Holiday Inn Southend, an IHG Hotel

Stayed a few times before. The room was not ready when we arrived at 4pm and had to wait for a room to be cleaned. Room was left with sofa bed made even though there was just myself and my wife. I have noticed that the hotel is being used by homeless people, which I have no issue with, but they were at breakfast in their pyjamas!!!. We pay over £150 for a night with breakfast, and don’t expect to sit with families in their bed clothes in the morning. Must be a dress code. It is a shame as we meet up with a few couples regularly and we may need to find an alternative hotel.

Stayed at the Holiday Inn for 1 night after returning from a Wedding booked in at midnight and the man on reception was welcoming and friendly explained about breakfast at what time it was available and where to find the restaurant. The room was a good size and very clean with everything you need in it a safe, ironing board and iron and tea & coffee making facilities and very quiet so you get a good nights sleep. The bathroom was of good size also with bath with a shower and the most lovely smelling toiletries in there everything you would need. The breakfast was really good lots to eat on the buffet we had the full English Breakfast there was also a lot of other choices such as cereals, yoghurts, cakes, fruit, toast etc. The staff were all very efficient and friendly. Check out was quick and offered to call us a taxi which we accepted. Would definitely recommend this hotel to family and friends.

We arrived at 10.30pm and queried the £10 per night parking charge - didn’t recall paying that on any of our (numerous) stays - felt ‘challenged’ by Reception that they could ‘prove’ this was the case in a ‘take it or leave it’ manner. Struggled to get a drink in the bar as we’d not opened an account… or been advised to: server agreed they’d had a ‘difficult’ night… warm welcome? No, not really. To be honest, I can’t even be bothered outlining the rest of our stay; just disappointing. We’ve been guests over the last decade when visiting family, but with so much choice in the area I don’t think we’ll take the chance of indifferent service again; having been literally shrugged at, a lesson learnt and time to go elsewhere.

Really lovely hotel couldn’t thought them, I booked to room which where not near each other and the sorted it out for me straight away, service is fantastic children loved it!!, will really recommend it we had a lovely time.