http://www.trivago.co.uk/nottingham-37870/hotel/novotel-nottingham-east-midlands-46611 http://www.trivago.co.uk/nottingham-37870/hotel/novotel-nottingham-east-midlands-46611 http://ie2.trivago.com/images/layoutimages/logos/default.png http://www.trivago.co.uk/nottingham-37870/hotel/novotel-nottingham-east-midlands-46611/review-o555711 Fri, 02 Jul 2010 14:02:00 +0200
The hotel is situated right beside the junction of the M1 and the A52. Every effort has been made to block out the traffic noise using excellent glazing, a high wall between the hard shoulder and the hotel grounds, and planting of trees to muffle the sound. If you’re kept awake at night, it won’t be on account of the traffic. As Travelodge I thought that this was a notable branch because of the large rooms: certainly, I’ve not stayed in a Travelodge hotel with such generous rooms since. The Novotel has kept the same room layout fortunately, designed in such a way that the bathroom is just inside the door so that you have a ‘buffer’ between the sleeping area and the corridor. The windows are large so rooms are really bright and airy.

The hotel now has a restaurant, ‘Elements’ which is OK but nothing startling. It bills itself as serving international cuisine and the menu is fairly standard; my advice would be to try the steaks (veggies do not worry, there are meat-free options). The service is nothing exceptional and to be fair, you’d probably only choose to eat here out of convenience.

The hotel has extensive conference facilties which are modern and well equipped. When we used the facilties for a works meeting, we were thoroughly satisfied with the room and with the service. The booking process was smooth and everything we'd asked for was there ready for our arrival.

The hotel now has an outdoor heated swimming pool which is used only in warmer weather. I thought this was a strange thing to add because I can't see many people turning up for a stay at this hotel expecting a swim. The hotel's location means it is primarly used by business travellers yet it promotes itself heavily as being on the edge of the Peak District yet this is not the sort of hotel that corresponds with a stay in the countryside.

At a thirty minute drive from Nottingham the hotel's name is slightly misleading and it is as close to Derby as it is Nottingham. One for business travellers I would say, and less useful for the leisure visitors Novotel seems to be trying to woo of late.


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