Premier Inn Abingdon (A34)

Where to start? On arrival on Saturday 23rd November, around 3.30pm we were booked in, to find out that we had to pay parking. We had booked the breakfast package, and had intended to book the evening meal whilst there, however, the restaurant was not opening until 6pm, so we would not have had time to eat in, so decided to eat in Oxford as we were headed to a show. We asked what time the bar closed, and were assured that it would be open until at least 11, if not later. We arrived back at 10.40pm, to find no staff anywhere, and the bar had closed. Having driven into Oxford, we were looking forward to a nightcap, but this was not to be. After abut 10 minutes of ringing, knocking and calling, we finally found a young lad, who, although apologetic, informed us that the staff were "tired" and had gone home. We went to bed, looking forward to our pre-paid cooked breakfast, only to exit the lift, to see a note stuck to the picture, stating that because there was no chef, there would be no cooked breakfast. To say we were a little shocked and angry, is an understatement. The staff member initially was a little non committal and said to speak to the "guy over there" motioning with his head to the bar - where there was no staff member. We manged to get some more teabags and milk, and went back up to the room to pack. When we came down again, we spoke to a different member of staff (James I believe) who was equally as shocked that the bar staff had gone early the previous night, and who assured us that we would be refunded for the breakfast. He gave us a guest relations card and asked us to get in contact. As I said before, we were shocked and angry that Premier Inn did not have a contingency in place, or able to offer an instant refund of the breakfast cost. It's seriously made me re-think my hotel choices in the future, and would now probably stay elsewhere if given the choice. Not good enough for a National chain.

When we walked in the the staff were really nice and the room was average. When trying to book a table for an evening meal we were told the chef was too stressed as he already had one booking as a table of six at the same time. In the morning we had booked the breakfast but there was a sign saying no cooked breakfast available! The staff were apologetic and said the chef had not turned up. We did get a refund and had the continental breakfast. Felt sorry for the staff who were clearly embarrassed. Finally the carpark was full of litter!

Premier Inns are usually reliable. Not this one. Plumbing shocking. Pipes knock and water pressure low. Tired hotel, rooms in need of modernisation. 1 set of towels for a double room. This hotel lacks the standards of other Premier Inns. I would not choose this hotel again.

Stopped here for work for a couple of days for jobs in and around Oxford/swindon. Area. Plus points…it’s only a year old , staff in the afternoon work hard preparing the restaurant checking people in and serving drinks. Quite close to walk into Abingdon also. Bus to Oxford is close also. Tesco is next door and a fuel station. Negatives… hardly any staff before 5 literally skeleton staff as in 1, to run a bar if busy and check people in! They work hard and deserve better. Automated check in machines, forget them! Pay £3 a night to park no idea why it’s not like there many places to leave the car for? Just money making! No pub next door this is a massive loss even though it has a restaurant and bar it seriously is no where near as good, cosy or welcoming I know whitbread want to go this way but it is seriously the wrong direction I will always prefer to stop next to a beefeater , table table or brewers fayre.

Good things first; the room was clean and the bed very comfortable. Service was lamentable. The young man who served us in the restaurant was pleasant and polite,but he didn't really know what he was doing, he clearly had very little experience or training. The blame for this rests entirely on the shoulders of the overall management. Not only are they giving a very poor experience to guests but it puts the untrained staff into an embarassing position. Other things seem to be geared to the convenience of the hotel rather than the guests. For example, you have to pay for parking but you have to do it at a machine outside, can't be done at reception. After dinner in the restaurant we went up to our room, ten minutes later there is a knock at the door, the waiter is telling us that we have to pay for the meal, it can't be put on our room number. In the morning we are asked to pay for breakfast before sitting down. All in all a good example of how not to run a hotel, can't recommend it and will not use Premier Inns again.

Very poor level of cleanliness in the room. The towels were stained did the sink and bath had not been cleaned properly. I requested a full room clean on the second night but this was not done (although the towels were changed). The staff did not seem interested at all and noting was done to improve the state of the room.