Picture from Trip Advisor
I don't mention this as much as I used to but those who have been reading this daily waffle for a long time will remember that I am not a fan of corporate chains. Give me a cafe over Starbucks, give me a greengrocer over a supermarket, and give me a hardware shop over B&Q any day, I just prefer the more intimate approach and level of service that the big guns don't provide. Premier Inn is a place I have never been before nor have I ever stayed at a Travelodge or Ibis hotel simply because they have a reputation that puts people off. I yearn for the hotels of old where you gathered for breakfast and dinner, the bar stayed open until the last person had gone to bed, before dinner you would gather in the television room to watch the news, and you came and went as you pleased because for the duration of your holiday this was your home and the staff made it feel that way. Nowadays the restaurant is owned by a franchise, there are conference rooms, there are vending machines rather than room service, and they don't even have their own stationary in your room. This is certainly the case at the Premier Inn at Doncaster - how do I know? I am staying here.
Mandi chose the hotel for convenience and price firstly and secondly because there aren't a great deal of hotels to choose from. I never thought I would say this but I am impressed by what I have experienced so far. We are on the fifth floor in a nice big clean room with a comfy bed, which is pretty much all you need. The staff have had to contend with a few of my requests with patience and attentiveness; more teabags in the room (I always pop out for milk because I can't stand those minging UHT monstrosities), more towels, and last night we went out for a drink or two and on the way out mentioned that the telly wasn't working. By the time we got back it was working. Thanks to the travelling we were both pretty tired but wanted to watch Cradle to Grave last night and Eastenders on BBC3 and went to sleep fairly early, or extremely early for me. This morning I went out for a cafe breakfast (Mandi didn't want a fry up and wanted to get ready for the wedding) and on the way out I asked the cleaner for an iron which was delivered to the room with an ironing board while I was away. Perhaps Premier Inn is a magical place where things get done by elves who work to please you while you are out, try it if you ever find yourself in one of their hotels.
One problem I have with Premier Inn is of course their racism. Lenny Henry is a knight but they make him sleep outside.
The Sunday Alternative #56 is available from here.
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September housekeeping
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