Mercure Gloucester Bowden Hall Hotel 4 stars

Dear Sirs, I wish to advise you of our horror stay experience at the above hotel. We had stayed here previously in an ‘executive suite’ which was anything but that. We came to an arrangement with the Manager-who said that it was down for ‘imminent’ upgrade. I think that they were being economical with the truth-given our most recent experience-photographic evidence included. The housekeeping was nearly non-existent, with me having to clean the filthy toilet before my wife was subjected to excrement stain. The mirror had not been cleaned, the bathroom fan does not seem to work, and the pictures expose the dilapidated state and lack of maintenance. There was an infestation of ladybirds-in December😱 the lack of hygiene is very apparent. This sorry experience brings discredit to the Accor name, and is a sad indictment on The UK Tourist Industry, and especially Senior Management at Jupiter Hotels, Bowden Hall Hotel, and the lessee Accor Hotels. We had been advised-days before our visit- that due to Christmas Party nights, we would be ‘dining’ in a conference room-which turned out to be a small room with four tables for two, but we turned out to be the only guests🥴and not so much as a strand of tinsel, made the experience like an evening at ‘Bleak House’ which was very sad and avoidable, as we had booked some weeks ago. Our first night menu-drastically reduced, compared to our previous visit, was disappointing with my prawn cocktail starter comprising of the smallest cocktail prawns imaginable. It begs the question from sustainability, what kind of trawl net was used ? and my recommended Tom’s Steak pie being capable to acquitting itself well in a fight with a mini-chainsaw. The mashed potato bearing testimony to the effects of long-term exposure of kitchen heat lamps. All the more surprising as we were the only non-Christmas party guests🤷‍♂️🤷‍♀️ We were saddened by the lack of consideration given, with Bowden Hall being aware that we were the only two🥴and total lack of courtesy and consideration in this festive period. Friday morning 8th Dec, went down for breakfast, it was absolutely divine, without doubt, the finest breakfast I have ever eaten in my 74 years. The poached eggs were perfection personified, and the breakfast layout and presentation could not have been beaten-anywhere. It is unfair to expose such disgusting room condition complaints on your hard-working staff, in addition to unwitting clients who have paid for such second/third rate accommodation. Fridays evening’s meal was welcome, acceptable and tasty. Saturday breakfast-again was superb in presentation, quality and taste. The breakfast staff are to be commended. There seems to be complete ambivalence and non-interest in the shabbiness at Bowden Hall with deeply stained carpets throughout and doors in a bad state of repair. Senior management either are banging their heads against a brick wall with the owners or are probably fed up with the refusal by them to instigate improvements. A very sorry state of affairs🥴

Great staff, comfortable rooms, delicious food.

Brilliant Xmas party, staff extremely helpful and very pleasant

Lovely hotel with mostly very pleasant staff and lovely food

I'm sure as a weekend country retreat this would be a fantastic "get away" hotel, however as a mid week business location it was less relaxing (poor / no mobile phone signal, weak wifi for video calls).