Best Western Plus Oaklands Hotel

We were given this hotel as an alternate when the hotel we originally booked had overbooked. It brags of a marquee and a swimming pool. When we arrived we found the car park spaces to be very close together and hard to drive your car through. We were then told our room was an “overspill room” so we had to walk down the steep driveway, and into a converted house round the corner. The room was so small that only one side of the double bed could have a bedside table, however the room was clean and tidy, and the bathroom is modern. The shower was nice too and the bed was comfy. They provided the usual goodies, tea bags, coffee sachets, two packets of biscuits, a shampoo, a shower gel etc. When we asked about the pool we were told it’s not open for use at the moment. They brag about free WiFi but if you’re in the overspill rooms you can’t get it as you’re out of range. We went to the main bar for a drink, the two barmen were polite and efficient and told us the best places to visit that evening. The garden was open to enjoy but the marquee was booked out for a wedding. We returned late to realise just how thin the walls are. Not only was our “neighbour’s” bed very creaky, but we then had to endure his headboard bouncing off the wall for an hour. Once his “guest” had let herself out we then had to listen to his tv for the rest of the morning until we got up at 7am. We waited for ten minutes for someone to serve us for breakfast at the restaurant but no staff were around to serve so we decided to check out instead. The guy on the desk said we should’ve told him we wanted breakfast as he was only in the back room (which my friend thought was a cupboard!). Not a bad little place to stop over but not an overall great experience. Would book again if I could guarantee a room in the main hotel. less

After receiving great service 5 years ago I decided to treat my Dad for a belated birthday meal and OMG what a sad state of affairs. On arriving the restaurant manager Viv shot us a dirty look making us feel unwelcome and like she didn’t want us to be there, we were shown to a table and after our drinks order was taken we then had to wait a while for a food order was told about a 30 min wait on food even thou there was only about 3 other tables in the restaurant. No carvery anymore which was a huge disappointment, the food was really bland with no taste and after and burnt after finishing our meal my Brother asked the waiter for the bill which never arrived and we had to go up to the bar for the bill. There was no apology for the slow service or forgetting we were here. I certainly won’t be coming back and recommend others to do the same. I seriously would think about getting rid of the head chef and restaurant manager clearly they aren’t up to the job as the staff is only as good as the manager. less

I thought the above offer was such a good deal, I booked it for myself and also for my mum for her birthday. My reports she had a very comfortable stay in June and we came to meet her for a meal, all was good in the meal apart from the ribs which were awful. The suite on our stay was very nice, we stayed in suite Ant, we thought we were attending an 80's night, but it turned out this had been cancelled, so we ended up not using all of our tab included and headed into town. The bar service prior to leaving was good apart from the bizarre decision by one of the staff to leave our drinks at a table that had no one sitting at it, about 20 minutes later we asked about the drinks and the mistake was picked up on. In the morning after a comfortable sleep we went to check out and sure enough we hadn't spent our tab, we waited for our friends to check out, one of which had ordered a Red Bull at the bar and was waiting while the bar man walked around with her £10 as he had no change, I told her that she should put it on her room as she'd probably not spent her allowance, when she asked the guy, he was quite abrupt and just kept saying he couldn't do that now as he'd rung it through, ... nevermind that we were all kept waiting while he held the money in his hand earwigging on a complaining customer. It wasn't a great success of a stay, but the rooms were nice, the cocktails were good, just a few bits were quite disappointing. less

Friendly hotel with a homely feel. The staff are cheerful and make your stay an enjoyable experience. Have used this hotel a number of times and will continue to so. Excellent location for road routes. less

We booked via booking.com and deal was very good, this is the reason for booking. Checked in and receptionist asked us if we knew what room number we was staying in, told him we didn’t, anyway checked in and went to room. Very strange way to check in. Knew rooms are dated but bedroom part ok and clean. Bathroom had a weird musty smell, it was clean except black marks between the tiles. I had booked dinner for 7:30pm as a 3 course carvery was included in our package. When we arrived we was told the carvery had broken, but when we sat down the roasts had run out so a little disappointed but ordered other things from the menu. My partners soup arrived and was cold, we didn’t say anything at the time as didn’t want to create a problem as had it been hot would have been nice. But now after knowing about main course we should have although nothing would have been done. Then our main courses arrived and I was asked if wanted sauces, which said yes please, also cutlery was mentioned, 10 mins later we had to get another staff member as they still hadn’t arrived. But I’d also noticed my blue cheese burger was lacking in cheese, I asked and was told “I can get them to stick some in if you wish” so taken back didn’t really know what to say, when she brought the items said yes you are correct it is meant to have it in and walked off. So I eat a quarter of one of the burgers and 3 chips, which were really undercooked and left the rest. My partners was meant to have fries but came with sweet potato fries which he really didn’t want. When the receptionist cleared (not sure why)she said was anything wrong and did tell her but the answer was we are short staffed tonight. So guess that is ok then. We left dinner feeling that we didn’t have the evening we expected. But I know we wasn’t alone as another 3 couples had problems around us. Similar issues. But the 3 staff had enough time to stand not far behind us and moan about all the guests, laughing. Breakfast the next day the lady that was running it on her own was wonderful and it was a shame she didn’t work the night before. I planned to say all of this on check out but wasn’t even asked how our stay was, this surprised me and in disbelief we left. We have a stay at best western brook hotel in Norwich in a months time and hope this one is an improvement on this stay. No food booked at this one though. I can see on reviews the hotel don’t really worry about past stays and say that if you pay for another stay they will look after you but why should I pay again to get the service we should have received. But at least I can pass on my experience to anyone else before they book. We had room number 1 and was right by a door, at night was so noisy. I now wish I’d read the reviews and booked the premier inn ! less