Novotel Glasgow Centre

My husband and I stayed here for one night whilst we enjoyed a day’s outing in Glasgow.
The Novotel was easy to find, situated as it is at 181 Pitt Street, which is within walking distance of Sachiehall Street. Unfortunately, we were driving and driving in Glasgow is a challenge to be met only a few times your life.
We were trapped in a one-way system with diversions in operation which didn’t really help with our quest to get to Pitt Street. On the sixth go round, we threw caution to the wind and did a quick U-turn when the street running across the end of Pitt Street (Scott Street) was quiet – and nipped in.
Parking: We had hoped to park our car in the hotel’s parking area (self-parking) but unfortunately they have limited spaces. We were ‘lucky’ enough to find a space right at the front of the hotel and were told we could park there because it was after 6pm on a Saturday and as next day was a Sunday we knew we wouldn’t get a parking ticket provided we were up and away around 9am.
We were a little nervous about leaving our car in such a prominent position on a Saturday night but Glasgow’s Police Headquarters are a stone’s throw away, so we reckoned we were as well protected as we could hope to be. We have a naff too, which always helps!
Reception: It was a busy Saturday evening when we signed in (we had booked via the internet beforehand). We weren’t kept waiting very long and we found the reception staff to be friendly and efficient. As we were going straight out to the theatre, we asked about breakfast for Sunday morning and were given clear and helpful instructions.
Room: We took one of the many lifts to our room on the fourth floor (the hotel has seven floors). Our air-conditioned room was nicely decorated in restful shades of cream and yellow. It wasn’t a huge room, but big enough for an overnight’s stay for two people. Despite being a busy Saturday night, we weren’t disturbed by noise – either inside or outside the hotel, so the insulation must be good.
Other room facilities:
Telephone
Dial-up Internet access (pricey – go find an internet café if you are watching the pennies);
Coffee/Tea making facilities: in these cost-cutting days, only an initial small supply is given. We always take extra tea bags when we travel, and were wise enough to find a shop in Glasgow prior to our booking in where we bought a litre of milk (stored in a sink full of cold water overnight because there are no refrigeration facilities in the rooms)
Storage: An adequately sized open-wardrobe with enough hangers for the two of us – although, had we been spending a few nights there, we’d have had to resort to leaving most of our stuff in our suitcases. Drawers at the side of the wardrobe unit we adequate for shirts and underwear.
Vanity: Good-sized dressing-table area – although cluttered with menus, ‘What to do in Glasgow’ and TV. Guides etc. Lighting was a little dull for the dressing-table area. Hairdryer provided
TV: Cable/Satellite TV. Provided.
Sleeping arrangements: Comfy bed (have never come across an uncomfortable hotel bed yet!). Could have done with another couple of pillows. No doubt would have been able to get some if we’d asked, but we only really discovered we needed more pillows once we’d settled down for the night and as we were on the fourth floor, we decided not to bother. Advice: Check the bedding out before you get ready for bed – nobody wants to go down to reception in their pyjamas. No doubt we could have rung room service – but we ain't at the Rockefellers.
Bathroom: The bathroom was very attractive but with bathtub and shower. There was a swish-looking vanity unit with sink and mirror. The toilet was a separate room – very cramped! You wouldn’t need to be on the large side or you’d find it quite claustrophobic.
Restaurant: Because we booked in on the bed and breakfast tariff (internet search provided a good deal of £80 for two of us), we sampled the restaurant at breakfast time and were pleasantly surprised with the cooked breakfast (husband) and continental fayre for myself. A buffet area groaned with cereals, fruit, fruit juices and breads plus a couple of large toasters.
The Sunday papers were handily provided in the dining area. If we hadn’t had a five-hour drive home ahead of us, we could quite happily have spent longer over breakfast – plus the car was still sitting outside in the restricted parking zone.
To sum up: The Novotel is ideally placed for those just passing through (Central railway station is 3 kilometres away and the airport is 12 kilometres away). If you are driving, be advised to phone reception first to check on parking facilities/availability. If it is a particularly busy time of year you might have a big problem, particularly if you are disabled in any way and cannot walk too far. Best option would be to park in a secure parking area and take a taxi to the hotel’s door.
Although we only sampled the restaurant, the hotel also offers sauna and fitness equipment (the rather sumptuous fitness suite was glimpsed at the reception area); bar/lounge; business services with fax machine; Safe-deposit box at front desk (the desk is manned 24 hours); porter/bellhop; express check-out; currency exchange available; laundry service; wheelchair accessible.
All in all an excellent choice, good value and I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend the Novotel in Glasgow.