Mercure Blackburn Dunkenhalgh Hotel & Spa 4 stars

I have stayed frequently at this hotel; usually I have a good room with plenty space and satisfactory facilities, although the hotel generally needs to be updated. Last week however, I was advised at check in I'd been put in a single room as they were very busy. Fine, but the room itself was more like staff quarters than a guest room. Shabbily decorated and furnished, outdated pink bathroom, overheated (hot pipes running through room couldn't be switched off), no bedside lamp, no coat cook & overlooking the construction portakabin! I do understand the hotel is going through a refurb program therefore fewer rooms were available than normal. I hope to try one of the refurbed rooms next time. I complained to duty manager but no other rooms were available.

We have been staying here for about 15 years and thus we are happy to return for some rest and relaxation.

We have stayed here for many years on our yearly meet up and sometimes it is twice a year. There were 11 of us this year and to be honest we are looking for somewhere else. We just aren’t happy with the spa facilities. It’s been years since we have been and all rooms been available. This year it was the sauna/light room. The first heat room have still got the tiles missing and ones that are loose that stick to your bottom. A few years ago this issue ruined two swimming costume. We can’t fault the lunch menu and food was lovely. Unfortunately there were 5 of us who ordered the steak burger; this was very dry and had not a lot of flavour. Most of us ate it without the bun as it was that dry. We informed staff but ate it as hungry and had eaten half before a check back. Also not hearing the fire alarm in room 59 was worrying for us.

We have a truly wonderful experience when we visited the Dunkenhalgh on Christmas Day, the service was superb, very friendly efficient staff and the food was delicious. The Christmas atmosphere was very welcoming and overall we had a very enjoyable experience. Thank you.

The service was great and everything was clean. But the room was so cold! We put the heating on full, as soon as we got in and by morning it was warmer but still cold. And it wasn’t even the middle of winter yet.

Hi, we stay at the hotel at least twice a year and make use of all facilities. However the single mattresses put together make for a uncomfortable night's sleep. One of ourselves will end up moving into the adjoining space which separates more with any slight movement. We also noticed small touches of complimentary biscuits etc not offered. We married in hotel in 2010 August and have been back every year based on tradition but may look elsewhere going forward. Sorry

the noise from the building work was too bad. Maybe as a matter of courtesy we could have been told about this at check-in

Staff were very helpful when booking by phone, accommodating special requirements/requests. Room was spacious, clean, and had good facilities. Fine for our one-night evening meal+B&B stop-over.

All the staff was helpful and friendly. We loved our room and the facilities was great. We are looking forward to staying again.

Comfortable. Friendly and helpful staff

This was our 2nd year for this event. Enjoyed it but did not think as good as 2018

Room was cold despite asking for assistance nothing was done (although it did eventually warm up) dinner service was slow & sourly took to long to get bread on the table and to serve drinks although food was ok. The waitress could do with smiling as well

Great stay with friends and family. Nice room, great customer service and excellent food

Enjoy the hotel as think it is very good value and we find the staff friendly (like northerners). We have now attended 4 new years eve parties at the Dunkenhalgh and although we enjoyed this year we felt that the event itself was a little disappointing and whilst the last two years we could not wait to return next year we will probably return (we are 4 couples - friends) but perhaps have discussions as to other options. Our analysis of what made this event less successful is as follows: 1) The group were very good, professional and excellent musicians and if we had come for a music event they would have had the thumbs up, however this is a party and they did not create that party atmosphere as well as the previous guy. We also felt that they came on too late and the atmosphere had already been lost. 2) No balloons and no or few party poppers which again led to less of a party atmosphere. 3) DJ average, in our opinion a DJ should interact and create a party (he was on a long while during the meal and before the group started) and we did not feel he read what was required from the guests, on quite a few occasions he managed to empty the dance floor and he did not create a real party atmosphere. 4) Mix of guests not as good as previous years (I guess this is difficult and not really anything you can do about this) It was interesting as the Christmas Ball we went to Saturday 14th December we discussed was rather a young clientele and we said we were perhaps getting too old (our average age is 56) however at this event we felt that we were too young, whether in actual age or young at heart! 5) Lovely table staff but interacted with us less than previously. What I think you need is a very good MC to create a party atmosphere and keep the party going. Last year you had this and we went to bed buzzing, this year whilst generally quite good we went to bed slightly deflated as a comparison. It is more difficult to pull it back as any younger crowd may be less keen to return and you tend remember the latest event. We would love to attend again but need the better party atmosphere. In previous years there has also been a wedding going on at the same time and perhaps that helped to make it altogether buzzier.

Was offered very tired and poor rooms in the stable area bit idea why these rooms are even used as far below the standard expected in a hotel today, even old premier inn hotel rooms are better. Then offered room in hose area again which require a magical mystery tour to find. Told limited choice as Xmas house keeping had not cleaned all rooms. New rooms where so hot it was crazy, then toilet in one room was Brocken and leaked. No other rooms available till next day, was allowed to swap again and told bags would be moved. Got back bags not moved and new room layout was much better but as new emergency exit room could only get warm with heating on full blast otherwise it was freezing