Macdonald Burlington Hotel - Birmingham, United Kingdom 

what a solid gold nugget! We stayed in so called 4 star hotels before but at last we've found one that is worthy of the name. From the friendly helpful staff, brilliant room, great breakfast, ideal location, this is going to sound like a promo for the hotel, but believe me this is one place that you should check out. We have already recommended this hotel to all our friends.

I was staying at the Burligton for one night on business. This is possibly the poorest UK 4 star hotel I have ever stayed in. I arrived and was given room 217, when I opened the door the smell of cooking grease/fat was overpowering. When I looked out the window I understood why... the room was directly beside the hotels's vents, drains, and pipes. Vile smell and rotten view. The room was traditional and quite shabby. I contacted reception immediately and requested to be moved due to the smell, they told me they did not have any other rooms. I went to get my colleague and when we re-entered the room to get my bags, someone had obviously been in and sprayed a few litres of air freshener everywhere, this mixed with the chip fat was making us gag!. I went to reception and a room had magically appeared but it was a single, not the double my company had booked and paid for. I took it as this was my last resort. Second smallest room next to Birmingham Thistle @ Edgbaston, but at least it didn't smell like a chip shop!. We then asked where the pool and gym were located as this was advertised on the hotel website. We were told that the hotel does not have a pool and the gym was currently closed for refurbishment. The shower was an experience, you had the choice of ice-cold or scalding hot. One tea-bag and sugar in room. Breakfast didn't have a great selection and what choice there was, (fruit, yoghurt etc) was left out on a table, and failing health and safety standards was not covered nor refrigerated. Overall, hotel was old, dirty and shabby, decades past it's sell by date. I would not stay here again.