Holiday Inn Bolton Centre
The Holiday Inn Bolton is very easy to find with the sat nav, close to the M6, M61, M62 and M60 with a large neon sign that protrudes above the other buildings in the area making it hard to miss. It is central for shopping and bar crawls; the local Cineworld cinema is a mere 5 minutes car or taxi journey away and the Reebok Stadium is only 5 miles down the road.
On check in at about 7.30 (you can arrive from 2pm) we were served by Diana, who was very pleasant and provided us with our room keys and confirmed our dinner reservations for us.
The executive suite was large, with a colour TV, work desk and lamp, free WI-FI and coffee and tea making facilities. The bathroom was full of the usual complementary goodies, with the option of bath or shower. Given that the hotel was so central to Bolton we enjoyed a restful night’s sleep with no disturbance from outside. Firm pillows were also provided to cater for the different guest preferences and the bed was very comfortable.
The hotel boasts both a bar and restaurant for those who don’t want to venture far during their stay. The staff at the Hardie’s Restaurant were kind enough to bring our reservation forward by 15 minutes so we could dine earlier, despite when I called down being told that they were very busy with large tables of guests.
The restaurant itself was light and airy, located in a conservatory like area at the front of the building, with candle lit tables and views of the hotels surroundings from the floor to ceiling windows. The menu offered a wide selection for each of the three courses available. There was an extensive wine list to accompany the food, however please note that a lot of the wine is charged by the bottle not the glass.
We were served by Catherine who checked up on us to make sure we were enjoying our meal and had everything we needed.
We enjoyed a starter of Country Pate with Apricot and Ginger Chutney, Steak with Home Style Chips and a Peppercorn Sauce and Chicken and Chorizo Tomato Pasta and Garlic Bread. For desert we indulged in a Strawberry Sundae to share. The food took a while to arrive but was tasty, well-cooked and well presented. Despite us being one of the last couples to finish, we along with another couple were allowed time to finish our drinks and have a leisurely walk back to our room.
Although we didn’t take advantage of the Club Motivation, there is an indoor heated swimming pool for those who wish to partake in some late afternoon or early morning exercise. The gym and sauna are also free while you are a resident at the hotel.
The breakfast was buffet style and ran right through till 11am alongside the same comfortable check out time. There was a large range of continental and traditional English style breakfast options, with copious amounts of juice and toast to set you up for the day.
Overall, if you are looking for a well priced stay in the Bolton city centre this is a great option. With everything you need under one roof and attractions within very close proximity, this hotel’s location is one of its best-selling points. The staff were all friendly and approachable and the room had everything you need for a restful night.
Thanks to all the staff who are not named, but who helped in making our stay as enjoyable and comfortable as possible!
Holiday Inn
1 Higher Bridge St,
Bolton
BL1 2EW
01204 879988
Tagged in Restaurant