View from the Room - Mercure Nottingham George Hotel
I’ve stayed at the Mercure Nottingham before for business. This doesn’t always give you a flavour of how comfortable the stay will be when it matters. We are in an era of exceptionally pricey UK travel, with so many of us looking to wake up anywhere that isn’t the four walls we’ve been looking at for well over a year. So I chose familiarity and from the warmth we received when we walked in, I knew we’d made the right decision.
Located in the Lace district surrounded by restaurants, coffee shops and convenience stores, the Mercure George is steeped in history. This is something I only vaguely noticed last time; now with the time afforded, I took pictures of the plaque stating this is where ‘the world’s oldest professional league club’ was founded in 1862. And we had the very room next door.
The hotel itself is Notingham’’s oldest, having been built a few decades before in 1822. I love places that proudly display their heritage around the place as this hotel does.
Walking into the small reception showed how much the staff cared about their guests with its sparkly lights contrasting against the old dark wood. After the super friendly welcome where two staff engaged with us, enquiring what our plans are and if we need recommendations.
We made our way up to our quarters for the night, clutching a plastic bag containing the two paper cups with hot drink sachets (such is the world we’re living in, every hotel has its own way of keeping everyone safe). Our room itself is pretty retro with an upcycled feel. There’s an abundance of mirrors, including a large one in the hallway perfectly placed not catch myself in bed yet enlarging the room - reflecting the dark furniture.
Storage
There is enough room for a double wardrobe with 4 proper wooden removable hangers and shelving
Two drawers in both bedside units plus 2 in the console table
Desk with chair
A hallway provides plenty of additional storage plus a shelf for bags (made up of a pile of ‘suitcases’, a consistent theme through the hotel, along with fairy lights brightening up dark corners.
Amenities
Hairdryer
Spare towels
Safe
Fridge
Tissue box.
Comfort
A little noisy due to bars outside but the two windows can be closed and air-con turned on. The room cools after a short while plus the air-con until had instructions (unlike the last place I stayed at)
Big comfortable bed
Wall-mounted controllable heater
Lovely lighting, which all worked as it should from the first use - no getting used to what switch does what until the last day of the stay. This is rare for a hotel.
Reading lights that I love plus main bedside lights
Desk light
Lovely central overhead light
There’s an eye-catching hallway light although I would have liked a separate switch to turn that one off when in the room.
Bathroom
There is a step up to the bathroom which I was very conscious of tripping on if I woke up in the night I put a pillow there to remind me.
All 3 essential toiletries provided - shower gel, shampoo/conditioner and body lotion (I’d prefer a body lotion over conditioner as anyone fussed about what they put in their hair will take products).
A decent detachable shower over bathtub
Towel rail
Hook for hand towel actually at the sink - how rare and practical
Hooks on door
2 shelves on the wall
We were upgraded, which is always lovely, to a slightly larger room which included a Nespresso machine. Throughout, the staff made us feel incredibly welcome and they clearly loved providing a fantastic service.
Our 30 hours in Nottingham have left a good impression, in large part due to the hotel. We’ll be back soon.
July 2021
