09/12/2025
Review: Crowne Plaza East Midlands Airport by IHG
I was genuinely impressed by how immaculate the property is throughout — from the sleek lobby to my room and the restaurant, everything looked well-maintained and clean.
That said, there was a noticeable sewage smell in my room when I checked in. I initially thought it might be leftover from the previous guest, but it was still there when I returned from dinner, so I asked for a spray to help with it. Unfortunately, they weren’t able to move me to another room, which was a bit disappointing.
My dinner at Marco’s was also a letdown. Marco’s is known for its steak, but the one I ordered was incredibly chewy even though I’d asked for medium rare. The restaurant service was lacking too — staff weren’t attentive, and I had to wait and flag someone down just to get my bill.
The breakfast was even worse. It feels like some hospitality staff forget their job is about customer service, not just setting tables. When I walked in and asked for a table for one, a young lady told me to pick any table except one side (which was being set up for dinner) and then left me to fend for myself. At the buffet, there was no serving spoon for the mushrooms, so I waited for kitchen staff — when I asked, I was just told to use the same tongs as the tomatoes. I also had to track down a staff member who was busy setting up to ask for non-dairy milk (I couldn’t find it), and she seemed annoyed when I asked, just saying it was at the buffet. It was there, but hidden in a corner.
On the plus side, the reception staff were fantastic — very friendly and went out of their way to make things right by offering a complimentary breakfast. I declined since I’d already paid for mine, but the gesture was much appreciated.
Overall, it’s a well-kept hotel with great front desk staff, though the room smell, inability to switch rooms, and poor food and service at Marco’s and breakfast did significantly take away from the experience. Sometimes a nice property will not have return guests due to poor service.