I didn’t realise until we pulled up that I’ve stayed in this hotel before- just before it was taken over, so it was great to see the changes that had taken place. One thing I’m glad has remained is the giant chair in the lobby as it’s such a perfect photo opportunity!
Hallmark Hotel, Leyland Preston
We were lucky enough to stay one of the hotels Executive Rooms which boasted large images and cushions of two of the Leyland Ladies who featured in the calendar for Leyland Motors Ltd from back in 1930.
The room is clearly very striking when you walk into it but also has some history attached to it, which makes it even more interesting. You can read all about it on the plaque on the wall.
This room was on the ground floor so it was quiet and had one of the biggest beds we have ever slept in- enough for three pillows to sit across the bed to ceiling headboard.
These rooms also have bottled water, bathrobes, slippers, upgraded toiletries, an ironing board, a room safe and mattress topper- setting them apart if you fancy something a bit more luxurious.
We also took advantage of the flat screen tv and free Wi-Fi. It was like home from home by the time we got settled.
The only complaint I have about the room was that it was dusty- which isn’t ideal for an asthmatic.
One of the selling points of this hotel is its spa- it has a pool, sauna and jacuzzi- so we checked in just after 3pm so we could use the facilities before our evening meal.
Luckily it was quiet so we could use all the facilities that were on offer. We tired ourselves out doing some laps in the pool before relaxing those muscles in the warm jacuzzi while having a chat- just what Saturday afternoons should be about.
After a short walk back to the room- we both showered and got ready for our evening meal.
The bathroom was basic- it had everything we needed- but I was a little disappointed to find that the towel I pulled from the heated radiator had some suspicious looking stains on it.
As we arrived at the Brasserie, we were greeted by Kieran who showed us to our table by the window- which is ideal for me because I’m nosy!
We ordered a bottle of Rose before perusing the menu.
The circular dining room itself is very impressive, with tables situated about the windows and around the large statues that adorn the centre pillar. It’s very grand indeed.
The soup of the day was Leek and Potato so we both opted for that along with a wedge of bread and butter. It was creamy, thick and warming- perfect for a chilly English summers’ eve.
We both followed this up with burgers- we weren’t copying each other I promise!
My husband had The Hallmark Burger- 6oz beef patty with a glazed red Leicester and mature cheddar rarebit and I had The Vegetarian Market Garden- A roasted vegetable patty with cheese and fresh salsa.
Kieran kindly swapped my fries for sweet potato fries and brought us some mayo- the perfect combo! The burgers both came with pickles on the side and my partner doesn’t like them so I was lucky enough to have two portions.
He assured me he enjoyed his burger but had to leave some as it defeated him.
The vegetable patty was also very filling but I powered through because it was so delicious.
It’s not often this happens but we were far too stuffed to manage a dessert so we opted for a coffee and a hot chocolate to finish off the meal.
Beth, who also took care of us throughout our meal told us that there was not only a coach trip staying with them but a wedding was also taking place on the other side of the hotel.
Armed with this knowledge, I was astonished that there was no disruption to our stay. If she hadn’t told us, we would never have known that this was happening at the same time we were eating. The hotel staff clearly handle pressure well.
It was such a relief not to have to drive home- and just retreat to our room and watch a bit of TV.
Breakfast was served in the round room once again and was the usual buffet style. My husband ordered some tea for the table and we were treat to a sea of pastries, English breakfast favourites, juice and cereals.
There were plenty of vegetarian options so I was able to pile my plate high with eggs, mushrooms and hash browns.
My partner was still a little full from the night before so he just went for a bowl of corn flakes and some toast. That’s the beauty of buffet breakfasts- you can have as much or as little as you want.
There is a generous check out time of 11am on Sundays so we didn’t have to rush before heading home.
The spa was the biggest tick in the box for us when reminiscing over our time in the hotel. When you do a lot of reviews- as we do- we are always on the lookout for something new to do and this certainly made a change.
As mentioned above, there were a couple of things that let the stay down, but overall we felt rested and rejuvenated after our visit and that’s all you want from a night away with your loved one.