievable that a pot of tea for two cost £5.50 plus obligatory service charge of 10%!! It was overbrewed with 4 teabags and quite unpleasant. We only drank it as we had driven for 3 hours and were in dire need of refreshment.The lounge/bar menu showed hugely overpriced sandwiches and a very poor range of light snacks after 6pm. Breakfast - standard Holiday Inn fare, but a pretty poor range on the Monday morning, but significantly better on Tuesday. Very nicely cooked though - and the tea was good! Ate in the restaurant the second night with no high expectations, but were very pleasantly surprised and had an excellent meal. Very fresh ingredients, well presented and tasted lovely. Comparing our stay here with a recent experience in the more basic Express by Holiday Inn, there is little to justify the big difference in price - and nothing to justify the cost of that pot of tea!!!

Likes Our room was very comfortable and new or newly refurbished. Reception staff very polite. Dislikes Went to "The Junction" "restaurant" on our first night.Food was mediocre,vegetables in stir fry not fresh,and fish tasted very cheap and nasty.This was called the "Managers Special".Did the Manager cook it, I wondered? The main shock came when i realised there was no desert on the menu under £5.I chose Ben and Jerrys ice cream which arrived in the smallest tub (still in the cardboard tub) I have ever seen (106 ml)-I MEAN-£5 -for that! I foolishly ordered coffee.It was mug sized-it was £2.65...,when the bill arrived there was also a 5% service charge.Be warned..do not eat here.Go instead to The nearby Marsh Harrier Pub for example (you will need a car as this hotel is a way out of the city). Hey,i dont mind paying for good food-this wasnt it- and i dont like being ripped off.

Very nice hotel set in the outskirts of Norwich. Its a pretty standard holiday inn, decoration and service wise. Room has a sofa bed, so a family of four (children under 14 or so) could fit in one room - even though it might be a bit tight. If you are planning on having breakfast in the hotel, book the room with breakfast since the price of breakfast per person is insane (£14) if you don't. The pool area was nice too.

I stay regular at this hotel for business and would like to say how surprised I am with the friendly staff. I stay at about 3 or 4 hotels a month with my work but this place stands out as providing excellent service, always greeted with a smile and would recommend the hotel for both business or pleasure. The hotel has recently been updated and the quality of accomadation is good.