September 2023 by 16830
Good points: 1) It is a new, albeit characterless, hotel with decent rooms with all the features you would expect of a modern hotel room. 2) Breakfast was good for a buffet with plenty of choice 3) Car parking was easy/ plentiful 4) Kitchen showed it could produce good food promptly in an evening once it got an order. Bad points: 5) The evening meal service was absolutely terrible - the problem was getting someone, anyone, to actually take a food order & deliver it to the kitchen. This wasn't just once, but twice. On both occasions I got tired of being completely ignored by the waiters for 40 plus minutes at a time and thus got up and said to a passing waiter that I'd like to place an order, went back to my table and then both times nobody came to take the order, wasting even more time. Eventually after my colleague complained on both occasions to someone who appeared to be in charge of this "restaurant" the food finally appeared. It seems clear that the waiters are hopelessly undertrained. The restaurant was busy, but if the ample crew had been more professional they should have coped. I think that none of the staff had been allocated to look after our table, and tellingly, they just didn't care. This was one of the worst dining out experiences in the 50 years that I have been eating out at restaurants all over the World.
September 2023 by AshleyHartlington
The hotel itself is fine, but avoid the restaurant at all costs! It started badly when I ordered a pint of bitter shandy?the bar tender looked at me like she didn?t know what bitter was! Then proceeded to try to add the beer (it certainly wasn?t bitter) to the lemonade without having stirred it first and hey guess what mountains of froth and most of it ended up in the drip tray. We went to the restaurant area to be told we were on table 3?but nobody took us to the table we were left to wander round to try and find it ourselves. We?d been sitting there for 25 minutes wanting to order but nobody came, no waiting staff made eye contact ?it was as though we were invisible? We then had to ask a waitress if we could place an order?she said she?d be right back but after another 5 minutes had seemingly forgotten. I had to go and complain and ask someone to take our food order. The food subsequently arrived and was actually pretty good, as described and tasty. A waiter came and took our plates away after we?d finished but didn?t ask if we would like to see the desert menu? After waiting another 20 minutes we had to ask someone for a desert menu, the waiter said he?d be back in a couple of minutes to take the desert order but after 10 minutes still hadn?t returned, again I had to complain to get someone to take the order? The response was ?well we are very busy??very untrained, disorganised, incompetent with memory spans of a goldfish more like! After desert a waitress appeared and asked if we wanted the bill which she brought, but even though the restaurant was virtually empty by this time nobody came to take payment?after another 15 minutes we got up to pay and leave and finally paid at the bar. We sat down at 7pm and left after 10pm having eaten only two courses. The staff weren?t paying any attention to what was going on at any point. I have never been anywhere that was so ridiculously slow.
August 2023 by DaveGallagher2
No complaints with the hotel itself, all very clean and modern. However, my visit was let down by the staff. They were not very accommodating and this was topped off by being lied to, resulting in having to get ready for a wedding in the hotel toilets. Such a shame as it would have been a good review otherwise.
August 2023 by RoyalSilk
We were very impressed with this newish hotel (opened 2021) which is a bit out of the way (it's on the campus of Keele University) but no problem with a car. The staff were super welcoming and the room was modern, light and very clean. We asked for a room with a view - and weren't disappointed. If you want one, ask for the 5th floor looking east. We had Room 531. Breakfast (£9.99 extra) was very well appointed and we enjoyed taking it outside. One thing to watch is that the car parking on the entire campus is not covered for the hotel. Only park next to the hotel and not to the left hand side.
August 2023 by Phil835
stayed 3 nights, and would not recommend the hotel. Room was not overly clean, as far as we could see, not serviced, garbage was not removed from the room, dust on the ledge in the bathroom and so on. to offset this the front desk staff and dining staff were really good, but not enough to change our minds. Found the food a bit bland, needed a bit more seasoning. If you do not drive this is not the place to be.
July 2023 by pjmsimmons
Great hotel situated right in Keele university and handy for anyone with business there. Reception was quick and efficient and the staff were very friendly. I didn?t eat there but breakfast was lovely with a supply of the usual foods. The room was spacious and the shower and bathroom very clean. I?d recommend this hotel for those visiting the area.
July 2023 by 501ianb
Stayed here for the second year in a row for a weekend long conference at the University. Ideally situated just a few minutes away from the uni, this hotel is a mid range corporate hotel. It is very clean throughout and the rooms extremely comfortable. Spacious rooms with good shower and amenities. The room itself had a king-size bed and plenty of pillows. It had a desk suitable for Woking Post conference along with a small table for drinks etc. The TV has Internet access and is able to link to your devices which I found very useful. The staff were extremely polite and professional. An issue arose with my credit card (the app had an old card linked to it and I did an online check in so payment couldn't be taken). The staff were extremely discreet and professional about about this. Overall a comfortable stay and I'd recommend the hotel.
July 2023 by missr200
Fantastic stay for a Uni Conference. Arrived early and was able to check in straight away. Very comfortable room - huge comfy bed. Air con working on hot and cold. Power shower with really nice shampoo and conditioner included. Staff were faultless and could not do enough - super friendly and helpful. Bar food was nice also. Did not leave the hotel in the evening as was enjoying it so much!
July 2023 by Elizabeth7
Stayed one night as on business at the university. I think it?s genius having a hotel on a university campus. Clean and modern with very helpful staff. Breakfast was fine not brilliant but acceptable hence dropped a star. Would return for sure if in the area. Not far from potteries either.
June 2023 by Camda
Odd having a new modern hotel like Marriott on a university campus but they?ve obviously done their research. New and modern hotel, very peaceful and our room overlooked green countryside. Kea at front desk and Gabriel very friendly and pleasant. Beds comfortable, fridge very mini and a bigger one would have been preferred. Noon checkout great. Gave 4 stars not 5 as object to paying £3 for parking on site. Not like you?re staying in a big urban city. Should be free or cost it into the room rates.
June 2023 by MRunnicles
The Courtyard Keele is an absolutely perfect hotel for visiting The Potteries (Stoke-on-Trent and Newcastle Under Lyme areas), and is located right on the Keele University campus. I visited with my 80 year old Mum and 17 year old daughter, mainly to attend an Open Day at nearby Harper Adams University campus. We booked two rooms and staff were exceptionally accommodating, giving us adjoining rooms with internal door access between them. The rooms were clean, spacious and comfortable, with large screen TV, tea and coffee facilities, and small in-room fridge (in which I kept the north staffs oatcakes I had bought to take home to Sussex!). Plenty of parking is provided, including a dozen or so electric vehicle charging bays, almost none of which were in use. Unfortunately parking is not free, and is added to the hotel bill. Only two issues prevent a five star review; First - fortunately we checked the bill before leaving. Breakfast had been charged twice for the same day, and we had been charged for 3 days parking for a 2 night stay. The front desk staff were apologetic and sorted it out, but these details are important to get right. Secondly - I don't know WHO thinks having bathrooms with a glass door and wall in a hotel room is a good idea, although it's a trend I've seen in a few hotels now. It's absolute madness and I haven't come across anyone who thinks seeing the clear silhouette of a room companion seated on the loo or having a shower is a good idea. The door has a gap all around the edge offering scant soundproofing, ensuring all bodily noises associated with a 'number two' are broadcast for all and sundry to enjoy. I really hope this is a short lived trend that dies out in the very near future!
June 2023 by 618lindsayw
Stayed here while visiting family. Lovely clean hotel good size bedrooms and love the huge windows and the meal was amazing. We will defiantly be staying here again and next time we will book the breakfast.
June 2023 by bagelobagel
Modern hotel based on campus in Keele university. Rooms were clean and had lovely views of the surrounding rural areas. Breakfast was slightly below usual Marriott quality, but the location for visiting the university was very good.
May 2023 by UnderTravel
Whilst in a little unusual location (Situated adjacent to a university campus), this hotel is large and modern and provides an excellent place to stay. The rooms are well appointed, large and modern. However, the hotel falls short in its service and housekeeping standards. Reception were non-engaging and the room had spots which housekeeping had overlooked (Hair on bed and dust on door hinges). This really let down the hard product of the hotel.
April 2023 by maureensR4221EG
The hotel is spotlessly clean, modern and the bed is very comfortable. Love the bathroom and toiletries and it is quiet as it?s located in the grounds of the university and not in town and yet just off the motorway . This is our second stay here.
