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Nice but not for sleeping or eating
Having had a stressful week I decided to book myself in for a relaxing 48 hours at this hotel. I planned to have an aromatherapy in their spa and a couple of nice meals I hadnt cooked myself! I requested a quiet room and was sent to one immediately over the bar. I was then sent to the new stable block behind the wheelie-bins outside the kitchens.
The room was Ok, (but no view) but when I returned to it later that day it was evident that when the conversion work was done, no sound insulation had been put between the extremely creaky floor upstairs and my ceiling! The person upstairs crashed around for some time before it went quiet. After dinner (seated beside the waiters' station - lots of clashing cutlery and stacking of dirty plates) I went back to the room. The person upstairs was obviously there for a 'romantic break'. The bed springs made a terrific sound (in perfect sync with the activiity on it) for most of the night. Next morning, naturally I complained. I was offered yet another room. I decided to think about it over at breakfast. I don't get enough sleep at the best of times with a young baby, I didnt want to pay for that privilege!
When I entered the breakfast room, I could see groups of the American coach party who had stayed the previous night, milling around trying to get someone (anyones') attention. The coach was leaving in a few minutes and apparently, a number of people were still waiting for their breakfast, or the other half of it, or just a cup of tea. They had all run out of time, despite waiting patiently for ages. I grabbed the guy in charge and asked how long for a cooked breakfast. "20 minutes to half and hour" was his curt reply. I told him about the Americans going without breakfast and his reply in a nutshell was "Tough!"
I returned to the front desk and told the receptionist what had happened. She called the manager who I had a long chat with. It was his first day as manager at Albrighton, and he assured me he would call a staff meeting and would sort things out. Fearing my dinner would probably be added to in the way kitchen staff like to wreak revenge, I decided against the second night. The Manager told me he would look at my bill and "take into consideration my experiences." I got the bill this morning and I've been charged the amount in full, except for 'a breakfast not taken'. Needless to say, after many years of using this hotel as a comfortable bolt-hole when I needed to recharge my batteries, I will be looking elsewhere in the future. Such a shame, as Albrighton Hall has, in the past, been the hotel people (myself included) who live in Shrewsbury recommended to those visiting the town. I would now direct visitors to the newly opened Travel lodge on the Battlefield roundabout. Its clean, well sound insulated and there are many places in Shrewsbury town centre where a great breakfast can be bought (in less than half an hour!)
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