Ipswich52.05818000,
1.13548900,
The Mermaid, Handforth Bridge, Yarmouth Road, Ipswich(Show on Map)
8.4
Very Good
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Summary of reviewsMermaid, Ipswich by Marston's Inns receives highly favorable reviews across several categories, particularly for its prime location, cleanliness and comfort. Situated conveniently near attractions such as the railway station, town center and Portman Road football ground, the hotel serves as an excellent base for various activities. Guests appreciate the proximity to shops, restaurants and scenic walks along the River Orwell. Despite its location on busy roads, the hotel provides a peaceful and quiet retreat, supplemented by ample parking and nearby supermarkets.
The breakfast offerings at the Mermaid are commended for being fresh, hot and delicious with many enjoying the English and cooked breakfast options. Although some guests found the continental breakfast limited, the variety and value for money are generally praised. The fast and friendly service, along with the flexibility in meal orders, enhances the breakfast experience.
Dinner is another highlight with the onsite pub providing tasty and high-standard meals. The carvery and diverse menu, including special diet options, are particularly notable. Although there are occasional criticisms regarding portion sizes and service speed, the overall dining experience remains positive.
The rooms at Mermaid, Ipswich are spacious, clean and well-appointed with amenities like smart TVs and air conditioning. Guests consistently praise the comfort of the large beds and the soundproofed environment, which ensures a restful stay. While there are minor issues such as occasional randomness in TV channels or insufficient coffee supplies, most find the rooms to be excellent value for money.
Cleanliness is a significant strength of the hotel with rooms frequently described as spotless and well-maintained. The dedicated housekeeping staff contribute to the positive perceptions of the hotel’s hygiene and overall environment.
The staff receive consistent accolades for their friendliness, helpfulness and professional demeanor. Positive interactions with the staff add to the welcoming atmosphere, despite some isolated incidents of less than satisfactory service.
WiFi experiences are mixed with many guests noting a strong and reliable connection, while others encounter issues with signal strength and accessibility. This variability suggests differing experiences depending on room location within the hotel.
Families find the hotel to be particularly accommodating with spacious rooms, amenities for children and positive experiences with children’s meals. The presence of a small play area and thoughtful touches like bedtime stories contribute to a family-friendly environment.
Guests frequently laud the comfort of the beds, which significantly enhances their overall stay. While a few mention issues with the firmness or noise of some beds, most reviews highlight the comfort and cleanliness of the bedding.
Lastly, Mermaid, Ipswich by Marston's Inns is noted for its accessibility with features catering to guests with disabilities such as well-equipped ground floor rooms and convenient disabled parking. However, some challenges with corridor navigation and the allocation of rooms indicate areas for potential improvement.
Overall, Mermaid, Ipswich by Marston's Inns is well-regarded for its strategic location, cleanliness, exceptional staff and comfortable accommodations, making it a popular choice for a diverse range of travelers. Show more
Read review summaries for all categories
Family Friendly Hotel
Accessible Hotel
Room Types
Double Room - Disability AccessFeaturing free toiletries, this double room includes a private bathroom with a walk-in shower and a hairdryer. The air-conditioned double room features a flat-screen TV with satellite channels, a seating area, a dining area, a wardrobe as well as garden views. The unit has 1 bed.
Double RoomProviding free toiletries, this double room includes a private bathroom with a walk-in shower, a bath and a hairdryer. The air-conditioned double room provides a flat-screen TV with satellite channels, a seating area, a dining area, a wardrobe as well as garden views. The unit offers 1 bed.
Family RoomOffering free toiletries, this family room includes a private bathroom with a walk-in shower, a bath and a hairdryer. The air-conditioned family room offers a flat-screen TV with satellite channels, a seating area, a dining area, a wardrobe as well as garden views. The unit offers 3 beds.
Standard Double or Twin RoomProviding free toiletries, this twin/double room includes a private bathroom with a walk-in shower, a bath and a hairdryer. The air-conditioned twin/double room provides a flat-screen TV with satellite channels, a seating area, a dining area, a wardrobe as well as garden views.
Guest Reviews
8.4
Very Good
Location
The Mermaid, Ipswich by Marston's Inns boasts an enviable location that resonates well with its guests. It's consistently praised for its convenient positioning near key attractions and practical amenities. Situated within walking distance to the railway station, town center and Portman Road football ground, it serves as an ideal base for various activities. The surrounding area houses numerous shops, restaurants and pubs which guests find very handy. Additionally, visitors appreciate the easy access to Ipswich Town Centre, the Regent Theater and scenic walks along the River Orwell. Despite being located on busy roads, the hotel's rooms offer a peaceful and quiet retreat. With ample parking and proximity to supermarkets, the Mermaid’s location meets both leisure and practical needs, making it a popular choice for different types of travelers.
Breakfast
Breakfast at the Mermaid, Ipswich by Marston's Inns is generally praised for being fresh, hot and delicious. Many guests enjoyed the English and cooked breakfast options, highlighting the excellent quality and value for money. The breakfast area offers a good selection and the food is described as tasty and satisfying. Some guests mentioned specific dishes like poached eggs and bacon, which were particularly delightful.
The continental breakfast received mixed reviews with some finding it enjoyable while others felt it was limited and poorly presented. There were comments about the breakfast being well priced and starting as early as 7 AM, which is convenient for early risers. Some guests appreciated the fast and friendly service and the flexibility to order fresh hot meals.
However, there were a few negative remarks. Some guests experienced slow service or issues with their orders, such as cold food or discrepancies in the menu. The quality of gluten-free options and avocado dishes was also criticized by some. Despite these occasional issues, the overall feedback indicates that Mermaid, Ipswich by Marston's Inns offers a lovely and varied breakfast experience, especially appreciated for its value and selection.
Dinner
Visitors to Mermaid, Ipswich by Marston's Inns have generally appreciated the dining experience, particularly the convenience of having a pub onsite that offers reasonably priced and varied food options. Many guests praised the delicious and high-standard meals, highlighting the carvery as especially tasty and good value for money. The pub next door was frequently commended for its friendly atmosphere and good service with several guests mentioning the excellent and lovely food served there.
The availability of a diverse menu, including special diet options, was another positive aspect noted by guests. Having both indoor and outdoor dining spaces added to the appeal. Some minor criticisms included small portion sizes relative to the cost and occasional slow service, but these did not seem to overshadow the overall positive dining experiences.
The restaurant adjacent to the hotel was described as quite nice and good for evening meals, though a few guests found it underwhelming. Nonetheless, the food quality and value, particularly in the pub, received favorable reviews, making it a reliable option for guests staying at the hotel.
Rooms
Mermaid, Ipswich by Marston's Inns has received favorable reviews for its accommodation, particularly highlighting the spaciousness and cleanliness of the rooms. Guests appreciate the large, airy rooms that offer ample space for families and provide comfort with large, comfy beds. Many travelers found the rooms to be well-appointed with functional amenities including smart TVs, air conditioning and tea and coffee making facilities. Soundproofed walls ensure a quiet and restful stay, while the cleanliness of the rooms is consistently praised, contributing to a pleasant and comfortable environment.
The convenience and quietness of the location, along with easy access to the town center, adds to the overall attractiveness of the hotel. The on-site restaurant receives special mention for offering a nice selection of meals at reasonable prices, contributing to an enjoyable dining experience.
Although some guests noted minor issues such as occasional random TV channels or insufficient coffee supplies, the majority find the rooms to be good value for the price paid. Overall, Mermaid, Ipswich by Marston's Inns provides a clean, spacious and comfortable stay with excellent facilities, meeting the needs of both solo travelers and families alike.
Beds
At Mermaid, Ipswich by Marston's Inns, guests frequently highlight the comfort of the beds with numerous reviews praising them as comfortable, super comfy and very comfortable. Many mention clean and comfortable bedding, adding to their positive sleep experience. Several comments specifically note the comfort of the mattresses and the overall cleanliness of the beds.
A few isolated reviews mention issues such as beds being too soft or noisy and the discomfort of spare beds or sofa beds. However, the overwhelming majority of guests found the main beds to be exceptionally comfortable with some describing them as spacious and featuring comfy pillows.
Overall, the beds at Mermaid, Ipswich are consistently lauded for their comfort, contributing significantly to a restful and pleasant stay.
Cleanliness
Mermaid, Ipswich by Marston's Inns receives high praise for cleanliness from a majority of its guests, who consistently describe the rooms as very clean, comfortable and functional. Multiple reviewers highlighted the spotless condition of their accommodations and noted that the rooms were cleaned daily, equipped with fresh towels and modern amenities. Guests repeatedly mentioned that the rooms were clean and spacious with some even describing them as spotless. The bathrooms also received commendations for being clean and the beds were frequently described as comfy.
However, a few guests pointed out areas where cleanliness could be improved. Some mentioned cobwebs, dust and occasional stains in certain spots, such as on walls, mirrors and carpets. There were sporadic comments regarding the need for more frequent vacuuming of hallways and improved attention to detail in cleaning the bathrooms.
Overall, despite minor inconsistencies, the hotel maintains a strong reputation for providing a clean and comfortable stay, backed by diligent and friendly cleaning staff. Most guests found the level of cleanliness to be satisfactory and conducive to a pleasant experience.
Staff
The reviews for the 'Mermaid, Ipswich by Marston's Inns' highlight consistent praise for the hotel staff. Guests often describe the staff as friendly, welcoming and exceptionally helpful. Specific mentions were made of the manager's outstanding assistance, as well as the overall politeness and efficiency of the team. The restaurant staff, pub staff and housekeeping also received commendations for their amiability and service quality.
Many guests experienced a warm and pleasant check-in process, reinforcing the hotel's professional and courteous service atmosphere. Instances of staff going the extra mile were noted, such as attentiveness to guests' needs and maintaining a cheerful demeanor. However, a few reviews indicated occasional lapses in service quality with some guests encountering unhelpful or rude staff members during their stay.
Despite these isolated incidents, the overwhelming majority of the reviews reflect a positive impression of the staff, acknowledging their hard work and dedication in making guests' stays comfortable and enjoyable.
Wi-Fi
Guests at Mermaid in Ipswich by Marston's Inns have expressed mixed experiences regarding the hotel's WiFi service. On the positive side, many reviews highlighted the good and strong WiFi connection with easy access and fast internet. It was noted that the WiFi is complimentary, adding to the overall value for money of the stay. Several guests specifically mentioned the WiFi being really good, very good or decent, contributing positively to their stay.
However, there were also several mentions of issues such as the WiFi signal being intermittent, weak or even not working in certain areas. There were instances where the internet was connectable but not usable and some guests couldn't access the internet at all. Despite these criticisms, other guests seemed satisfied with their experience, indicating that the WiFi quality might vary depending on the room or part of the hotel.
Family
Mermaid, Ipswich by Marston's Inns is a family-friendly hotel that boasts a welcoming atmosphere and exceptional staff who ensure that guests feel rested after their stay. Conveniently located just a 10-minute walk from Ipswich, it proves to be a good value option for families with ample parking space.
The hotel is praised for its spacious family rooms, accommodating even for larger families or those with small children needing extra space for a baby bed. Families planning reunions or extended visits will find the environment well-suited for their needs. Additionally, the children's meals receive positive feedback, adding to the ease of dining with little ones.
A nice gesture by the hotel was leaving bedtime stories on the beds for children, although there were mentions of inconsistencies regarding the availability of children's reading books in the rooms. The presence of a small play area and playground outside offers some entertainment for toddlers, though some noise issues were noted, which may be less ideal for those with younger children.
Overall, Mermaid, Ipswich by Marston's Inns maintains a clean and decent environment catering nicely to family needs, making it a solid choice for a family-oriented stay in the area.
Accessible
Mermaid, Ipswich by Marston's Inns offers generally good accessibility for guests with disabilities, making it a suitable choice for elderly individuals and those with mobility issues. The hotel provides excellent disability access rooms, including well-equipped ground floor rooms and easy access slopes, which facilitate smooth movement for wheelchair users. Disabled parking is noteworthy for its convenience and proximity, ensuring ease right from arrival.
The facilities within the rooms are reported to be accommodating, including features designed specifically for disabled guests. The accessibility extends beyond just the rooms with easy access to check-in areas and nearby facilities, such as a supermarket and petrol station, which are handy for quick needs.
However, a few areas may require attention. Some guests have mentioned that they had difficulty navigating the corridors with wheelchairs and there were occasional issues of being allocated an upstairs room when booking an accessible room—a clear inconvenience for those with disabilities. Additionally, the height of the bed in some disabled rooms was cited as too high. The availability of accessible rooms seems limited, which could pose a problem for those who require them.
Overall, while there are minor areas for improvement, Mermaid, Ipswich by Marston’s Inns does accommodate disabled guests well and provides a generally comfortable and accessible stay.
No, Mermaid, Ipswich by Marston's Inns doesn't have any pool.
No, a spa isn't available at Mermaid, Ipswich by Marston's Inns.
No, Mermaid, Ipswich by Marston's Inns doesn't allow dogs.
No, parking facilities aren't available at Mermaid, Ipswich by Marston's Inns.
No, Mermaid, Ipswich by Marston's Inns doesn't have a gym.