Royal Court Hotel & Spa Coventry

“Ignore the low star reviews - it's actually OK”

Recently back from a Christmas week break for 4 nights. We were part of a coach tour. We had stayed at this hotel before during warmer months and had been able to sit outside in the lovely garden area but this week the weather was not as kind. I'd read the reviews before travelling and was expec… more

Recently back from a Christmas week break for 4 nights. We were part of a coach tour. We had stayed at this hotel before during warmer months and had been able to sit outside in the lovely garden area but this week the weather was not as kind. I'd read the reviews before travelling and was expecting a very bad experience based on what others had reported. I have to say it was great. The hotel has been refurbed with new carpets and a the room had a lovely comfortable bed, it was warm and quiet. We slept really well. Our breakfast was very early (for me) at 7.30 a.m. and dinner too early at 5.50 p.m. but the food was in my opinion good and plentiful. It was a bit of a crush getting around the food area and at breakfast they could have done with 2 tea stations (why it takes people so long to make a cup of tea I'll never know!) However breakfast was the traditional english with options of fried or scrambled egg ( I think the egg was the reconstituted type that Britannia seem to favour). Fruit limited at breakfast and was from a can. Bananas were on offer some days which some took to munch on during their day out so others could not enjoy for breakfast as intended. In the evenings dinner was meat and vegetables and there was a vegetarian option if you wanted it. Sweets were cakes but I don't eat sweets so that didn't bother me. It did get very busy in the dining room but there were 3 coach loads staying. It meant queuing but it was tolerable most days. People would 'block' others by studying the cakes and having a nice chat about them completely ignoring others trying to get past to take their now going cold food to their table but not everyone has good manners. Even a polite 'excuse me' was ignored, so engrossed they were in their cake chat. Other areas of the hotel were well presented and the bar was comfortable with good service and reasonable prices. Bottle of wine £16 when we stayed. The nearest pubs are a good half an hour away walking relatively briskly but we made it and enjoyed the change of scene. They allow dogs in the hotel which I liked. All the staff we encountered were friendly and helpful and you could see that they worked hard. If you gave them the time of day and a smile it was returned. Like most Britannia hotels with coach tours they don't service the room for the 4 nights. It means asking for clean towels at reception (leaving dirty ones outside your door for collection) and making sure your bathroom is safe to use for a week without it being cleaned. I bought a cheap toilet brush, some toilet cleaner and took my own antiseptic wipes so we didn't leave the hotel with dysentery or some other illness. It worked well and is my recommendation. Overall we enjoyed our stay and would return. We've stayed a lot with Britannia and this one is up there as one of their best....there aren't many but you get what you pay for. If you want 5* go and pay 5*. Folkstone and The Grand at Scarborough will remain in my memory forever as two that need bulldozing. So The Royal Court stands out for us. Enjoy......

less