The Holiday Inn has just been promoted to full Holiday Inn status, from the slightly lower grade of Garden Court. It is easy to find in the Beeston/Clifton are of Nottingham. It is close enough to the city centre without all the traffic, noise and parking nightmares that go with very central hotels.

Rooms run at around £90 per night, which certainly isn't cheap. The Travel Inn next door is about half the price, so what do Bass give you at the Holiday Inn for your money?

Rooms are spacious and usually contain at least one double bed, a sofa bed, bath and shower, and a desk and coffee table. You can make tea coffee and hot chocolate in your room and the freebie biscuits are very nice, but not worth fifty quid. you get the five basic terrestrial TV channels along with sky news and a few international news and sports channels. No Sky One is included and movies cost £8 per night, mainstream or porn!

Upgrades are available, but I wouldn't pay extra for a razor, a diddy toothbrush and toothpaste and the use of a bathrobe overnight, but then I never turn down a free upgrade, that would be rude.

There is a small gym, with some cardio vascular equipment, but only enough for about three guests at once. There is a bar which is overpriced, but not criminally so. The restaurant is pleasant, offering standard pub meals like steak and chips or pasta bakes for around £10 a throw. When I last visited there were three large groups of women dining (and drinking), with just a couple of sad souls like me eating alone!

Room service is available and is fast and friendly. The check in staff are very helpful nad cheerful, in fact all the staff seem genuinely delighted to be there. If you join the Priority Club (which is a must if you stay in hotels a lot) you get a free newspaper in the morning.

Breakfast however, is obscenely priced. I went downstairs to the restaurant for the buffet breakfast. Only after I had eate
n my beans on toast, washed down with a cup of coffee did I discover on check out that this cost £9.75!!!

Whilst I admit I wasn't paying I fear they rely too much on expense accounts to profiteer. Mean spirited soul that I am I dashed straight back in to the restaurant and pinched a yogurt, a couple of croissants and a banana for elevenses.

The in room continental is much better value, despite still being £8. With that you get a 'to go' bag containing bread and pastries, jam, honey, orange juice, yogurt, cereal and a NutriGrain bar, along with a copy of the Times.

If you're paying for your own breakfast then Sainsburys over the road will do you an English for well under a fiver, or there is a McDonalds 50 yards down the road. There you get breakfast and a toy for £2.

If you do find yourself staying here then there is a Beefeater, a Pizza Hut restaurant on the same street, and the Sainsburys opposite allows you to stock up on food and other in-room necessities like beer.

If you have the choice, decamp to the Travel Inn, eat at a fast food outlet and save your cash.