Review of Grange Clarendon Hotel 4*

I’m currently staying at this property. The staff has been nice enough, but yet they are not empowered to make any decisions or can make your stay better. They are clearly from other countries, which is fine, but ownership clearly rules with an iron fist. Every employee seems to “fear the boss” and has no power whatsoever to resolve issues. It’s not been a real hotel experience. There is no warm cookie upon entry like a double tree or Hilton. They have a laughable small bar, and god forbid you ask for a drink. Everything is overpriced and small. My company paid for me to stay here for 19 nights. They paid well over the rate that the hotel is offering. After swiping my corporate Amex for about 4, 000 pounds (about 6kusd) I thought that I would get some sort of extra treatment. No. I was told that I do not get breakfast with my rate. This is strange as I know my company is paying well above market rates. They did absolutely nothing to welcome me beyond what a normal traveler would expect. This is odd. My colleagues are staying at hotels all around this place and they are enjoying amazing perks. They also are paying comparable rates. I’m only here because this weird place has a 4 star rating. No gym, pool, or really anything to speak of… It’s more of a bed and breakfast than a hotel. Yet, I’ve never scene or smelled breakfast. Again, I’m not eligible yet I prepaid 19 nights above their market ask. What a joke! The rooms are old. The amenities are old. It’s a decent room from 2002 that has been forced to keep going until now. The TV doesn’t work, and everyone I spoke to in the elevator has the same problem (let it be known that the elevator is 3 floors). Most people staying here are pissed. Overall, this is a weird hotel that does not offer any amenities and does not make any honest effort at making your stay more enjoyable. Today is 18/4/2018 and I’m stuck here for another 2 weeks. I assume that nobody from the staff will even read this. Sad.