I stayed at this hotel when it had either newly opened or was still being renovated - either way there was scaffolding and building work outside, and we had to take a strange route to find out way in, but ---- once inside, I must admit... the place looks amazing different to the works outside... Everything was clean and nice enough downstairs... We were going out for my birthday, and this was a quick stop off before a flight. As I was coming in by car it was important that I could find the hotel easily (didn't really happen because the parking falls off the side streets which aren't as easy to get to) but then once parked, things are ok!!

Parking cost around £13 for the night if I remember correctly - this isn't the cheapest considering other hotels I had stayed in in the area before (which are usually free) but because the hotel was relatively cheap (around £60 for the night) I could overlook that.

I think Crowne Plaza are from the same group as Holiday Inn, because they offer points onto your membership if you have one - I have no idea what the points lead to - but I guess force of habit means you collect them just in case!!

The room - I must admit was LOVELY... Very plush, nice and comfortable, the bed had pillows galore and the view was ok - we had quite a few people joining us for a night out - and they arent the quietest of people, so either the room;s were soundproofed really well, or people just generally didn;t complain, but everything was great.... We didn;t eat in the hotel just because we had already made plans to meet some people in the hotel, others at the bar and then some at the club, so unfortunately I could not comment on the food - but in terms of location this hotel is nigh-on perfect... you can get into central Bham city centre within minutes, and they have lots of attentive staff.... the number of times we called them because the bottle openers we had were not working correctly and needed replacements, or for additional glasses and they just obliged was great.... Not all hotels seem to do that these days but anyway...

Decor was all browns and beiges and considering the price we paid, it had everything we wanted and more... the room was very spacious and the amenities all looked nice and new... maybe due to it being new/undergoing refurbishment.. bt i wasnt complaining either way.... the bed was huge and super comfortable - all in all a great place to stay in terms of quality and standards, location and definitely price.... I would definitely go back!