Mercure Chester North Woodhey House Hotel, Ellesmere Port

The hotel is conveniently located near Chester and Liverpool, close to Cheshire Oaks and ideal for visiting Chester Zoo. However, the room was disappointing, with damp smells and a misleading description, not great value for money.

The hotel lacked a welcoming atmosphere but was spacious, especially as we needed a travel cot for our 5-month-old near the pool. It was very quiet during our stay. The heat, likely due to proximity to the pool, could be overwhelming at times.

The hotel had some major drawbacks with ripped curtains, a terrible view, and disruptive noises from vents and kitchen extractor fan. The air conditioning was also broken, making it hard to sleep, and the overall room experience was far from what was advertised. Dining options were limited, resulting in a disappointing evening of eating takeaway in the room.

I booked the 'executive double' room for three adults, but it turned out to be just a standard double room, forcing one guest to sleep on the floor. Despite this inconvenience, the room was clean, and surprisingly, the floor might have been comfier than the bed itself.

The hotel is ideally situated for leisure activities, with clean and comfortable rooms while lacking some refurbishment. The strong smell of cigarettes in the bathroom was a downside. Doors opening and closing noisily at odd hours disturbed the peace.